Knowledge Map:

Knowledge Map of the Hidden Words

by Juli Redson-Smith

[note from webmaster: I've prepared three different versions
of this artistic piece to provide three different sizes. -J.W.]

Click on any of these images to enlarge or download

small image (501x378 pixels, 256 colors, 47K)

medium image (707x536 pixels, full color, 94K)

large high-resolution image (982x745 pixels, full color, 503K)

1. How did you conceive of and make the knowledge map?

When I wrote an outline of subjects in the Hidden Words it seemed a way to assist me in finding them again.

Conception:

One of the questions asked in the syllabus was: "Are the Hidden Words in any kind of order?" I looked at that question and began to write down themes and which Hidden Words "fit" with that theme. I was astonished to discover that a book I had always looked at randomly actually did have a beautiful pattern and that many of the Hidden Words were related to the others. I began to think if there was a way to present this pictorally.

I found I had to narrow my categories in order to fit things together in a way that made sense. My main purpose in putting this together was so that I could find Hidden Words when I needed to use them. Often, in deepenings or discussions, I know that there is a Hidden Word that applies to the situation, or that a quotation is part of a Hidden Word, but I can never quickly find the one I wish to reference. I decided that a map might be a

great way to travel through the Hidden Words and to find my way back again. The Hidden Words easily divided into the two "halves" of the Persian and the Arabic Hidden Words and I was again amazed to see that they had only a few themes in common. The Arabic dealt with the nature of God and the station of man and the relationship between the two, and the Persian provided more individual guidance on the spiritual development of man.

Process:

I then went into a printing program, Printmaster Gold, and selected pictures that seemed to illustrate the ideas and themes that I had discovered. I reviewed my ideas with a close Baha'i friend, adapted the illustrations, printed them out. Then I handwrote the words. It took several iterations before I was able to fit all the categories onto the page and arrange them so they were easy to see and easy to follow. Originally I thought of making it like a road map, but quickly discovered that there was a better way, because the Hidden Words are not really linear and it was difficult to say you progress or travel directly from here to there. So, eventually I designed a more almost spiderweb-like design — but I was able to work with it and able to find the Hidden Words I needed again and again.

I think this will be useful for me in presenting firesides and deepenings, and I have made a copy that I have put into the front of my book and that I will use a lot. It is one of the most useful and wonderful projects I have ever done.

2. What is the knowledge map designed to present?

Subjects addressed in the Hidden Words by topic or grouping

3. What problems did you overcome in developing the knowledge map?

• Narrowing the subjects into definable groupings
• Laying out the map so it was easy to follow
• Making it interesting to look at — not just words
• "Categorizing" the individual verses
• I had wanted to make it more linear, like a logical progression or road map — but came to realize that the Tablet doesn't lay out that way — it has multiple approaches and paths, not just one

4. How do you plan to use the knowledge map?

• To be able to quickly reference subjects in the Hidden Words so I can find them again, to avoid "Oh, I know it's one of the Hidden Words, but can't remember which one!"
• Share with other Baha'is who also use the Hidden Words a lot
• Outline a deepening and/or fireside on the Hidden Words
• To be able to use them for other firesides and deepenings on specific subjects.

Other Comments:

I never realized how the Arabic and Persian actually address different subjects, for the most part. It really helped me grasp a previously undefined (in my mind) pattern to the Tablet and to understand Baha'u'llah's teachings and emphasis in a new way.