Things are very quiet around the city of Saskatoon. Traffic is at an all time low, businesses are winding down for the mass hysteria of isolationism due to the corona virus. Soon restaurants will be shut down. The Juno awards were also cancelled. Sports events have also been cancelled and leisure centres are now closed. It is like a post-apocalyptic trance has taken over the city. The only thing that is not present is the bomb pelted buildings of most post-apocalyptic movies. But then, a virus wouldn’t do that.
In the meantime, I feel a bit like I have been preparing for this for all of my life. I have always loved solitude. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy people. Being an ambivert, I can swing both ways. But I really enjoy my alone time. I like spending time creating things in my studio, and you need TIME to be able to do that. I enjoy writing. Again, you need time to do that. I enjoy listening to music, which one cannot always do with others occupying the home. And I enjoy watching Netflix and Amazon Prime. So I have nothing but enjoyment lined up for when they decide to go full on lock down. Hopefully it will not come to that, but if it does, I know I will be alright.
So I am looking forward to my time of solitude. I always find that when I have that…solitude…I get such deep insights into things. I am able to relax and thus receive “messages,” be they from my own subconscious or from Spirit. I can be doing art or household chores or just chilling and suddenly…there is my message. I do experience this in my daily meditations. But I love when it happens spontaneously. The thing is that we all can use the time of solitude. It serves everyone very well.
So the question is, what will we each do with our solitude? Do we have things to occupy our time? Do you knit? Do you do picture puzzles? Do you like crossword puzzles? Do you like watching movies? Do you play and instrument that you can practice? (for me that would be piano or guitar). Do you do gaming? Do you cook? Bake? Enjoy your pet? All of these things can help fill up the space of emptiness that so many people freak out about.
Remember that, with technology, at least for the time being, we can still stay connected while in our state of isolation. Remember to touch base with friends and family. Remember to reach out. These things are important.
In Buddhism, quarantine is called “Retreat.” This is the perfect time to meditate, thus lighting the candle to compassion and connection. That connection is with ourselves, with our ancestors, with Spirit, and with each other. In a time when people are self-isolating, and when quarantines are being implemented, why not take advantage of the situation to better ourselves from the inside out?