we failed

i guess

and terribly so …

 

two years on

and the virus still spreading

five million & counting already dead from this bug

 

but not only the Corona virus has hit humanity

other viruses – much more devastating – have befallen us

 

 

 

ignorance

 

irrationality

 

polarization

 

dis-unity

 

 

 

maybe not deadly for our body

those viruses are deadly for our soul

 

not only the individual souls that we are

but the soul of humanity

 

the we of us

our shared humanity

 

the same thread that connects us all

that common humanity is anyway already splintered, fragmented and severed in many ways

it is threatened now in a much more severe way

 

folks, friends, brothers and sisters!

if we can not manage to find a unified science-based approach to a pandemic, a global virus threatening our health and economy

how will we ever unify to find real solutions to the unprecedented self-made monster that is threatening the future of humanity per se???

 

yes!

i am talking about

GLOBAL WARMING

 

~~~

 

And now I have nothing more to say

because i weep

inside

 

 

But i will reprint here some of the articles i wrote in March 2020, when it all became clear that this is not just a flu and not a thing contained in far-away China, but an avalanche heading our way …

 

 

 

Corona Initiation

March 20, 2020

 

A spiritual initiation happens when a person is ready to take the next evolutionary step, the transition into the next higher level of consciousness.

It is like a landmark or a tipping point on one’s life’s journey.

In hindsight, it is usually remembered as a time in which we changed our thinking, and therefore our way of life.

With each spiritual initiation, our potential expands. Therefore our actions take us on a new, more life-affirming and integrated path and our destiny changes accordingly.

Often, spiritual initiations are accompanied by experiences of great inner or outer pressure, drama, disruption and upheaval.

There is no way around that, we have to shed our skin to get thru the bottleneck.

In a metaphorical sense, the old me has to die to be reborn anew.

Now a powerful and unlikely spiritual initiation has arrived on Earth in the form of the Coronavirus. It is sweeping across the globe, affecting everyone and everything in its path.

This teacher is now successively interrupting life as we know it more and more, showing us the impermanence and fragility of our life and lifestyle – foreshadowing what we can expect, as climate change progresses. 

This spiritual teacher has the power to stop the whole hustle and bustle of the human world and progress, all of our entertainment, enjoyment and ambition, our plans and goals.

It brings us right to the present moment.

Just what is here now.

All across the globe – more or less – people are – more or less – confined to their homes.

All across the globe, people are speaking/hearing this spiritual teacher’s name: Corona.

The Coronavirus has the potential to kill millions worldwide very quickly. 

And the virus also has the potential of being a spiritual initiator, the impulse that is needed to bring humanity to the next level of a more functioning and human collective & unified society.

How so?

In our day-to-day lives, we are lulled into merely skimming the surface layer of what life really is in its full potential.  We can easily fall asleep into a habitual trance that preserves the status quo.

What can awaken us from this state of sleepwalking – usually – is a personal or collective crisis.

Often a personal crisis has the power to shatter our daily routine.  Cancer, depression, heart-attack, job loss, divorce, loss of a loved one or a near-death experience or certain peak-experiences can crack the shell of ingrained habits and initiate us into a journey of self-discovery.

A collective crisis has the potential to wake up the masses, to shift the collective consciousness. 

Climate change and global pandemics serve as potential species-wide initiations. 

Recognizing the possibility that Corona may kill millions can activate dormtant spiritual instincts, bringing into consciousness such powerful spiritual inquiries as:

 

Who am I?

What am I doing here?

What is my purpose, place and destiny?

 

What can i contribute to a new world that is better than the world we left behind, before Corona hit us?

 

At the time i am writing this, nobody knows yet how hard the pandemic will hit, how may lifes will be lost in tragic ways and how devastating it will be economically and existentially for individuals, families, businesses, companies and the rest.

Nobody knows which governments will be more and which will be less successful with their countermeasures.

And nobody knows how we will get back to normal, after the infection curve has flattened out and diminished.

And we can finally go back to our normal life.

 

But – do we really want to go back to “normal”?

 

It might be then to see it as a chance for a whole fresh start, think intelligently about all the things that are dysfunctional, disconnected, tangled, destructive, separating, cruel, ignorant … inhuman in our societies.

All the qualities of the good, the true, the beautiful that are inherent in a human being may be valued then.

And people who embody such qualities may be our leaders.

So be it :  )

Amen Amen Amen

Om Tat Sat

 

Andrà tutto bene

March 15, 2020

 

‘Andrà tutto bene’
‘Everything will be all right’

That’s a message and also a movement that comes out of one of the of the presently most Coronavirus-affected countries in the world – Italy.
And it is shared in children’s paintings and drawings circulated on social media, in posters and improvised flags.
.
This spirit is also shared by adults and kids singing and playing instruments on their balconies for their neighbors. And probably for themselves as well. 

To re-assure their uncertain and frightened heart.

Certainly … re-assurance and strong faith that “also this will pass” is what we all will need soon.

The world faces a situation that we have not yet experienced in our generation.
Something invisible that strikes humanity worldwide in short succession and affects rich and poor and the powerful people as well as the homeless and downtrodden in similar ways.

And the severe disruption of life-as-we-know-it will be unprecedented in the next few months to come.
No more business-as-usual will be possible in most countries of the world.
Things will change fast and unpredictable so.

It will hinge on everybody, from the top of governments worldwide, down to every individual, how we can deal and adapt to those sweeping changes.
How strong our resilience and flexibility and solidarity and creativity is.
If we want & can stay positive and constructive or if we give in to fear, anxiety, dissociation, self-centeredness and such.

As in every existential crisis or disaster, the best and the worst in the individual person and in society will become visible very clearly.
This is no time to stick the head into the sand.
This is not the time to indulge in conspiracy theories.
Not the time at all to look for scapegoats and point fingers.
Not the time to believe in irrational hopes and miracles.
Not the time to spread fear, gloom and doom.

I guess now is the time to stay grounded, practical and clear-headed.

These days Facebook, Youtube and Twitter together with the other social medias will certainly be the amplifiers of misinformation, confusion and simply overkill of personal opinions and panic.

Or – on the positive side – it could also be what it has originally promised to be:
A way to build community and to get together beyond the restriction of place and time.
A possibility to practically organize and help where help is needed.

A new and organized form of virtual but real neighborhood could be formed, a possibility to watch out for one another, without jeopardizing the lockdown and social-distancing that is absolutely crucial to stop or slow down mass infection.
Organizing solidarity actions, pooling and sharing resources.

Maybe it could also become a forum to offer advice and a therapeutically sensitive “open ear”, so people can voice their fears and release some of their psychologic burdens.

It is obvious that individual action and co-operation is only the grassroots basis for large scale action by governments.

 Leaders of all kinds of institutions on international, national, state & community levels need to make clear, transparent and decisive actions that slows the infection rates by widespread testing and quarantines for infected populations.

Accepting the shutting-down of daily life as we know it, following the guidelines with discipline and humility will be the determining factor for how long the crisis will last.

I guess even deeper than the fear of catching the virus will be the anxiety and uncertainty about the economic fallout. The existential threat that this situation will pose to many small and middle-sized companies, to legions of employees and hourly-wage workers.
I can not really imagine how this will work out, i pray and hope for miracles – honestly!

This can only be solved by unprecedented solidarity and generous, unbureaucratic actions of governments, central banks and … billionaires.

Wouldn’t this be a miracle if the richest people of this world, the billionaires , the top 1% who hold 44% of the worlds wealth would share it with the rest of us, use it to keep people in business and the economy alive.

For me – this would be a wonderful and true miracle : )

But with or without such a miracle, in the short run, for many of us who don’t have a whole lot of cash in the bank or who live from the hand to the mouth it will be tough.
It will need a lot of downsizing, minimizing, smart organizing, flexibility and … creativity.

And solidarity.
Sharing.
Giving.
Pooling.
Collaboration.
Community action.
Unselfish empathic behavior.

These are all very nice and ideal words, but how can we live them, where can we find the strength when the going gets tough? 

 

A lot of us will be out of work soon, with more time on our hands than usual.
I suggest not to waste it with worrying too much, with spending too much of it in front of the TV, the computer screen, facebooking or reading endless disjointed Twitter streams.

I suggest to strengthen family ties, neighborhood ties, friendship ties.
Doing something good and practical for somebody in your immediate environment.
Spending time with your cat/dog/horse/canary if you have one ;  ). 

Walk the dog for some elderly neighbor who is not allowed to leave the house anymore.

Communicate your situation, share your fears – but don’t stop there.
Try to give hope, inspiration, elevate the mood with humor … … such things.

This time of forced retreat could also be a gift to take quality time with yourself.
Reflect on your life as you know it.
Is it what you want to be, what you want to live?
Taking stock.

Could this be a chance to set out in a new direction after the crisis is over.

I suggest to start to meditate, watch your breath, train yourself to be in the moment.
Discipline yourself to empty the mind of negativity and worries.

Remind yourself what are your skills and qualities, what you could contribute to the world.

Remind yourself of the fact that “also this will pass!”.

Remind yourself of the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit – of your spirit – that has already lived thru many many many sorts of crisis.

Most importantly, don’t let fear and anxiety take over. 

This is the time to be strong and and uplifting and encouraging.

 

This will be especially important for those of us who have or care for children.
For them you need to be example now, so they learn how to deal with crisis, how to act responsible for the good of the whole instead of closing the doors and be depressed.

Fore these children – the people of tomorrow – it will be important to be able to live with radical change, to have learned the tools to deal with uncertainty and turmoil and to have acquired a lot of skills that are not learned in the present school systems.

For them, Coronavirus crisis might be the real school.

 

Well, i hope i could express a somewhat positive, yet realistic and constructive perspective, how i see this situation.
If you want to comment or share something personal, please use the comment section or email me directly.

In case of psychologic emergency or if you need spiritual advice or support you are welcomed to contact me.

[email protected]
www.crisrieder.org

May all beings be in peace

Cris