Hopeful Thinking: Abracadabra and the sacred power of speech

Hopeful Thinking: Abracadabra and the sacred power of speech

Exploring the spiritual idea that “I create as I speak,” this essay reflects on scripture, mysticism and everyday language to reveal how speech is not merely expression but participation in creation — an invitation to wield our words with intention, honesty and hope. There is an old and persistent idea — part legend, part linguistic poetry — that the word abracadabra traces back to the Hebrew phrase ebrah k’dabri, often translated as “I create a…