Going Inward
Love in the time of coronavirus
“At any meaningful turning point in life, we must face our deepest fears in order to grow. And typically a turning point can feel like the worst thing that could happen to us. At one level we are at a collective turning point, we’re at a place where we must stop and listen to the body of humanity, even listen to the voice of the earth. We have to stop despite the fears of the stock market crashing and in spite of the common belief that everything must keep expanding, so that we must avoid all possibilities of a major descent.
And yet, we may have already reached that point where individual travel is being restricted for the benefit of all. Where instead of rushing about, flying about, we are being asked, not just to stop and hold in place, but in a way to turn inward…But the human soul is always seeking to grow and transform. That’s what usually sets us off on a journey or a pilgrimage… the outward journey is intended to separate us from the daily rounds of life, in order that we might make that great journey, which is the inward journey.
The real aim of any pilgrimage is to arrive at the place of the deep self and soul.- Michael Meade
I’m a confirmed introvert. My habits won’t change much now that the world is going into hiatus. I notice a lot of people worrying about not being able to get out and about, especially in America, which is an extraverted culture and where there is no social safety net to speak of. This looks like an intense learning period. We are going to see what kind of world we have built and how fragile it is for every living thing.
We have been rushing toward the precipice at breakneck speed. Maybe this little time out will afford us an occasion to notice the dystopian future we are feverishly building. Maybe we can take this opportunity to reassess our ideas and methods. Maybe we can reconsider our unkind practices and mechanical relationships.
I’m expecting some good writing to come out of this time, some good art and fertile insights, in spite of the pain and suffering of millions. It’s time. It’s time to look in the mirror and reconsider things we have accepted for far too long. Both personally and collectively we need new ways, new thoughts, new constructs.
This is a crisis and an opportunity. This is how we learn. It’s not going to be smooth or easy. There will be strive and conflict. There will be outrages and crimes. Small minds and hearts will show themselves. But large vision and kindness will arise too, and we shall see generosity assert itself.
As an American, I’d like to see a shift toward inclusiveness and a reduction of fear and distrust. This enforced sabbatical will give us all a chance to examine our lives and perhaps make some changes. The world is demanding another way forward.
As factories and industries shut down, the natural world breathes a sigh of relief. Our soul relaxes a bit. We look up and notice a calm descending on the world, in spite of our health and financial concerns. Adjustments and new ideas will no doubt rush into this space. People are endlessly inventive.
This time presents an opportunity for invention, self appraisal, new ideas and insights, but most of all it affords us the chance to see the ubiquitous sacredness of our world, and to discover our heart’s connection to it.
Those of us who consider ideas and beauty our bailiwick have our work cut out for us. Let us be the imaginal cells of a new paradigm.
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- Anima Fire is my publication
- https://medium.com/anima-fire/medium-com-anima-fire/home
