Word of the Day: Innocence
Lately I have heard a call to reclaim Innocence. In synchronicity, I have observed this word coming up a lot over the past few weeks. It appears that remembering innocence is a collective mission.
To comprehend what it means to reclaim or embody innocence, it helps to explore the true meaning of the word. Let’s take a look at the definition and etymology of the word innocence. From there we can explore what it means to be innocent, and what it takes to heal from a loss of innocence.
innocence (noun) :
the state, quality, or fact of being innocent of a crime or offense
lack of guile or corruption; purity
Tracing this word back to it’s root we find that it originates from the Latin word innocentia. Innocentia contains the word nocere meaning “injure” and the prefix in- meaning “not or opposite of.” The Latin word innocentia is defined as “not harming.”
As we learned yesterday, etymology means “true meanings of words.” By observing the history of the word innocence, we find a true meaning is “not harming.”
In the definitions above there are two things that stand out to me. The first is innocence in relation to guilt. You have most likely heard the phrase “innocent until proven guilty.” Another way of expressing the meaning of innocence is “freedom from guilt.”
By this definition, if we wish to reclaim innocence, we must free ourselves from guilt. This is not as simple as saying “I don’t feel bad or guilty for _______.”
True freedom from guilt involves forgiveness. It takes honest exploration of where guilt is living in us.
Are we experiencing anger and judgement when we think others are guilty of something?
Are we holding on to guilt for choices we’ve made?
To reclaim innocence, we are invited to truly forgive others and ourselves for the experiences that left an imprint of guilt.
The second thing that stands out is purity. In innocence we think, speak, and act from purity. Purity is freedom from contamination or toxicity. Another way of expressing this purity comes from the root of innocence which is “not harming.”
Choices made from manipulation, anger, fear, vengeance, and greed cause harm. Causing harm can easily lead to feelings of guilt. Often when we feel hurt, we end up hurting others. This doesn’t have to be the case.
To reclaim innocence is to forgive and to act from a place of purity, causing no harm.
When I think back on early childhood memories, I witness less fear the younger I am. Fear is learned when we lose trust. Innocence is a powerful force for living life from a fearless and trusting place.
Have you experienced a loss of innocence? Feel free to reach out. We can heal. We can reclaim the beautiful, innocent, childlike hearts we were born with.
