Returning To The Innocence Of Being + Reflections On The Pandemic

<p class="p1">It’s surreal to think that it’s been three years since the pandemic started. It’s even more disorienting to reminisce about how different the world was than in contrast to now; and although many have collectively adjusted to the changes in daily life, one thing is definitely certain; the pandemic changed the way in which we see the world and how we see ourselves.  Whether these changes came as a result of losing someone we loved, falling ill from the virus, or feeling through all of the unexpected changes in the way that we lived life, it seems that we were all collectively faced with the reckoning of a type of dark night of the soul experience…at a global level.</p> <p class="p1">Almost overnight, the many conveniences and societal norms we had grown accustomed to co existing with were no longer available to us. And while I won’t list all the ways in which we were negatively impacted, what seemed absolutely clear from the spiritual perspective, is that many of us were grieving the loss of certain parts of ourselves that we weren’t prepared to let go ; at least in the beginning.</p> <p class="p1">One of the greatest teachings of the pandemic was helping to illuminate how dependent we were on the world outside.  It showed us how strongly we identified with certain roles and images we had in society and how reliant we were on maintaining these images and roles we played. And as challenging of a situation it was,  It allowed us a deeply profound  and rare opportunity to sit with ourselves and re evaluate how we had been living our lives.  It allowed us the ability to re evaluate how we see ourselves, how we see relationships, how we see others and how we see the world.  Of course, not everyone took this opportunity.  Though for many, it became one of the most powerful catalysts for spiritual awakening.</p> <p class="p1">Often when we think of awakening, we conjure up expectations filled with fluffy new age ideas and beliefs.  Though, enlightenment is much more subtle than momentary experiences of divin