To the one who understands the meaning of language,
The world reveals itself in pictures.
To the one who can hear the soul of language,
The world unlocks itself as a being.
To the one who experiences the spirit of language,
The world bestows its strength of wisdom.
To the one who can love language,
Language will grant its own power.
So would I turn my heart and mind
To the spirit and soul of the word;
And in my love for the word
Fully experience my Self.
Given by Rudolf Steiner to Maria Roeschl
November 26th, 1922
© Nora Hidalgo, Sebastopol, California, 2012
Illustrations by Maia Kobabe
Maia Kobabe graduated from Dominican University of California with a BFA in Studio Art and a minor in Art History in 2011. She is now working on her MFA from California College of the Arts. More of Maia's work can be seen online at redgoldsparks.carbonmade.com.