Last month, we explored COVID-19 as a reset point – a calling to remember the Singular (Omniversal) nature of our interconnected, inter-related, inter-dependent existence and purpose.
A mere month later, the COVID-19 reset has proved comprehensively game changing.
It has equalized human experience beyond any other imaginable means. It has exposed polarities of perception; inequalities all around the world individually, culturally, socially, politically and economically.
The unpredictable behaviour, symptoms and possible side effects of the virus, continues to challenge us in countless ways.
The news stream of human tragedy has brought us a little closer in remembering our common humanity. Sadly, it has delivered an intensification of what are for many already challenging circumstances In the stories of suffering and ‘physical death’, whom amongst us has not contemplated our own mortality – our own ‘Departure’?
In every conceivable way, COVID-19 is pushing us to re-imagine and re-create ourselves anew.
So, how are we doing?
Lockdowns are delivering huge contrast between the inner and outer aspects of our physical, psycho-emotional and existential experience.
Clearly, each of us is having a uniquely different experience. Yet equally our individual experience is subtly reshaping collective experience.
This reshaping is fundamentally one of relationship.
Enforced requirements to set aside our immediate desires, to moderate our individual will to that which is for the greater good, is requiring us to re-evaluate and reset our choices and priorities around relationship.
Many have embraced social isolation as an opportunity to reach out to others and in so doing have rediscovered the value of relationship.
Many are finding a new willingness to assist others who are ‘doing it tough’. Many are developing new levels of tolerance, empathy and compassion; discovering the value of cooperation and collaboration and valuing a stronger sense of community.
For some, it has sparked a greater appreciation of what we do have as opposed to yearning for what we don’t have. For some this means needing and spending less.
We are discovering new avenues of communication that are enabling us to connect and communicate with each other in a new light – perhaps even to see – that we are not so different (separate) after all.
Our new rallying cry: ‘We are all in this together’ is potentially much more than a motivational mantra.
Rather, it represents a call to reflect on our common existential reality – to remember that in a fundamental way, we are never disconnected from any other or thing.
In the greater context, COVID-19 is an opportunity to get to know ourselves as we truly are – as opposed to the self we think we are… For whilst social isolation diminishes the outer experience of relationship with others, it intensifies the inner relationship with oneself.
Even as social isolation increases personal (physical) relationship, boundaries it brings us face to face with ourselves.
This is real ‘Face-Time’!
The Inner Face-Time of social isolation can feel very uncomfortable, as it is easier to be inauthentic amongst others than it is to be inauthentic by oneself.
Inner Face-Time is bringing us face to face with the ‘Emptiness’ of Separation Thought.
The interplay between the rational and intuitive aspects of mind – our emotional and mental states reflects our ‘psycho-emotional mindset.
Yet, this only operates in balance if we are in alignment with our Soul Centre.
If not in alignment, a gap’ develops between the ‘Soul Centered being’ we truly are – and the (‘Separated) ‘self’ we perceive ourselves to be.
This ‘gap’ ’is an belief in an ‘i’ as a ‘Something’ – a ‘me’ as opposed to‘you’ in a world disconnected from the interconnected ‘Everything’ – beyond which appears to be ‘Nothing’.
Separation Thought reflects a seemingly unbridgeable ‘gap’ between an apparently Separated ‘i’ (self) and the Soul Centered ‘I’ (Self).
This ‘gap’ gives rise to a pervading sense of lack—an ‘Emptiness’ that we experience as a subtle, inexplicable uneasiness or anxiety within our sense of being.
This Emptiness is ‘fear based’. It reflects the lack of connection with our Soul Centre. It has ¬many expressions. It is in the subtle sense of disconnection, that underlying anxiety of feeling lost, alone and unsupported, that inability to unconditionally trust life – trust ourselves and others.
Emptiness is reflected in our feelings of unworthiness, guilt and shame. It is in the sense of lack of real meaning and purpose to our lives.
It is clear that Inner Face-Time is triggering levels of Emptiness for many, sadly observable in the rising projection of anger and resentment and incidence of violence both domestic and otherwise.
In the pre- COVID-19 ‘normal’ it was easier to deflect, distract and alleviate the Emptiness of Separation Thought. Nowadays, even the bottle shop is a dwindling option for those needing a ‘tipple’ to cope with Inner Face-Time.
Separation Thought produces Polarities on every level of our perceived experience, most tangibly as ‘Thought-Feeling Polarity’. However thoughts and feelings are fundamentally inseparable.
It is not possible to ‘think our way’ out of Emptiness without having also to process what we are feeling.
We don’t like to feel our Emptiness, because its core sense of disconnection, anxiety and unworthiness feels overwhelmingly painful.
It is tempting to try to ‘think it away – to rationalize these feelings as caused by a force outside of ourselves – by seeing it as a ‘fault’ in a (Separated) ‘other’.
Yet, the challenge in feeling our Emptiness is to see it as a vital ‘healing’opportunity on our ‘spiritual path’.
The Inner Face-Time of enforced self isolation is supporting all of us on our ‘spiritual path’ – to become more present to what is in our hearts – to restore alignment with Soul Center – to unlock our Inner Guidance and realize hitherto untapped reservoirs of Soul Centered creativity.
Resisting feelings of Emptiness is futile. For that ‘which we resist – persists’!
After all, the Emptiness of Separation Thought is but the resistance to (denial of) Soul Centre.
The only ‘healing’ of Emptiness is to ‘get present’ – to dive into – to accept – and to surrender to what we are feeling.
The point of maximum acceptance of what we are feeling/experiencing, is the point of maximum Soul self empowerment.
This point is the place from which to call upon our personal ‘guides’ whether we know them as ‘Spirit’, ‘Soul’, ‘Source, Creator’, ‘God’, an ‘Ascended Master’; Angel or otherwise – to illuminate our way through Emptiness.
Once so called, our work is done, as if our acceptance is maximal, some level of healing of Emptiness is assured.
Although I have been on my ‘spiritual path’ for many years, Inner Face-Timeexperience is teaching me much. Whilst it has positively ‘persuaded’ me to a new exercise regime, I have realized how much I have taken the company of others for granted.
I have been surprised by the level of my own Emptiness based cabin fever’. I miss being able to hug my daughter and grand-daughter. I miss the stimulation of everyday social life; my café confabs with friends.
As my wife, Carole insightfully observed as we were trying to dodge and distance from others in the supermarket – ‘It takes a lot of energy to stay separate from each other’!
We truly are all in this together. As our journey continues, we can further open our minds to what this really means! We can open our minds to hitherto unimagined ways of living and growing together.
Whilst many are itching to get back to ‘normal’, others are expressing reluctance to return to ‘the way things were’. Inner Face-Time has already sparked a desire in many to find a better way of living and working together.
It is already impossible for us ever to return exactly to ‘the way things were’! We all know too well how little time it can take to form or change a habit and for a new one to take hold?
Yet as we individually engage our Inner Face-Time and heal more of our our Emptiness, we extend this growth to others. This expands the the collective which in turn supports the individual to grow – back into the remembering of interconnectedness.
Indeed, it is likely, many who have recovered from the virus (beginning with the initial shock of onset of symptom or positive diagnosis), may have had (and continue to have) life changing rites of passage, even ‘paranormal’ experiences such as ‘near death’, that for some will have sparked or reinvigorated their own spiritual path of Soul Self discovery.
Perhaps some of them will be the spiritual seekers, healers, teachers and wayshowers of tomorrow!
I’m sure there is much more you can add to this picture, so I would love to hear from you of your own COVID-19 observations and experiences.
Until next time, please stay safe.
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