Once again I’m finding myself in this familiar predicament, wanting so much to share, with the intention of assisting in some small way, and not knowing which is the most appropriate or effective way of doing so; which platform to use.  (though i also find that word, ‘platform’ a little strange, it has connotations of performing on a stage, on the one hand and of leaving the station on the other, neither of which I’m intending to do 🙂 
Such strange times we’re facing at the moment. Reflecting on it this morning, I became so aware of the irony of it all. We’re ‘self isolating’ at the moment, which is a good thing, given the circumstances we find ourselves in, but at the same time this very thing is one of the causes of our current crises. Allow me to explain what I mean.  
We have become more and more insular as people, and this has caused tremendous suffering. There is such a strong sense of disconnection and such loneliness in the world. So many of us live in ‘self units’ entirely cut-off from our neighbours.
The current pandemic can exacerbate this tendency if we allow it. 
I feel compelled to encourage all of us to use this time we’ve been given to do some deep inner reflection. It is so unusual for all of us NOT to be in fight or flight mode;  the all too familiar ancient mode of chasing or being chased. Our parasympathetic nervous system is finally being given a chance to rest and digest. Are you doing that? Are you slowing down enough for your being to truly rest? Are you aware of what’s going on inside? It is so easy to fall back into established habits, for example, the accumulation of information, the compulsive need to know. Of course a certain amount is necessary, we do need to be make informed decisions, but an over-emphasis of this aspect triggers the nervous system, which leads to anxiety, fear and even paralysis at times and so the cycle continues.
The age of information has its obvious advantages, but the down sides are often overlooked in the compulsion to know.  But how much do we really know? Is it possible for you to accept and be with the unknown?
What if, instead of surfing the net and being glued to our phones for the latest statistic, we reached out to someone via phone, to see how they’re doing. What if, instead of downloading yet another series to watch, we adopt a dog and take it for a walk, or find out how we can assist local clinics and hospitals with basic needs.What is asked of us at the moment?  
This pandemic and the ‘lockdown’ that was implemented provided us with such an incredible opportunity to go inwards. It allows us the chance to slow down, to reflect and to discover what we are holding in our inner worlds. It takes courage and patience to look within and to stay with that process; to take it as deep as it needs to go, to peel off the layers to discover what lies beneath. It is often quite surprising what is revealed and it can sometimes be quite scary, but the rewards are so numerous and the ultimate liberation is so profound that I would regard it as an essential practice.
The macrocosm (mother earth in this case) is just a reflection of the micro- and unless each of us takes responsibility for our inner lives and change from within, the outer chaos will continue and, if anything, worsen. If we can find the calm and stable energy within ourselves, each of us, and cultivate compassion and kindness towards ourselves, this will ripple out and will effect those around us and beyond. We need to become spiritual beings again, we have lost our sense of connection, not only to ourselves and each other, but also to a greater force.  
So what we need, in my humble opinion, is true connections, with real people.What the current situation is revealing, if anything at all,  is our interconnectedness and our collective vulnerability We do not need more information, we need more kindness, more love in our hearts, in order to re-discover that as the Chinese proverb goes, ‘we can not lift a finger without moving a star’, that we are all very connected and that everything we do has an impact. That we are all responsible to create the world we want to live in, a new world, based on care, kindness, generosity, compassion and wisdom. The world needs to become ONE as the Dalai Lama expressed. Let the winds of change blow! May all beings find healing, may all beings have peace, may all beings be free from suffering and the roots of suffering.

Check out all my art in the gallery section under Corona Chronicles