When Will This All End?

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We are all asking ourselves that question right about now!

In the first couple of months of our “COVID Adventure,” it seemed a bit exciting and even interesting. Of course, there was suffering too, but we all felt engaged in a global joint effort. We learned new routines and many of us got into new diversions and interests. We thought it would last for a few months and then life would get back to normal.

Now that it seems this experience will go on for at least many more months, and perhaps even another year or two, we’re all wondering how long it will last, how we’ll fare on a personal level, and what the outcome for our society will be.

Naturally, most of us have adapted to life under COVID. That’s what humans are really good at — adapting. And in some places around the world, things may even be more or less back to normal, at least from a day-to-day perspective. In other areas, like where I live in northern California, restrictions have not eased very much since the end of May. It feels like we’re living in a perpetual twilight zone of indeterminate length. But no matter where you live, you probably feel the global collective energy of suffering that envelops us all.

So when will this end? This must be answered on two levels – on the personal and on the global level. For both, the answer is essentially the same: This will continue until what is no longer brings suffering.

On a personal level, the COVID experience will end for you when your outer experience no longer seems onerous and your inner life feels more joyful once again. On a global level, this experience will end when the world goes through the same transition. How can we get there? I believe that we must achieve the first in order to achieve the second. That is, global healing will require more of us to be personally healed.

So how exactly do we do this?

To answer this question, we need to ask another: Why is this happening? Is it because a virus spread from a market in China or from a bioweapons lab? Is it the work of a cabal of technopharma evildoers?

I would like to suggest this: Blaming your suffering on external causes is a sure path to continued suffering,

Let’s entertain a new and deeper possibility, one that many in the spiritual community have been suggesting. Let’s try on a new theory about why this is happening:

Our current state of angst has been triggered by a spiritual energy whose underlying goal or purpose is to coax us individually and collectively into a shift in consciousness.

How it has manifested has taken many outward forms: the virus, fear of viruses, misguided notions about maintaining health, pollution, corporate and government corruption, greater awareness of racism and misogyny, climate disaster, and more. But outer circumstances have always triggered outer and inner forms of evolution. That is what and why this is happening now.

We all knew a change was coming. We didn’t know when, but the time is now.

Our next step is to acknowledge that each of us is reacting to these changes in a way that is unique to us. For some of us it is anger and impatience. For others it is fear, worry, depression, or guilt. Yet others choose the escape route and go into self-indulgence, self-drugging, or perhaps even suicide.

Your job is to recognize that your personal reaction to what is going on is your clue to the work you must now do.

Of course, this has always been true, even before COVID. But now it is critical that you engage with this truth.

Are you angry and impatient? Work on that. It’s likely been your go-to reaction to many things in life. Are you scared and anxious? Work on trust and letting go. Are you too drunk or stoned to even read this? Shake yourself back into consciousness. Are you sitting in blank depression? Get up and get going. Each of us has a job to do now.

To motivate you, I suggest that you begin by assuming that this is going to go on for at least until the end of 2021. Stop waiting for a vaccine or some other magic bullet to appear that will end your suffering. Assume that nothing will change for the next year or two.

Now, you have a choice.

1) Stay stuck in your current state and remain in pain and suffering for what might be years.

2) Heal your reaction to what’s going on, which is likely your typical reaction to many things in life, and evolve.

If you choose option 2, you will find that your personal process of healing will require you to do various things. Some will be outer actions. More important, though, will be inner processes of healing. For me, my tasks include going out more in nature, meditating more, getting back to my art and music, reducing my watching or reading content that stokes my fears, making more of an effort to socially connect and form bubbles with select friends and family, more healing work vis-a-vis my lifelong emotional habits, and building up my inner gratitude and trust. For you, it will mean other actions. Once you embark on this path, you will gradually become joyful again and your suffering will diminish on a personal level.

Finally, if enough of us choose option 2, the whole dynamic of the world will change. Perhaps we’ll share more of our personal resources with our neighbors. We’ll become more generous and less isolated. Governments will become less corrupt and violence will decrease. Global efforts to repair climate disaster will be energized. In other words, there will be a cascading effect and humanity will start doing what it needs to do to create a more joyful world.

So it’s up to you. And, it’s up to us.

Where There’s Fire There’s Smoke

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Greetings from California and the West Coast of the United States, land of fire and smoke. Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, those of us living in this part of the world have been visited by, first, unbelievable hot spells, then extremely rare lightning storms, and then rampant and huge fires accompanied by a blanket of smoky air. I myself was almost evacuated at one point due to the fire that raged on the San Francisco peninsula. Although it wasn’t the biggest fire in the state, it did cause some of the most damage to human life because it was in the most populated area, with about 1000 homes destroyed.

Thankfully, my husband and I were never evacuated, though we did have one set of friends who were evacuated for the same fire staying with us for a week. Now, just this past week, the Santa Rosa/Napa Glass Fire unfortunately claimed the home of another set of friends who are living with us while they get their bearings. One thing I can tell you — COVID recedes way into the back of ones consciousness during these experiences. They also put life and “possessions” in perspective.

We’ve lived in our home for nearly 40 years, so you can imagine — it’s chock full of possessions. During our own evacuation scare, we were all packed up and ready to flee, just in case. We also spent a day walking through our home thinking about the meaning or lack of meaning of all our “things” and what we’d do if we lost it all. At first we thought we might go northward to Oregon if we lost our home. That would have been a bad choice! Now the whole West Coast looks like burnt toast. Although our nearby fires are under control, we’ve had to stay inside because of the bad air and smoke. We even had one day that was so dark with smoke that it looked like it was night at 11am! Unfortunately, with climate disaster under way, the yearly fires, which have been growing steadily worse each year, are likely to continue and expand. We’re seriously contemplating relocating or at least buying some sort of “escape hatch” elsewhere. The recent loss of our friends’ home has only made that more clear.

I know this doesn’t have much to do with homeopathy, but while I have you here, I looked up the remedies recommended for smoke inhalation. In Murphy’s Repertory, the appropriate rubric is listed under: Toxicity, Vapors, Smoke inhalation. One of the number one remedies is Carbo Vegetabilis — not surprising! It’s made from burnt plants — vegetable charcoal. The full listing is as follows (note: italics, boldface, and capitalization all indicate various levels of importance or common use of the remedy for this symptom):

Bryonia, Calcarea Carbonica, Causticum, CARBO VEGETABILIS, Euphrasia, Natrum Muriaticum, Nux Vomica, Oleander, Sepia, SPIGELIA, Sulphur.

My Family’s COVID-19 Experience

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Today I am happy to report that my son Max, now 29 years old, has survived COVID-19 . Thankfully, his experience of the disease was no worse than a standard flu. I thought all of you might be interested in hearing about this experience, how homeopathy helped, and some lessons learned.

Max lives in Los Angeles and has worked for many years as a motion graphics artist, generally working in advertising for the movie and television industry. He spent March and April in lockdown on his own. For May and June, he came up north to the Bay Area (where my husband and I live) and stayed with us, but was anxious to return to LA at the end of June. Unfortunately, this was also when cases started to surge there.

Like many young people, Max wanted to get back to some semblance of his normally active social life. While he had been very careful about social distancing before he came up north, he became more lax upon his return to LA. He marched in a Black Lives Matter protest (that’s not where he got it) and started seeing some friends.

Max started feeling sick on July 25. He called all his recent contacts and they all got tested. Based on the results, it looks like Max got COVID from a friend who came to his apartment and was an asymptomatic carrier. Max later gave it to another friend the day before he felt sick. Happily, the asymptomatic carrier has remained well and the other friend got well within a week . Max, however, needed to spend a full two weeks at home before really feeling well.

So what did we do and what remedies did he take? The quick answer: during the entire two week period, Max only needed to take two doses of his standard constitutional remedy. Since this remedy (which had been prescribed by his homeopath about a year ago) helped him with another acute illness and because it happened to be a mineral remedy that included Phosphorus as a component (Phosphorus is one of the leading remedies for COVID), I was fairly confident it would be helpful for Max’s case of COVID — and it was.

Here’s a recap of Max’s symptom progression:
– Onset — tiredness, fever (which reached a maximum of 100.9 F), headache, and what he described as a “light-headed” feeling.
– This was followed by diarrhea, which lasted for several days.
– After taking the first dose of the remedy, Max’s fever went down below 100F and never went above that again. He felt more energy and the headache lessened. The diarrhea slowly diminished and normal stools reestablished by the end of the first week.
– I kept monitoring Max’s respiratory situation each day, but he never felt out of breath. The only respiratory symptoms he eventually developed were some nasal congestion, post nasal drip, and a bit of coughing.
– We called him twice a day and monitored his temperature. He also bought an oximeter online so that we could monitor his blood oxygen and it was always normal.
– After the first week, Max’s improvement seemed to stagnate and his fever went up slightly, so he took another dose.
– Over the course of the second week, his fever dissipated completely, the headache and lightheadedness went away, and all that remained was some nasal congestion and a bit of tiredness. He was also now able to do some work.
– According to the contact tracers who had called him after his positive COVID test, Max was free to come out of quarantine when there was no fever whatsoever for 3 days, and he emerged on August 10.
– After this, Max was still feeling a bit wiped out and didn’t feel 100% (eager to do work, exercise, etc.) until two weeks later, a month after he came down with symptoms. During that time, he took one more dose of his constitutional remedy, on the advice of his homeopath. It is also interesting that Max has been retested for COVID a couple of times since recovering and has had mixed results — both negative and positive. Apparently, you can test positive for a couple of months after recovering, even though you aren’t contagious anymore.

So what lessons have we learned?
– He was prepared. Max had kits of the 100 top remedies in both 30c and 200c potencies, which I had supplemented with some more obscure COVID-related remedies when he came to visit us. So I knew he was well prepared.
– The constitutional remedy is a good first line of defense, especially for healthy people. I am thankful that Max is under the care of a good homeopath, so we knew this remedy in advance.
– Guard and boost the immune system. Ever since the beginning of March, Max and the rest of my family have been taking daily doses of vitamin C (1000mg) and D3 (2000 IU = 50mcg). While he was sick, Max dosed with vitamin C three times a day. He will now reduce back down to once a day gradually (I have found that it’s important not to cut back on vitamin C too quickly).
– Stay in touch. Although Max doesn’t normally want to talk to Mom and Dad two times a day (what 29 year old does?), he was thankful for the fact that we were touching base frequently, especially since he was going through this alone. It was a big comfort to him (and to me!). At one point, some of his friends dropped some flowers and chicken soup outside his door, which was also a big morale booster.
– Asymptomatic carriers. I must admit, Max’s experience alerted me to the pervasiveness of asymptomatic carriers, especially among young people. Don’t get careless, even if someone is well, and especially if you’re not really sure of their behavior.
– Use tools to keep anxiety at bay. In general, Max stayed fairly calm throughout this experience. I’m proud to stay that I stayed pretty calm too — especially given that I tend to be an anxious person. One thing that helped both Max and me quite a lot was listening to the Logosynthesis meditation each day during this experience. I have mentioned the utility of this meditation in previous newsletters. I do it any time I feel any kind of anxiety about our collective experience of this virus. I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it has been! You can find it at this Youtube link. The essential component of the meditation starts at 5:40 and ends at 27:45, though I advise watching the full 30 minutes your first time around.

The good news is that hopefully! Max is now immune to COVID-19 going forward. The jury is still out on that. But if he’s not, then a vaccine will be of no use to anyone either (not that I’ll be standing in line to get one!). In the end, I believe the only way out is through. This experience, like every virus in history, must eventually run its course.

Our Purple Future

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If you have read my book Active Consciousness or have become familiar with my writing in general, then you know that having a vision of the future is what brings it into being. Toward that end, here is the bright future that lies ahead…

I have a dream. That the increasing possibility for and advantages of remote work will trigger a remarkable shift in human living patterns. Leaving crowded, expensive, and cramped quarters in the big cities, young families will now move to smaller and more affordable towns, bringing with them renewed energy and new ideas. That these once languishing rural outposts experience a rekindling of their past vigor and find new purpose. That these small towns also have the wisdom to enact laws that prevent gentrification and displacement and instead encourage cross-fertilization between new and old citizens. I have a dream!

I have a dream. That the newly reinvigorated towns dotting our landscape evolve in a remarkably wholesome way. Their local governments will now be composed of engaged people who bring new thoughts and old ideas together, merging big-city blue and small-town red into vibrant purple. The creativity and future-minded energy of the newcomers will blend with the experience, neighborliness, and grounded qualities of the old-timers. Wisdom from the region’s indigenous beginnings is sought out and welcomed too. I have a dream!

I have a dream. That the exodus from the big cities will bring to these once-frenetic citadels a calming of energy and pace. Their now diminished populations will enable service and support workers to once again live close to their jobs and in an affordable way. The new proliferation of electric self-driving cars will have a calming influence on pollution and tension as well. Shared public transport will be increasingly used. And weekend visits to the newly vibrant nearby towns will become a joyful diversion, which will also further invigorate them. I have a dream!

I have a dream. That the spreading out and localization of life on Earth changes the way we grow food and what we eat. All of us now have more room for home gardens. Local farms are able to serve the capacity of their region. Pesticide-free, renegerative agricultural practices become the norm and mitigate climate change. Waterways and the air are cleaner. Food is once again nutritious. The need for artificial medicines now lessens and local natural healers are able to handle most problems and become the norm. I have a dream!

I have a dream. That the localization of life also brings with it a lowered tendency towards global power and control. While we are definitely more interconnected globally, our local environments are more unique and creative. Although many jobs have become automated, it is handiwork and creativity — the personal touch — that is now most valued. The arts flourish. Each person becomes freer to follow their personal gifts and inclinations. I have a dream!

I have a dream. That this vision of our purple future is taking place worldwide. That we all look back on 2020 as the beginning of this change. That we know with certainty and trust that everything has happened for a reason — a reason that we couldn’t have understood or foreseen at the time. That our new human experience of life on Earth is unlike anything from the past and that, finally, we can say: humanity has reached a golden age. It is an age that we now know was fostered and nurtured by the force we call Gaia — the consciousness of our planet. I have a dream!

Get Current

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My teacher Gary Sherman often tells his students to “get current.” He means that, periodically, we all need to take stock of our lives and readjust to what is. That might mean looking through your clothes closet and donating items that you haven’t worn in years. It might mean looking at the design of your home or daily routine, getting out of whatever rut you’re in, and readjusting these things to your current needs and wants.

Right about now, it’s time for each of us to get current. I stopped looking at the “COVID curves” weeks ago. Why let them affect my mood each day, whether positively or negatively? What good does it do? Why waste time lamenting a lost job or something that was cancelled? Or constantly worrying about some hoped for event or feared scenario that may or may not take place? (As a worrier, that’s my own tendency). In the end, you’ll cross the bridges ahead when you come to them. Get current.

The Sedona Method teacher Hale Dwoskin often begins his release meditations with the phrase “Can you just be what you are?” or “Just for now, can you welcome what is?” I find that when I focus on these words, an inner sense of calm overtakes me. I just am. It’s also a great state of mind to be in when it’s time to get current.

The whole world seems to be busy getting current right now. The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of more police killings of black and brown people has given all of us a dose of what is. Of course, this has long been what was too. The same goes for the Me Too movement. It’s time to stop ignoring these societal patterns and get current. Let’s finally make real changes.

Ever since the beginning of June, I sense the tide is turning. The question is, will we return to our old habits and comfort zones, or shake ourselves awake and get current? As individuals and communities, we need to take these steps:

1) Let go of the past (and engage in whatever grieving process is necessary to do so);

2) Take stock of what is;

3) Decide what you really want and need now, given what is; and

4) Move forward to make that happen.

And don’t forget, when you engage in this process, active consciousness can help you along the way!

Let’s use this unusual time as an opportunity to create lives that truly serve us better. Your vision and intention really do play an important part.

More Hopeful Resources to Explore

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One of the most exciting pieces of news to come my way lately is the amazing successes the Indian state of Kerala is having with its egalitarian healthcare system, which includes the use of both homeopathy and Ayurveda. 20 million doses of Arsenicum Album were distributed free of charge as a preventative for COVID-19, and as of June 15, they’ve had only 19 deaths in a population of 35 million! In fact, this blog about Kerala’s successes went viral. Hopefully, the entire Indian government and the whole world will take notice of what’s truly possible with homeopathy.

Another movie about homeopathy! I think it’s truly excellent. It has a more scientific and less emotional tone to it than some of the recent movies and I believe it may get some skeptics to open their minds. It also includes one of the best explanations I’ve heard of how ultradilutions capture the energy of substance. Entitled “Homeopathy, Another way”, it was created with the help of French pharmacy Boiron. Be aware that the dialogue is in French with English subtitles. And watch it soon! It my only be available for free online for another month or two.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again — I love the monthly newsletters from Washington Homeopathics pharmacy. I encourage you to sign up for them — they always include interesting feature articles. I only wish they’d put them permanently online! June’s newsletter includes 2 great articles — one on how homeopathy is a nontoxic green medicine that doesn’t hurt the environment (unlike the heavily polluting pharmaceutical industry), and another that highlights famous women homeopaths from the past. Read it before it disappears.

Speaking of articles, in the past I’ve also pointed you to some written by my own homeopath, Deborah Olenev. She recently added one on the ever important topic of susceptibility, especially important these days. As she points out, this fundamental aspect of health and disease is left out of the dialogue in Western medicine. This omission underlies allopathy’s failure to understand that it is more important and effective to foster a patient’s health (thereby lowering their susceptibility) than it is to kill a virus.

Helpful and Hopeful Resources to Explore

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(This is from my May 2020 Impossible Cure Newsletter).

At this point, most of us are probably used to the “new reality” but are still coping with ups and downs. Who to trust? What to believe? How scared should we be? What level of protection do we have to engage in? Does anyone really know what they’re doing?

I’m in the same boat as the rest of you. I have good weeks and bad weeks. Hopeful and happy times as well as sad, disappointed, and scared times. Personally, I’m now more frightened of what society will do and become as a result of this experience than of COVID itself. But I also try to remember that fear just “brings it near” and positive intentions and beliefs are paramount! I’ve also learned to shield myself as much as possible from the media hype and fearmongering. I no longer look at the “curves,” because I find that looking at them doesn’t really help anyone and only makes me feel worse. Beside, I have no choice but to follow my county’s rulings anyway.

I do know that nearly everyone has found their own comfort level — what they need to do in order to feel safe. I quickly learned that it was important for me to try to respect what each person thinks they need, because their belief system affects their immunity. Thus, if you think you need to stay 15 feet away from people to feel safe, you will more likely get sick if you only stay 6 feet away. If you believe you only need to stay 3 feet away from people, then doing so will likely suffice. Same for masks. Did you know that many countries (like Australia) never used them and have done very well?

Of course, there are limits. It’s all a matter of susceptibility. A healthy immune system (bolstered by belief, good eating habits, general health, sleep, etc.) can protect you. But if contagion and exposure is strong enough, anyone can fall ill. It’s all a possibility/probability game. There are no absolutes.

For all of these reasons, it’s important to not only bolster your immune system with physical measures (e.g., try to sleep well, drink plenty of water, take vitamins C, D, and Zinc — I usually take Zinc only if I feel I’ve violated my own comfort level, get some sun, go outside and breathe fresh air and get into nature if you can, exercise, and meditate) but also try to increase your own confidence in yourself and your natural healing abilities. I also find immense comfort in the fact that I have homeopathy if I do get sick. In fact, homeopathy has been successful in keeping COVID-positive people out of the hospital in almost all cases.

Here are some resources to check out that have all improved my overall attitude about my own sense of safety and well-being. Enjoy!

– Italian homeopaths report on their successful treatment of COVID-19. You can read either Dana Ullman’s summary or the original paper.

-There are other cases of homeopathic treatment and discussions about COVID-19 in the May 2020 issue of Hpathy. Signup is free. (By the way, this is an outstanding monthly publication and is well worth signing up for!)

– In this article that appeared on Medium.com, Dana Ullman talks about the subject of immunity, including homeopathy’s past successes in treating epidemics, as well as other effective methods afforded by alternative approaches to health.

– Zach Bush, M.D. puts everything into perspective vis-a-vis our relationship with viruses and life in general in this genius interview with Del Bigtree (start at minute 55).

– For the more esoterically-minded among you, I highly recommend listening to this Youtube created by Logosynthesis doctor Willem Lammers. I have found it useful whenever I’m having a down day and it invariably creates a positive effect in me.

COVID-19: Facing Loss, Letting Go

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As you might expect, homeopaths are busy trying to understand how to heal COVID-19 and to come up with a set of genus epidemicus remedies — the ones most likely to successfully treat the various stages of the disease. As more and more people become ill, more folks are contacting homeopaths. And as things progress, I will be especially interested in hearing from India, since homeopathy is a mainstream form of medicine there, with thousands of working homeopaths functioning as full-fledged doctors.

Recently, homeopath Jeremy Sherr, who (along with his wife Camilla) leads the amazing group of homeopaths in Tanzania treating AIDS and other ailments, spearheaded the creation of a database to collect and analyze COVID-19 remedy and treatment information. The preliminary results point to the following top remedies: Phosphorus, Antimonium Tartaricum, Bryonia, Gelsemium, Phosphoric-Acid, and Arsenicum Album (with Antimonium Tartaricum being Jeremy’s favorite).

Of course, Bryonia and Gelsemium are important plant remedies for treating the flu. However, I am struck by the fact that the other mineral-based remedies are all made from elements in the same column of the periodic table: phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony. In fact, another useful remedy for COVID-19 is the more obscure remedy Antimonium Arsenicosum — made from a combination of antimony and arsenic.

Some of you may be familiar with the work of the brilliant Dutch homeopath, Jan Scholten. Using existing proving information for remedies made from the elements, he came up with what has turned out to be an incredibly powerful theory about the inherent meaning and nature of these remedies. Using this theory, homeopaths have even been successful in treating patients utilizing remedies made from heretofore unproven elements.

As Scholten discovered, remedies made from elements in the same row or column tend to have a theme to their symptomatology — physically, emotionally, and mentally. The rows have themes, starting from the top, of Being, Identity, Relationship, Work, Ideas and Creativity, Power, and Spiritual Power. In contrast, the columns have themes that begin (on the left) with slowly building confidence and mastership, to complete mastery (the center column), and then slowly losing that control and mastery until there is release. By combining this information together, a theme for a particular element can be derived. For example, the element at the center of the “Work” row would have a theme of obvious mastery over work.

Given this information, Scholten posits that the progression of elements through the periodic table mirrors our evolution as human beings — from finding out who we are, to attaining mastery over the various aspects of life. And in order to spiral upward, we also need to be able to, at times, let go of a particular theme and move on.

Now as I said, all of the COVID-19 mineral remedies are made from elements in the same column, to which Scholten has attached the theme: LOSS. In particular, we have:
* Phosphorus: Loss of relationship
* Arsenic: Loss of work
* Antimony: Loss of ideas, creativity, and honor

Since the entire world is going through this experience, these themes must indeed be significant! And in fact, the theme of loss does pertain not only to humanity, but to the entire Earth organism. As above, so below. As below, so above. Just think about what the Earth is also experiencing. Loss of oxygen (and remember — COVID-19 kills due to respiratory symptoms and an inability to breathe). Loss of habitat. Loss of species.

The following is a string of quotes from Scholten’s writings about the Loss column (derived from pages 58 and 59 of his book Homoeopathy and the Elements). Many of these symptoms will sound eerily familiar!

“The power has gone and they no longer keep up the facade either. Everybody knows it is all over. They lose everything they have built up, they feel a complete failure and they are very hurt. They feel everybody is letting them down: people they thought they could trust suddenly don’t support them any longer. It is as if they have to face everything alone. It is like a bankruptcy. The business has collapsed.The sense of loss is expressed in dreams and delusions. They have a great fear of death and they think about it a lot. They have become superfluous. Their skills are no longer needed. Or they have such an abundance that others can’t digest it. This can result in overeating, or being overly concerned for others. Everything is exaggerated. They have to hand over everything they have built up over the years. They are good at sacrificing. They might give so much that they become a martyr. Another theme is poison. They have the feeling that people are trying to get rid of them by stealthy means. This makes them very suspicious: they are always on their guard, ‘you never know, a friend can soon turn into an enemy.’ Any moment something could happen. Any moment their project, or their life, may come to an end. You never know when it will happen, the end always comes suddenly. They feel as if they are powerless to prevent it. In the first instance they’ll refuse to believe that things have really come to an end. They’ll do everything they can to obstruct the final dismantling. They may do the most desperate things in their attempts to delay the end.”

We all feel helpless and confused right now. There is a sense of not knowing what’s going on, what’s going to happen. We try to pin it down by coming up with conspiracy theories or resorting to draconian measures of enforcing control and protection. But ultimately, I believe we just need to let go and accept what is.

Don’t forget: an important lesson of Scholten’s periodic table is that loss is required before we can evolve and begin anew. As he also writes about the Loss column: “At this stage, acceptance is the only possibility.”

Rather than holding on to what we have lost, we must let go. And after letting go, we can move on to the next stage. As Lao Tsu so wisely said, “By letting it go, it all gets done.”

Breathe

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As above, so below. As below, so above.

The Earth is going through an unprecedented moment. We are all going through the same thing. Every person. Every plant. Every animal. Every cloud. Every river, lake, and ocean.

The nature of the symptoms of COVID-19 cannot be accidental. No matter what the outer cause may be, they synchronistically reflect the whole. The planet can’t breathe — not enough oxygen. Our lungs can’t breathe — not enough oxygen.

The solution: stop, replenish the oxygen. Clear the air. Take a breather.

We recently celebrated Earth Day. Is that a coincidence?

The Earth is conscious and so much more powerful than us and has delivered its message. We are part of the whole and eventually we will not be able to avoid hearing and experiencing that message. The era of band-aid solutions like face masks, vaccines, and respirators will soon be over. We must all learn to breathe again, along with the rest of the animals and atmosphere and oceans.

Start right now. Remember that fear and anger depletes your physical and emotional oxygen supply. Stop, smile, be grateful, get out in the sun, look at a plant or something else in nature, and breathe.

Each of our next steps will be important. Take this time to contemplate what they will be.

Ponder These Questions

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The entire world is settling into a new reality, at least for a while. One natural response is fear and anxiety. Another is anger and frustration. Both responses aren’t very productive though, because they not only create suffering, but also weaken your immune system.

So let’s take a new tack on what’s going on. It’s certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m 64 and I can tell you that I’ve never experienced anything like this before. In some ways, it’s like wartime, where life suddenly shifts beneath your feet in a way you never anticipated. But unlike war, most of us are not in immediate danger and have simply been asked to stay in place. Be still.

How unfamiliar to most of us! We’re used to running around and being busy all day. How can we just stay home and not socialize at parties and restaurants? Our first reaction might be to zone out on the computer or cell phone or binge online.

But think again. What an opportunity this is! So many of us are on a kind of personal or family retreat for a while. We’re literally being forced to stop and take a break. Breathe. STOP. Go outside. Nature is happy. The noise has quieted and you can hear the breeze and the birds. Dolphins have returned to the canals in Venice. Pollution is clearing. The Earth is taking a breather too.

Now you also have more time to play with your kids. Learn to cook new things — or finally learn to cook, period! (I’ve now learned to cook Chinese food and am baking my own bread and pizza.) Take a hike. Read a book. Try your hand at drawing or knitting or sewing or fixing things around the house. Clean! Play cards. Play an instrument. Dance. Find ways to exercise at home.

Now’s also your opportunity to sit alone, reflect, and ponder a few questions. After all, your soul and spirit have decided to live through this unusual time. What is the deeper meaning and purpose of these events for our world? And what is the meaning and purpose for you personally?

Get out a notebook or pad of paper and start a journal. Here’s a few questions to consider:

Am I happy?
What do I want to let go of? Things, ideas, people?
What do I really love doing? How can I do more of that?
Am I stuck in some way?
What’s limiting me in my life? How am I limiting myself? How can I let go of these limits?

Note that we often become stuck or self-limited because we fear that change may result in a loss of some kind or hardship. Or we may fear the risk of a bad outcome. But remember that even a bad outcome will teach you something new.

Am I happy in my work? How can I modify my work life to bring me more happiness? How can I pursue what I really love?
Am I happy in my relationships? What can I change or how can I change in order to bring what I really want in my relationships?
Am I making enough time for relaxation in my life?
How can I take better care of my body and emotions and mind? Healthier food? Exercise? Meditation? New therapies?
How can I better serve my community or family in a way that also makes me happy?
How can I find more kindred spirits to hang out with?
What are my talents and strengths? (Note: Everyone has them). How can I best use my talents?
What is my purpose in this life? (Hint: The answer can often be found in who you are, your life story, your inherent gifts, and what you love to do.)
What is my dream life? What can I imagine into being?
What legacy do I want to leave behind?

I’m sure you can think of more questions. Keep taking notes. Not only will your journal be a document that you can always come back to when things have returned back to “normal”, but it will also serve as a kind of promise to yourself. To your inner self. You can do it!