Fierce

The profile section of Blogspot here doesn’t offer much space for an introduction, 1200 characters plus some favorites and interests. Because of that I wanted to share more about this endeavor. I’ll start with the word fierce.

Most common definitions and usage of the word fierce intones violence, force, savage, or something bad or severe.  Examples might include a fierce warrior, fierce competition, fierce animals, fierce wind. This is not entirely the meaning or idea I had in mind, nor is that how I think about the word in the context of my totem, Fierce Wolf, especially since my character isn’t that.

What do I mean then?

Here’s a start which also meshes the above common definition: profound, deeply and intensely felt and often aggressively expressed.

From the common definition and this addition comes several themes

-          Passion, focus, depth, intensity, zeal

-          A lot of force or energy, either physical or spiritual or emotional

-          Often involves emotions, which can cover the spectrum from love to rage

The website UrbanDictionary.com had another definition which adds a new flavor also: the act of being bold, daring, and/or highly creative.

There is a further dimension not implied in any of these as fierce is an adjective more often used with things or actions.  I am see the human dimension as key.

So here goes: the human strength of soul, passion, and intensity expressed with boldness and courage.

Here are a few modern examples:

David Whyte, who is an Irish poet who brings his work into corporate settings as a means of change and fostering creativity,  uses the word fierce in his work. As in the fierce edges of life, or the fierce conversation with yourself when there are challenges afoot.

Fierce Grace is a new documentary about Ram Dass and his experience of reshaping his life after having a stroke in 1997. Fierce Grace is how Ram Dass describes his experience.

Like any word, it can have tremendous power, as so it is with fierce.