Do Words Have Souls?

I like people who use words in good faith.
We have the word 言霊/kotodama here in Japan.
It refers to the traditional belief that uttering a thought breathes life into it.
Moreover, to utter good words brings us good things and to utter bad words brings us bad things.
The word tells us that you must not use harsh words to others.
If the last word that you told to someone was "Go to hell" and
after that the person passed away, it's too late for regret.
So there are a great deal of taboos surrounding special occasions, such as wedding ceremonies and funerals.

The other day, I attended my best friend's wedding party and signed my signature as a witness.
After the ceremony, her mother told me in private,
"Please keep an eye on them to avoid being their witness in divorce."

After that, I had to give a speech in front of a lot of their wedding guest, but since I didn't prepare a story, I was speaking in platitudes and so I repeated, without thinking, what her mother had said to me. As you can imagine, the word "divorce" is the worst word to be spoken at a wedding ceremony. When I realized this, it was too late. Scissors, knives, or any other word that makes you imagine division are also not allowed to be used at a wedding party. There are too many!

I was the one who couldn't use words in good faith.