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The First Agreement: “Be impeccable with your word.”

Ruiz begins describing the First Agreement by explaining the power of the word, and how it can be used for both creation and destruction. The word is a uniquely human trait that allows us to manifest our intent in the world. The human mind is a fertile ground, but it is only fertile for what we are willing to receive, and most human minds are only willing to receive fear, not love. In this way, the word is a form of pure magic, according to Ruiz, and misusing it is a form of black magic. Words may cast or break “spells” on others by their power alone, if one is willing to receive the words. Negative words from other people can put spells on us and take root in our minds, becoming beliefs if we are willing to accept them. Positive words can interrupt those beliefs and break the spell.

Ruiz next describes impeccability. He defines it to mean “without sin,” but rejects a religious conception of sin. According to Ruiz, sin is doing anything that is against yourself or harms yourself. In this way, the gravest sin is self-rejection, which is utterly against oneself. To be impeccable with your word, you must not use it against yourself or against any others, because using it against others creates negative reactions that harm the self as well. Misusing the word is a perpetuation of the dream of hell that we live in, and a form of black magic.

Ruiz uses the example of gossip as a pure emotional poison that spreads opinions and judgments that cloud our vision with a never-ending chain of hatred and harm, fueled by misinformation and lies. He compares it to a computer virus that has infected the whole world and prevents it from functioning properly. This misuse of the word and spreading of emotional poison extends to ourselves, as well, when we project our opinions onto ourselves and others, trying to justify our point of view. Because our minds are fertile ground for fear, we accept the emotional poison, but Ruiz encourages us to open our mind to self-love, not self-hate, and to accept only the seeds of love by being impeccable with our word and not using it against ourselves.

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