As we enter the third month of the coronavirus pandemic, people wonder – will this ever end? Yes, but until we have a vaccine to stop the progression of this disease or build immunity in some other way, we can expect permanent changes in the way we live, play, work and interact with other people.
It Happens So Fast
As a psychic and an empath, I have been experiencing something unique with this pandemic. Usually, I feel the presence of someone when they die tragically or unexpectedly. Instead, these days I hear the cawing sounds of ravens often, which I interpret as marking the COVID-19 death of someone local. At this point, no one who has died from COVID-19 has reached out to me for help in making the transition to the next plane. Is it because people die so fast with this disease? Maybe, maybe not. It is my hope that they have no need for clairvoyant help and are in a place of peace and acceptance instead.
Keeping Hope Alive
A few days ago, I was sitting outside watching wind blow the leaves of a nearby tree. A lovely red cardinal flew to a branch near me and chirped. At that moment, I felt a lightening of the heavy melancholy and sadness I felt for all of the souls lost to this disease. With this new feeling, I knew that the situation had begun to shift somewhat.
Life may not be the same as it once was, but that doesn’t mean that life has lost its beauty or its special moments. In our new normal, we can learn to change and adapt, allowing us to enjoy the beautiful present and special moments that make life worth living.
The Coronavirus Family
A female stormwater engineer was walking by my house Wednesday as I was filling my bird feeders. She and I struck up a conversation, and she said, “I have a coronavirus family now; I guess we all do.” She was talking about who she is with right now including her two children, her husband, and two friends who are in the “safe zone.” Similarly, my face-to-face interactions have been limited to my immediate family and a few neighbors since March 17.
Nature Transforms Itself
It was nice to have a conversation with someone new. I talked about how important it has become to keep our water supply safe and grow our own vegetables this year. Not only does growing your own food create less demand on the food chain, but it’s healthy and healing to plant, grow and harvest food and herbs grown in your own backyard. Some studies suggest that digging around in the dirt can reduce stress and depression and improve your immune system too.
“Researchers have already found clear evidence that childhood exposure to outdoor microbes is linked to a more robust immune system; for example, Bavarian farm children who spent time in family animal stables and drank farm milk had drastically lower rates of asthma and allergies throughout their lives than their neighbors who did not.” – Zoë Schlanger, Dirt has a microbiome, and it may double as an antidepressant.
The female engineer said she looked for vegetable plants so she could have her own urban garden this year, but few were available. It seems the coronavirus pandemic has created a lot of first-time vegetable gardeners, which has wiped out a lot of the supply, at least for now.
Grow Your Own
Every spring, I grow vegetables and herbs in my little garden plots. Past harvests have been limited due to a couple of challenges (squirrels, chipmunks, insects, birds, too much rain, you name it!). After seeing empty grocery store shelves over several weeks, I realized just how important it is to dedicate myself to growing a bountiful garden this year.
I added a third garden plot, fruit vines and bushes, and I placed seeds in cups to plant elsewhere and share with others. I’ve even planted some vegetables in my flower garden, and I bought netting to stop the birds and critters from nibbling the plants too.
Earlier this week, I noticed bean seedlings growing in a couple of the cups, and I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to give some vegetable seedlings to a family who would enjoy watching them grow?
I had an idea. I asked the lady engineer if she would like to see my garden and took her for a tour. I asked her if she would like some extra bean seedlings I had grown in a cup. She nodded yes then gave me the most beautiful smile. It felt as if I had given her a cup of gold!
She and I talked about the Victory Gardens of WWI and WWII, where everyone was encouraged to grow their own food in order to supplement rations and improve morale.
After she left, I called one of my relatives and asked if she recalled growing a victory garden during WWII. I was told everyone in school was required to participate. The victory garden was on public land near her school. Three rows were planted east to west and three rows were planted north to south. Students received a “blue” stick of approval if they did a good job. I could hear the smile in her voice as she described gazing out her classroom window and seeing the blue marker in her garden row.
There are a lot of benefits to growing your own vegetables. Here are just a few:
- Feeling closer and more connected with the earth and the seasons.
- Self-reliance – the feeling that you have control over your food sources.
- Fresh, unspoiled, perfectly ripened food at your fingertips.
- The joy of food exchange, sharing with others in your community.
- Your food can be totally organic.
- You can create bio-diversity in your garden.
- Grow what you like to prepare and eat.
- You can reduce the number of miles required for food transport.
Focus on What’s Important and Let Go of the Drama
If anything, the pandemic teaches us the importance of creating something positive – whether it is our thoughts, a new attitude or growing a garden. It is teaching us what is important. It is forcing us to live in the present moment because we don’t know what the future will bring. It is teaching us not to take our health for granted. It is giving us a chance to rest or daydream so we can come up with new and creative ideas to keep ourselves entertained and get things done.
It is my hope you will come out of this pandemic better and stronger than ever before, brimming with new ideas, hopes and dreams to guide your future.