The word ‘Pandemic’ comes from two Greek words: Pan - all; and Demos - people. We use it to imply that it is affecting all the people. But the word ‘demos’ aslo has a close link to the word ‘demon’. Pandemic - all the demons. And it has felt as thought this time has aligned with the opening of Pandora’s Box. Pandora, of course, meaning ‘all the gifts’.
Such is the way when it comes to words. They’re ruled by the god Mercury/Hermes and are often betraying double meanings. (Before Freud’s rebrand, the Hermetic Slip was the trickster getting your tongue. Not necessarily a revelation of some sexual compulsion, as was the place all of Freud’s roads led.)
Pandemic suggests, then, that we’re all in this together. And so are all of our demons. Not to mention all of our gifts.
At this point, it’s likely that we all know someone who has had the virus and has experienced long term effects or has died. We also know many negatively affected from the response to the virus: loss of employment and livelihood; suffering from isolation, anxiety, depression, hopelessness. We might know people suffering from adverse reactions to the shot, some also severe and long lasting.
The numbers might be telling us a story, and our felt experience telling us something quite different. Data vs Anecdotes.
We are all in several double binds. For instance, personally, I’m thankful for the fortress that is Western Australia for keeping this thing away from my mother and her chronic lung condition. Whilst I’m frustrated that I can’t enter that fortress and be with my dear aunt who has a rare and relentless form of cancer as she tries whatever experimental medicines are available to her to survive. Precious moments I won’t get back.
Like Theseus, we may have taken up our sword and shield and attempted to enter the labyrinth of the internet to work out what the hell is going on - only to have found ourselves confounded and confused by all the conflicting information. Or maybe we discovered ‘The Truth’, but it took its toll on our body, mental health and relationships and left us in a state of paranoia or nihilism.
I haven’t spoken to much of this in my podcast. For many reasons. The confusion in the field. Not wanting to be just another conflicting voice. Fear of persecution (it’s a very real fear for the more mystically oriented - and for good historical reason). And the big one - what if I’m wrong?
