Pachad and Yirah are two biblical Hebrew words that translate into English as simply ‘fear’.
There’s much more to them that just that one word.
Amanda Jolley brought me back to the memory of these words in her video~ (yes, she is just delicious, isn’t she?!)
I faced it recently,
this fear-distinction, as John and I drive a 27 foot truck from Seattle to Lexington in January….
who does this?!!!!
I am not facing down the fear of Pachad: irrational fears like someone following you in the dark or a boogie man in the closet.
But rather Yirah: “the fear that overcomes us when we suddenly find ourselves in possession of considerably more energy than we are used to, inhabiting a larger space than we are used to inhabiting. It is also the feeling we feel when we are on sacred ground.”
I know this.
Why so certain, you ask?
Because old, long-held weaknesses are being toyed with~
(as if stirring them up will paralyze me?!)
(as if raising old devils will put me down?!)
And I’ve come to realize that when pachad fears (irrational!) are running amok through my brain
then I need to stop them in their tracks with a big-old hand in the face
and see what they’re running for….
I’ve come too far to let old demons gain ground.
Yirah fear is empowering.
Pachad fear is paralysing.
But either one is,
only if I let them be.
I am being stretched to hold more.
(With luck it will be only stretching my heart and mind, not hips….!)
I can hold more.
If my arms get too full, I know there’ll be people and places to which I can pass it all along!
Bring it on.
Bring it on!
Stretch me.
I will count it a beauty treatment.
Like Esther,
12 months of turning me into something that can be put to great use 😉
in love.
trish.
Love this Trish; thank you! xo
<3 Joanne~
I thought I was going to hear about Art but instead I heard about fear. Just what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you. Struggling with family issues and I asked God to tell me who I could help today. Your message sent help to me.
So good; thank you Sue 🙂
Beautiful, thank you for facing your fears. I am facing mine now, and doing my best to play in this medium. I have so much to learn, and don’t know how yet I will support my art habit, but I will not fear. I will trust the Lord he has given me this passion, and I will embrace it!
love your work and congrats on your new adventure!
Thank you Kelly! It’s quite the ride 😉
Here’s to a beautiful year of Yirah!
here here <3
Wow this is wonderful to read. I love knowing the words for types of fear that I have felt in my lifetime as well. Right now I am on my way for a meeting with an education director to talk about my upcoming demonstration and classes for a well-respected art school, gallery and residency here in San Diego. It has been a dream for me to work with them and now here it is….Yirah!
Blessings to you and family. Your courage and fearlessness is an inspiration to me. Sacred ground. x Josie Rodriguez
So good Josie! What fantastic opportunities for you and art 🙂 You as well; blessings. Trish
such timing in these words Trish…i am trying to embrace the Yirah fear and i will find the strength and support to continue my art and stay true to self…a new page..a new chapter…a new door…thanks trish…happy days…xx
happy day to you Julia~ xo
“Feel the fear and do it anyway” – Yirah! Yirah! Almost sounds like Hoorah! Hoorah!