Perhaps what is needed is James Hillman’s notion of an archetypal eye wherewith to discern the schemas and forces that inform both the larger zeitgeist of the collective psyche and the unraveling experience and life duelings of each individual. It must address the unfolding experience and life challenges of each individual as well as the we—the viral planetary community. No longer are theoretical concepts and intellectual abstractions alone acceptable, but one’s state of consciousness, perceptions, emotions, and somatic sensations must also be taken into account - our well being.
Given the fact that we were already living under intense pressure with regard to labor and finance, we must rethink ethical actions to avoid the current futility which permeates our social fabric at large. This leaves us devoid of current freedoms of choice and evolving wisdom to choose what is best for us. After experiencing an accelerated refugee, border, climate and now pandemic crisis, the burnout mass—governed by colonizing capitalist structures—is shattered at its core, compromising logic and inner peace.
The architecture of the Lockdown has increased our dependence on virtuality. It has altered the way we interact with each other by intensifying the use of the keyboard for ie. online streaming, internet subscriptions, shopping, museum tours, concerts, video conferences, online education, and even sexuality. This has alienated us from the corporeality of our bodies, (fear of the virus) as well as the social bodies at large (our communities). In addition, many are experiencing the virus itself. This is a reminder that we are mortal and that our very lives are at stake. We must consider the value of our lives. What can be said about mutual aid, solidarity, empathy, love, introspection, spirituality, beauty, truth, pleasure, solitude, and dignity? After all, when this is ‘over’, the new normal will come with baggage carrying the most profound existential and metaphysical affairs. What are we then going to do?
