By Drena Griffith
Editor's Note: Often Lorian receives questions that don't have a single answer due to the ways that individuality and sovereignty shapes our practice of Incarnational Spirituality. The following blog post reflects a single person's insights and opinion and does not necessarily reflect the sentiments or thoughts of any other person in Lorian or Lorian as a whole.
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Question: What is the spiritual reason for the coronavirus?
Actually I don’t believe there is an overarching spiritual reason for the COVID-19 pandemic, or why troubling events happen in general.
In times of distress and difficulty, it's a very common desire to want to know why. I’ve experienced this myself at times.
For many this new viral threat sparks waves of panic, a silent assassin lurking in shadows. We don’t like feeling powerless, yet in any given moment of our lives we stand in front of any number of unseen possibilities that render us vulnerable to forces beyond our comprehension, threatening our boundaries and sense of safety.
I think the desire for a “reason behind” the novel coronavirus is an attempt to control the uncontrollable. If we have a reason, then that means that maybe we can do something more than wash our hands, stop touching our faces and making ourselves lonely in isolation. Or if we cannot do something, then maybe we can at least find someone or something to blame.
It is certainly tempting to remain passive and surrender our agency to spiritual powers we feel to be greater than us, but we’re the ones, right now, in the midst of the crisis. If we don’t feel empowered, then we cannot stand in sovereignty. If we cannot stand in sovereignty, which enhances our ability to take meaningful action in response to difficult circumstances, then we miss a vital opportunity to connect with this most critical moment.
This is one paradigm from which to respond to current events. I’d like to suggest another: let’s look within.
Instead of looking for a spiritual reason behind COVID-19, let's ask how we can make a spiritual meaning of this unfolding experience for ourselves. How have our lives and the lives of those around us been impacted? How are we taking responsibility for our part in this turmoil? How are we embracing this unique opportunity?
Here’s the thing - what we believe about this situation influences how we will act in response. How we respond co creates the result, which thereby makes us, denizens of humanity, the purpose-makers. We are living answers to the question.
Through such a lens, there are as many different purposes for COVID-19 as there are beings on the planet. The exact same situation can cause one to respond with distrust, another with compassion, and yet another with fear. The meaning of anything is conferred on the object of our questioning by us, and that in turns impacts the whole of our existence.
So what meaning are we making of this for ourselves? What purpose are we sharing via our words, actions and responses with our friends, neighbors and silent onlookers?
For me, the act of meaning making starts as I recognize myself as in partnership with all aspects of this crisis, including COVID-19 and other coronaviruses.
Microbes are part of the ecology of our world and have their place, as we do, as all the generations of living beings do: grandmother and grandfather stones and mountains, our deep-divers and creepy-crawlies,four-leggeds, winged ones; and star-beings. We all share the same world, and our feelings and actions significantly impact those around us,whether we see and know them or they are strangers to us. Everything is a fractal of ultimate consciousness and often we forget the role that chaos plays in divine creation.
Even so, who enjoys feeling chaotic? Going deeper within, this viral crisis occurs in the midst of personal upheaval. For long months I have felt like I’ve been wandering mostly in the dark. Several weeks ago, my mentor Jane and I discussed the thick foggy haze seeming to be resting upon us individually and in some ways collectively. “I’m waiting for a sign,” I told her. Jane shook her head. “Now is not the time for signs. We’re going to have to figure things out on our own.” Now, within a matter of days, even dim outer lights have extinguished as nearly everything around me screeches to a halt. People are sick, lonely and scared. I am concerned about our nation and our world. And yet a part of me feels more alive at this moment than I have felt in years. Finally.
Facing my true north, I ask for support from my human companions and inner “Powers that Be” to continue taking meaningful steps, as inner eyes don’t need outer light. As a direct response to COVID-19, I am assessing my responsibilities to my human community, self-isolating as much as possible to protect those more physically vulnerable than I am, and partnering with family members and neighbors to gather supplies as needs arise. The few times I have to leave home, I endeavor to keep a smile on my untouched face, to say thank you to those in service at this time, and if possible, turn to a stranger and ask how they are. Every day or so I am taking a few moments to reach out to friends, loved ones, even a few adversaries. We’re all in this together, and this is the perfect time to tend to shadowy things.
I am cherishing and holding close those whom I love, and expanding that love to hold unknown parts of myself and others. I am reading excerpts from the Great Web of Creation and seeing many creative and healthy responses. I see greed and scarcity mindset fueling impulsivity and hopelessness. I see a wave of inspiration on the horizon, and a growing number of people deeply concerned about the dangerous circumstances and their own uncertain futures, but also secretly glad for a chance to breathe. Some of us haven’t slowed our frenetic, hustling pace in a long time.
Now we all have an opportunity to reassess and make sure our external actions are aligned with the values that we profess. This situation inspires me to finally embrace vulnerability as its own radical truth and hold close the unknown forces beyond my control with the immense love that I feel towards all of us right now, across the world and yet standing apart, alone in a new, unfamiliar dark. This, for me, is the growing edge of inner truth. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, I bless this opportunity to listen to my soul and stand before my human family and share: the meaning and purpose I craft gently with my own hands right here, right now, will be my mantra when the sun returns and the way forward is once again clear.
What is the reason behind the novel coronavirus for you? What will be your mantra and manifestation of inner wisdom? I wish you the courage to answer these questions for yourself with honesty and grace.