Finally, mysteries emerge in these professional acts of transformation and the work of professionals at a level about the secular. Something new has emerged from a professional engagement that can evoke both appreciation and (at times) a sense of awe. That which is surprising and outside the ordinary is Sacred.
Transformation: Eliade writes about the transformative role played by the Sacred. Professionals, in turn, are in the business of transforming – not just repairing. Accountant professionals “miraculously” turn a cluster of expense statements, invoices and bank accounts into a tidy and clearly organized balance sheet and statement of assets and liabilities. Lawyers operate in a world where they confront a cluster of facts and speculations that are contradictory (and often messy). This cluster is transformed into a straightforward judicial outcome: one of the plaintiffs does or does not win a judgment, and the defendant is innocent or guilty. Professors transform the student’s ignorance into knowledge, while the physician turns illness into health or injury into wholeness. There is often an even more powerful (though perhaps elusive) transformation for psychology professionals: from helplessness to hopefulness, from fear to courage.
Eliade (1959, p.57) proposes that “every construction and every inauguration of a new [sacred] dwelling are in some measure equivalent to a new beginning, a new life.” I would extend his analysis by suggesting that every construction of reality (be it a profit and loss statement or psychotherapeutic interpretation) serves in some manner as a new beginning. A new life is created when there is skillful and experienced engagement of a professional in one’s secular life. The secular becomes sacred when a professional construction takes place.
Pro-Action: There is an important, more historical reason to acknowledge the sacred nature of professions. This reason has to do with the term “profession” itself. If we examine this word in some detail, we find that it contains two parts. The second part is “fession.” This word component is also found in the word “confession.” The difference between these two words comes from the first part of each word. One is “pro” and the other is “con.” This difference makes sense, for profession is all about moving forward, freely asserting one’s knowledge and competence. The professional is proactive and filled with agency and free-will. The word “profession” comes from an old Latin word (professio) concerning public declaration. It is an active stance. A proclamation is made for all to hear (as in a graduation ceremony or wearing of a white jacket and stethoscope by medical doctors).
Conversely, confession concerns a prodding, a reaction, or a reluctant sharing of information. When confessing, we are complying with someone else’s request or demand. Or we are complying with our own internal sense of guilt and culpability. The word “confession” comes from an old Latin word (confessio) concerning one’s admission of doing wrong or making a mistake. This is a passive stance. A confession is something one doesn’t (at one level) want to do. However, as noted, it is done either by external coercion (legal, religious) or internal coercion (guilt, shame). These two words stand at the opposite ends of a spectrum of agency and free will. This spectrum is sacred. Both profession and confession come from and reside in the Sacred domain.
