The Truth Revealed by Coronavirus – It’s All Connected by Judith Shaw

Coronavirus is revealing many truths to this world – a world grounded in the patriarchal consciousness of domination and separation for millennia. Though still on the fringes of social awareness, the ancient wisdom of community and connection remains alive and growing.

Before this novel virus hit, the rise of nationalism put forth by autocratic leaders over the past few years has been on the rise. The autocrats have created an increase in fear and hatred of “the other.” The United States has been at the forefront of this unfortunate movement but plenty of other countries are in the same place – closing borders, scapegoating immigrants, and marginalizing internal groups who don’t fit the norm. From Trump’s wall, to Brexit, to the attempts by the EU to stop the flow of refugees from the Middle Eastern wars the message is clear- “we’re got what we need and we can’t share it with you.”

The Corona virus has put the whole world in panic as it spreads, sickens and kills. All around the world many people are moving into fear and the blaming of others as we seek to keep ourselves safe. More borders are closing.

But at the same time simple acts of kindness are on the rise as community members seek ways to bridge the divide between those who can weather the storm and those who really need help. From offers to help with shopping, to the sharing of a Costco card, to online fundraising efforts aimed at buying food and supplies for children in need now that so many schools are closed, a spirit of love and cooperation is on the rise.

The coronavirus has laid bare the inadequacies of unregulated capitalism to keep a society safe and functioning. It has laid bare the number of people who live paycheck to paycheck with inadequate or no healthcare, with no sick leave, and with no way to care for their children if they are home from school. It has laid bare the weakness and fragility of a worldwide supply system based on the oppression of workers and greed, of an economic system which places profit above all other considerations. 

Most novel diseases originate in wildlife before spreading to humans. And since the human family has never encountered these novel diseases, no one has any immunity and the disease is able to spread rapidly.

This coronavirus has also revealed the connection between the emergence of novel diseases and climate change. Both medical researchers and climate scientists believe that as Earth’s temperatures rise, the increase in movement of animals, humans and pathogens will rise and lead to an increase in viral outbreaks and pandemics. Deforestation, either because of corporate greed or wildfires caused by climate change, is both a major contributor to the rise in carbon dioxide levels and also increases the dislocation of wildlife. 

Is our survival truly based on survival of the fittest? Capitalist systems certainly believe that to be true. But the great anthropologist, Margaret Mead, when asked what she considered to be the first evidence  of civilization answered, “a human thigh bone with a healed fracture found in an archaeological site 15,000 years old.” One might think she would have said tools or artifacts. But as Mead pointed out if an animal breaks a leg it dies as it has no way to get away from prey or to obtain food and water. But that healed bone proves that the injured person was cared for by others who provided shelter, food, water and protection allowing the injured one to heal. Human civilization began because of our ability to work together and to feel compassion for and care for one another.

Now that so many of us are staying home, we have the time to quiet ourselves, to reach deep inside and open our hearts to the profound truth that we are all connected. Our lives are literally in each others’ hands to act responsibly with social distancing and proper hygiene. Borders and name calling do not protect us. The only way we can change this world is by changing our consciousness  – a consciousness that calls us to consider only our own self-interest. We are called to open our hearts to the knowledge that the true birthright of our species is human community and sharing. We are called to open our hearts to love.

Resources: Scientific America, Yale University

Judith’s deck of Celtic Goddess Oracle Cards is available now.  You can order your deck on Judith’s website – click here. Experience the wisdom of the Celtic Goddesses!

Judith Shaw, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, has been interested in myth, culture and mystical studies all her life. Not long after graduating from SFAI, while living in Greece, Judith began exploring the Goddess in her art. She continues to be inspired by the Goddess in all of Her manifestations, which are found everywhere in the natural world. In recent years Judith became very interested in the Goddesses of her own ancestors, the Celts, resulting in her deck of Celtic Goddess Oracle cards. She is now working on her next deck of oracle cards – Animal Spirit Guides. Originally from New Orleans, Judith makes her home in New Mexico where she paints as much as time allows and sells real estate part-time. Give yourself the gift of one of Judith’s prints or paintings, priced from $25 – $3000.

Author: Judith Shaw

Judith Shaw, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, has been interested in myth, culture and mystical studies all her life. Not long after graduating from SFAI, while living in Greece, Judith began exploring the Goddess in her art. She continues to be inspired by the Goddess in all of her manifestations, which of course includes the flora and fauna of our beautiful Earth. Judith has exhibited her paintings in New York, San Francisco, Mytilene Greece, Athens Greece, New Orleans, Santa Fe NM, Taos NM, Albuquerque NM, Houston TX and Providence RI. She has published two oracle decks - Celtic Goddess Oracle and Animal Wisdom Oracle and is hard at work on an illustrated fairytale - Elena and the Reindeer Goddess. View all posts by Judith Shaw