Living Well in 2010

 Salt of the Earth Principles ~ Part 1

By Sharyn Jordan Hathcock  ~ Author, Symbolist, Environmental Healer

“Ye are the salt of the earth.”  Matthew 5:13

     The question is, “What does being the Salt of the Earth actually mean and how can this philosophy support you in living well?”  First of all, think of the people in your life whose very presence brings out the very best in you.  When considering these folks, what is the catalyst that triggers you to experience your better self?  What is this intangible essence that draws forth deeper insights and more profound inspiration into your life?  It has been my experience that he/she who embodies this gift, intuitively lives from Salt of the Earth Principles.  These rousing people show up in many forms such as volunteers, leaders, mentors, teachers, serial entrepreneurs, professors, artists and realtors.  They include retailers, doctors, healers, managers, administrators, students, consultants, and the list goes on ad infinitum which is Latin meaning endless.  These individuals are a diverse community however each have learned to speak the universal language of service and possesses the ability to make a difference.  It matters not how someone chooses to express themselves professionally, it only matters that they do so meaningfully.  This is the intangible essence that shifts mediocrity into excellence and fully explains how to live by the Salt of the Earth Principles. 

     In days of old, salt was considered a precious commodity used for bartering.  The word salary finds its Latin root in the word ‘salarium’ and is the source of our modern day word for salary.  This word is also a Latin link to ‘sal’ which means salt which evolved into ‘sal-dar’ translated, it means ‘to give a wage or a salary.’  History teaches that ‘sal-dar’ also renders the word soldier.  In Roman times, sal-dars or soldiers not only guarded Rome’s treasured salt roads, they were also paid in salt.  Bringing these interesting facts into the present time, the adage, “being worth your salt” is connected to one’s salary via the value or service you give.  Therefore, a person living by the Salt of the Earth Principles is a person of great integrity who garners respect.  This person naturally inspires greatness in other people and when this happens, the entire community is better served. 

     This esteem is earned, defined and refined by being service-oriented.  In fact, the word serve is derived from the Latin word ‘serv’ and includes many traits of a person worth their salt.  And finally, we come to the word ‘sal’ the Latin root that forms ‘sal-via’ which means Sage. Indeed, a Sage will always prove their worth as they endlessly live Salt of the Earth Principles.  A few of the Sage’s traits, as inspired from the word Serve, are as follows:  1. Ob*Serve:  The Sage innately observes a need and then quietly and/or selflessly fills it.  Discerning a more productive path to tread and although it may not be the most popular route, a Sage has the courage to pursue it.  A Sage perceives what is high and good from within.  They are not given to oversee others as the strength of their inner correctness is enough to lead by example.  By attaining an inner stability, great things can come forth.  2. Re*Serve:  There is an adage ‘to salt away’ which means to store, stockpile or keep.  This is the Sage’s inner independence as he/she searches for answers from within.  This wisdom is then accumulated and as a result, they never give way to fear.  The Sage lives a life of brave integrity where this reliability draws forth the higher nature of his/her fellow humankind.  3.  Con*Serve:  The Sage participates in safeguarding his/her faith against worry.   Living by the Salt of the Earth Principles, the Sage walks in the knowledge of the heart by keeping an open mind.  He/she never contributes bitter judgment against a person.  For the Sage KNOWS not to categorize people as hopeless, helpless, and ungrateful or anything negative.  He/she KNOWs people can transform and can then live into their greater selves.  Since miracles can and do happen, the Sage believes all things are possible.  4.  Pre*Serve:  The Sage upholds humility and acts to unify.  He/she KNOWS the arrogance of ego and doesn’t act from this limited place.  The Sage’s keen interest lies in creating a collaborative community where people seek and emphasize what makes them the same above what makes them different. The Sage celebrates commonality and thus, forever respects multiplicity.  5.  De*Serve:  The Sage’s merits have earned him/her great honors but above these he/she is worthy of being an inspiration for generations to come.  For their wisdom is not found in being divisive, critical hateful, gossipy or in discord but it is expressed by the cohesiveness of the greater good.  The Sage can be recognized by how he/she makes you feel.  Embracing an organic approach to all differences immediately broadens your sense of community.  A person who lives by the Salt of the Earth Principles possesses unswerving stability so when you are in the company of their greatness, you are indeed inspired to be your greater self.  For within each of us, there are unlimited sources of wisdom and permanence.  These deeply resonating energies allow you to be worth your salt. 

     Each day, you co-create your life by way of your choices and these choices are selected according to your belief system.  In turn, the quality of your life reflects your beliefs.  If your life experience is not in alignment with the desires of your heart, it is time for you to get really clear about how you can speak the inclusive Salt of the Earth’s Principles’ language.  This affords you to live into your Sage-self and in doing so; you will not only live well in 2010, but to quote Buzz Light-year, “To infinity and beyond!”   

     Sharyn Jordan Hathcock is the author of The Home Whisperer and Dreaming True books.  Her newest book, The Song of the Starr Children will be released in May of 2010.  To enroll in Sharyn's  free, self-paced  e-Course, 333 Discovering Your Greater Self...Why? Because your Dreams Need You, go to fengshuisimplified.com.  Sharyn is the designer of Harmony8's line of elegant silk energy product, the Way of Wind and Water Energy Cards, and the inventor of the Inner Home Game (due out 11/11/2010).  She is dedicated to making life abundant by creating a home/workspace where balance and joy reside. She is a Western School of Feng Shui honor graduate and an esteemed Red-Ribbon professional from the International Feng Shui Guild, an Arizona resident since 1974, White Mountain resident since 1985 and a Feng Shui consultant since 1994.