Words strung together affect us and therefore when we speak or commit an act or deed, we must remain aware. I have taken a few words to discuss their impact.

Atonement means to seek forgiveness. Words which are used to describe it are expiation, amends, grace, pardon, condonation, salvation and rebirth.

Commiseration means to have the capacity to feel sorrow for another’s suffering. Words used to explain it are sympathy, compassion, empathy, condolence, magnanimity, goodwill, benignity, and humanitarianism.

Retribution and revenge have slightly different meanings. Retribution involves hitting back with equal force, and revenge exceeds what a person deserves, often to the point of being vengeful. Similar words are used to describe both, retaliation, vengeance, punishment, requital, wrath, restitution, redress, penalty, counter offensive and nemesis.

The beginning of atonement is the sense of necessity. – Lord Byron

Say not in grief, ‘he is no more’ but in thankfulness that he was. – Hebrew proverb on commiseration

God will bring every work into judgement, with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. – Ecclesiastes 12:13

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. – Confucius

Which of these words propel us behave in a positive or negative manner?
How do I atone for some act that hurt someone immensely?
How do I commiserate someone on a tragedy?
How do we feel when we want someone to suffer from retribution?
How do we feel about taking revenge?
Does it consume us?
Does it make us exhausted?

In order to understand the implications of these words, we have to connect to our heart and inner divinity.

Aim Hrim Klim