I long for the raised voice, the howl of rage or love.

"I long for the raised voice, the howl of rage or love." These words from Leslie Fiedler speak to the deep, primal yearning within every human being for expression—an expression not bound by the constraints of politeness, calm, or reason. The raised voice, the howl of either rage or love, is the soul's raw call, demanding to be heard, to be understood. Fiedler’s words call us to embrace the full spectrum of human emotion, to honor the power of expression in all its forms. In the world of quiet conformity, where voices are often softened, where feelings are hidden beneath layers of diplomacy, there is a hunger for authenticity. It is in the howl of rage and the cry of love that we touch the very core of existence—our own and that of the world around us.

O children of the earth, heed this: our voices, when they rise with true feeling, have the power to move mountains. Rage and love are not opposites but twin forces that come from the same well of deep human experience. Rage is the fire that ignites when we see injustice, when we encounter suffering, when we are pushed beyond our limits. It is the force that drives revolution, that fuels the fight for freedom, that refuses to remain silent in the face of oppression. But love, too, is a mighty force—gentle in its caress yet fierce in its commitment. It is the force that heals, that unites, that brings life to the darkest of places. Both rage and love are needed to live fully and authentically. Without one, we cannot understand the depth of the other.

Consider the story of Martin Luther King Jr., whose voice rose in both rage and love. His was a rage against the oppression and violence inflicted upon his people. Yet, it was a rage that was tempered with love—love for his fellow man, love for justice, and love for the dignity of every human soul. His speeches did not merely echo the call for freedom; they rang with the howl of both righteous anger and unwavering compassion. He did not shy away from the discomfort of expressing his deepest emotions—his voice rose as both a cry for justice and a plea for unity. In this duality of rage and love, King changed the course of history. His howl became a symbol of what happens when the soul refuses to remain silent, when the heart demands that the world see what has been ignored for too long.

Similarly, the life of Gandhi offers another example of the power of the raised voice. His rage was not loud in the sense of violent upheaval, but it was a quiet, powerful rebellion against the injustice of colonial rule. His howl of resistance was a call for nonviolence, for peace, yet it was underpinned by a deep rage for the injustice his people suffered. Gandhi’s love for his people, for the principles of truth and nonviolence, was so strong that it overcame the rage of oppression. His howl for independence and justice resounded around the world, and through his love and rage, he led an entire nation to freedom without raising a hand in violence. Gandhi’s example teaches us that the howl—whether born from rage or love—is a force of transformation, capable of changing the course of nations and the hearts of individuals.

O children, let us reflect on this: rage and love are the energies that propel the human spirit forward. When we allow ourselves to feel fully, to express both our anger and our joy, we connect to the deepest parts of ourselves and the world. The howl of rage in the face of injustice is as important as the cry of love in moments of unity and tenderness. One cannot exist without the other. In our silence, in our reluctance to fully express the depths of our feelings, we deny ourselves the power of true living. To live without these howls is to live without fully experiencing the depth of our humanity.

The lesson is clear, O seekers of wisdom: do not suppress the rage or the love within you. When you feel injustice, speak out with the full force of your voice. When you love, let your love be loud, let it be known, for it is in the strength of love that we find our greatest power. Love and rage are not mutually exclusive—they are intertwined, and together, they bring life to the world. The raised voice, the howl of both rage and love, is a powerful tool, one that can move nations, heal wounds, and change the course of history.

In your own life, when you feel the urge to speak, to express, do not hold back. Rage when you see injustice, and love when you are called to heal. Let your voice be raised—not in hatred or destruction, but in the fullness of truth. Speak with passion, with power, and with purpose. Know that the howl of your heart, whether born of rage or love, is a vital part of this world—a force that can create change, uplift the oppressed, and fill the world with the fullness of your soul.