Coronavirus, Death and Doorways

In this post, I want to define and discuss several inter-related concepts

The first is our indigenous self, something that is a part of every human.   The most common definition of indigeous refers to the native peoples whose ancestors were here in the Americas before European colonizers came. Before I discuss a different definition, I want to honor and acknowledge that I come from the dominator European culture.  My goal is not to change the definition of indigenous, but to add to its meaning.  To do that is tricky, because of the history of people in my position appropriating things from those my culture has colonized.  But I believe that in order to truly heal and make reparations towards the native people in this land, my people have to remember the indigenous nature inside of us.  

The term indigenous at its core means belonging to a particular place, and in this case I'm referring to the indigenous identity we all share as a child of the earth, born from spirit and now inhabiting flesh, bone and blood.  This indigenous-ness is an intuitive knowledge that we are intricately connected to this planet, each other and all things.  When our ancestors started the process of forgetting the knowledge of the interconnecting web, they started the process of othering.  At the deepest level, othering creates a psychopathic "me" who is the only person that exists.  This crafty illusion is what permits us to harm each other, the planet and ultimately ourselves.  

There are 2 more inter-related concepts that are connected to indigenous knowledge.  The first involves ancestors, and the second involves relationship.

Right now, the coronavirus is creating many ancestors.

Many people are dying, especially in the older generation.  They are dying alone.  If there's one thing that wisdom traditions around the world agree on, its that death is a very important time energetically.  The way we engage with death has repercussions not just for ourselves but for our family and the world.  Most people in our culture (under the illusion of separateness) try to forget about death.  They build walls up around it to try to numb or suppress the fact that death is coming.  Then nature throws something like the coronavirus in our face!

When approaching death, many people come face to face with unhealed and unresolved issues.  If they are unable to resolve those things at death, those issues manifest in their descendants. Indigenous cultures understand the links between ancestors, those in the present day, and those yet to come.  All of those beings are seen as woven into a living matrix.  Scientists have discovered this same thing.  They call it epigenetics.

Our culture is very individualistic, and we tend to think we succeed or fail on our own.  Indigenous cultures recognize the interdependence among living people, ancestors and other spirits, plants and animals and the earth herself.  In order for people and society to be in good health, we must be in right relationship with these other beings.

Right now, spirit is calling us to work with our ancestors.

Even if you have not been affected personally by the coronavirus, I'm going to ask you to set up some time each day to connect with your ancestors.  If you look inside yourself, I'm sure you can see aspects of the trauma they carried.  If you can't see it, think about some of the unresolved issues you're still dealing with and find out if your parents or grandparents dealt with the same thing.  If you don't know much about your parents or grandparents, ask other relatives to tell you some stories.

This may be difficult, as our culture tells us to let go of old stories.  But whatever we hide from or try to escape from will eventually come back to us.  If you do manage to uncover old family stories, I'll encourage you to listen to what they are trying to teach you about yourself and what you are going through in the present moment.

Lastly I will encourage you to incorporate the indigenous methods of ceremony and prayer.

Ceremony can be personal or communal.  For this ceremony, I'll encourage you to spend some time alone speaking to and listening to your ancestors.  If you can, take some time in the morning when you can just be by yourself.  Sit by your altar if you have one.  Light a candle.  Ask your ancestors if there are any unresolved issues still haunting your family that you can help with.  Ask them if they need forgiveness, or if you need to forgive them.  If you don't hear anything back, don't worry.  It takes time to learn how to do this if you've never done it before. 

If you don't resonate with this at the familial level, I'll encourage you to do this at the mythic level.  I come from a mixed heritage of Jews and Irish Catholics.  There are plenty of cultural myths passed down from each side regarding suffering, but also of survival and resilience.  

If you can't connect on either the familial or mythic level, I'll encourage you to do this on the collective level.  There are many people dying alone and scared right now.  Reach out to them in your ceremony.  Tell them they matter.  Listen to the grudges they had, and also what gave their life meaning and filled them with love.  Let them teach you about death and forgiveness.  

On the deepest level, what we feel or resonate with when doing this ceremony for others reflects our relationship with ourselves.  At the heart of indigenous knowledge is this-- our relationship with others is a mirror for our relationship with ourselves.  This is a complicated idea in practice, and it doesn't mean we need to avoid conflict. It means taking an honest look at our external relationships as a mirror of our internal self.

Please reach out with any thoughts or questions!