Word of the Day: Universe
I love the prefix uni- meaning “one.” We can look to words with this prefix for reminders of oneness. Yesterday’s word of the day, community, comes to mind. These words can be medicine when we experience separation and division.
I hear the word universe all the time. Praying to “the universe” and asking “the universe” to manifest desires seems to be a common practice for people outside of religion who are searching for meaning and guidance.
In my love of oneness, I felt called to look up the true meaning of the word universe.
universe (noun) : all existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos
The universe is the totality of existing things.
Universe comes from the Latin word universus meaning “combined into one, whole.” It contains the prefix uni- meaning one. Verse comes from the Latin word vertere and the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root wer meaning “to turn.” This literally means “turning into one.” I have also heard the word -verse as a suffix defined as “a sphere of existence.” In the sense of universe this would mean “one sphere of existence.”
Curious cosmology fans have asked the question, “Can there be more than one universe?”
By definition of the word universe the answer is no. This is because the universe is the totality of existing things. Anything yet to be discovered will still exist as a part of this one universe.
What I love about the word universe is that it points to the interconnection of all things. In the universe all matter and all space exist as one whole. All of the matter of our bodies, homes, and environments exists as one whole. All of the space of our thoughts, emotions, of music, of silence, and everything else exists as one whole.
Oneness reminds us that all life is part of an interconnected whole, as the word universe also teaches us. Remembering that we are all part of one whole can awaken compassion and unity.
Many religions teach about oneness. I have met some people with religious trauma who reject oneness. Personally, I find comfort in both religious teachings and scientific teachings on oneness, teachings of a Creator and a creation. For those who don’t, remembering the definition of universe can provide a scientific context to oneness without the experience of religious trauma.
Everything that exists is a part of this one whole, just like different organs in the body are still a part of one body. If you feel burdened by separation or division in modern politics and society, remember that by the true meaning of universe, we are all part of this one interconnected sphere of existence.
As we learned yesterday, one meaning of the word community is “with unity.” The word universe reminds me that we are always “with unity” by nature of our existence in this universe.
