From Separation Comes Unity

During my morning meditation, I became very aware of the isolation many people are currently experiencing, from having to self-quarantine or shelter in place.

Some are trapped in close quarters with family members, whom they don’t get along with, while others are solitary and feeling very alone. Whatever the circumstances, this is not easy for any of us, day after day, while grim news keeps coming in from the outside world.

In the Tarot there is a card, The Hermit, depicting an old, wise man who has chosen to retreat and isolate himself from the rest of the world. The card symbolizes spiritual isolation and social distancing, in order to seek wisdom and understanding within; to confront one’s inner demons, such as addictions, dependencies, habits or patterns; as well as learning to not rely on others, but to form one’s own opinions.

The Hermit card teaches us to find an inner solace and strength, a light within. There is much that we can learn from his wisdom. In normal life, we get so caught up in the mundane routines of everyday life, that we seldom pay attention to our inner being. We also spend so much time texting and scrolling through social media, that we get caught up in other’s opinions, attitudes and experiences, that we lose touch with our inner compass.

One of my Tarot mentors described The Hermit card as, “Stop the world, I want to get off.” It certainly seems in many ways that our world has been stopped in its tracks (but the planet itself has not stopped spinning). Many have nowhere to turn at this point, but inward. This may be a blessing in disguise in many ways.

A little while alone in your room will prove more valuable than anything else that could ever be given you ~ Rumi

For example, many reports coming in about cleaner, clearer waters,, a reduction in air pollution, and other ecological and environmental improvements. Humans being forced to slow down is making a healthy impact on the planet and the natural environment. Might this time inside, and away from others, not only hold change for the Earth, but for us as humanity too?

With the rise of information technology in the recent years, we as human beings have changed. In some ways for the better, but also for the worse. What is the best way to punish a child these days when they do something wrong? That’s right. Take away their phone. It is a lifeline to them, as well as to us as adults.  I’ve had people tell me they’d rather lose their wallet than their phone!

Though the internet is overloaded and cell towers being maxed out from usage during this time, there is also something very beautiful happening now amidst all the reliance on technology. People are coming together and joining forces to support and inspire each other. There is a general sense of ‘pulling together’ to save ourselves and our beloved planet Earth.

Solitude is not the absence of company, but the moment when our soul is free to speak to us and help us decide what to do with our life ~ Paulo Coelho

Author Christina Pinkola Estes has been publishing articles on how we were all meant to be here at this time. She speaks of how we knew on a soul level, before being born, that we would be here through this metamorphosis for humanity. We agreed to show up as warriors to help see through this incredible change. She also reminds us how mountains formed, how land masses changed shape, and how we as souls continue to evolve.

Just like The Hermit card, we are experiencing a myriad of emotions and new insights at this time, and we are learning to reorient our thinking to more of a ‘we-attitude’ than a ‘me-attitude.’ In our separation we are finding unity. By spending time alone, we are getting to know how much we all actually have in common. Through sacrifice we are all contributing to the great matrix of life. I salute and bow to you for doing your part, as we come to the realization that we are not really separate, but all One.