Virulent Lock-down

Scare or Care?

Self-Isolation or Self-Re-connection?

House-bound or coming Home to Myself?

It would seem that the general populace is not fearing so much this virus but rather change and poverty. We fear our vulnerability and ineptitude. We are neither in 1845 nor 1945. We are in 2020 and may we be blessed with clear, balanced vision to heal the past. May we be blessed with clear, balanced vision to see a bountiful present and set in place a better dream.

Have we lost our old skills to barter, nurse, provide and protect? No.

John 16.v 33

“I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There’s something in my blood that rises in hardship, like birch sap; sweet, strong, fluid and resilient. How to survive is clear and not too deeply buried in my memory:

not just survive but thrive! When I began my therapy business, I often exchanged treatments for things like a bag of hand-cut turf or logs.

Simple, respectful connections and exchanges come easily to me.

To be perfectly honest, part of me reaches up to a challenge such as this. Foreboding twists swiftly in me to a sort or macabre delight in forbearance. Like tough medicine, adversity sharpens my wits and opens my heart.

I welcome a chance to exercise my faith and trust.

There’s excitement in me. I feel like something dormant has been switched on. My inner ‘emergency generator’ feels deliciously powerful.

I feel, at last, that the real me is of some use. Maybe I was getting sick of not being needed, (and I don’t mean drained by the manipulative ‘needy’ but rather, maybe life was getting too easy and convenient), and now, through this potential lock-down for public health, my true self can fully shine. I’m breathing deeper, shoulders back, sleeves rolled up, grounded, clean and clear. Vigilant, patient and preparing.

It’s like, to me, the materially wealthy and glib of our society have been tempting me to strain to be like them. Now it’s my turn to show them and myself that my wealth is a goldmine of inner sustenance backed by simple skills with which to live and trade.

I also have something worth a thousand diamonds: a faithful, optimistic heart!

There’s something in me that feels hugely abundant when I can trust my friendship with nature and herbs to be a friend of mine and I can call mother earth, (who also can’t breathe), to my aid.

I am secretly delighted that we are at war against disease … the disease of fear and revolting selfishness.

The time of sitting like vegetative lords, waiting for others in far-off lands to serve and provide for us at their often great personal expense, has come to an end. It’s time to rise and exercise some self-respect through local-community-sufficiency.

Somewhere deep inside me, I have craved for the day when I can get to know my neighbours, properly - actually love and care for those in close proximity to me.

I've craved having the time to love, nurse, observe and heal my children and the sick around me, should the need arise or let myself be cared for, should I become ill.

Is it time to

Learn that instrument or carve a puppet from old wood?

Bake the bread and tell the old stories?

Light the candles; cut the turf, chop the veg?

Express myself?

Stay at home and in so doing, become at home in myself?

Let myself breathe and become fit and resilient in the process?

This is just another dance at the disco - a change of rhythm. Keep dancing as long as we can!

In these times of change.

I delight in a change of pattern.

I delight in moving to a new rhythm.

I rejoice in my resourcefulness.

I embrace caring for those I love.

I celebrate all of my accomplishments and enjoy putting them to good use for others.

I enjoy healthy exchanges of offerings and skills that do not require money.

I enjoy opening my abundant world of riches to teach and share with those who have only ever had money and others’ material creations.

With Love and Patience, I believe we can embrace a

New birth of spring,

New growth,

Renewed lightness,

Lengthening of our days

In ever sacred respect.