Looking to Ancients, Artists and Antecedents for Answers

Contrary news reports on the coronavirus got you feeling confused? Everything changing too rapidly to absorb? Feeling like you’re churning in a sea of uncertainty? No worries (unless that’s what you choose to do.)

Look at the bright side. Yes, there is always a bright side, as the Tijitu depicts and notables observed:

  “Confusion is the welcome mat at the door of creativity.” ∼ Paul Cezanne

“Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction.” ∼ Pablo Picasso

“Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not yet understood.”                                                            ∼  Henry Miller

There is an alternative to the negative energy of panic and hysteria that the media, skeptics, and worriers incessantly project with paintbrushes of gloom and doom. Change the lens of annihilation to burgeoning creativity and watch positive changes explode. Think mushrooms.

“Creativity involves breaking out of expected patterns in order to look at things in a different way.”∼ Edward de Bono

“Order and creativity are complementary.” ∼ Lewis Mumford

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” ∼ Albert Einstein

Note:  in seeking creativity, I’m not suggesting you become as reckless as the youth on Spring Break. While we are advised to remain home, limit and distance contact (sounds like most who are usually glued to devices at home anyway), there is another suggestion I like. A fellow blogger passed along the simple and safe greeting of Namaskar.

Namaskar. Hmm. That intrigued me. Years ago I learned in Yoga that namaste meant “the beauty in me sees the beauty in you.” Lovely sentiment, but it felt odd greeting others in my western culture with Añjali Mudrā (hands placed together prayer-like and close to the chest while bowing the head toward the other person). After all, I grew up giving hearty hugs to friends and family then firm handshakes in business.

But now, now that close contact can be downright dangerous, fist bumps are considered risky, and elbow bumping feels like the chicken dance, there IS a better way.  And one that’s survived the test of time and viruses too.

Greeting others with Añjali Mudrā and saying Namaste or Namaskar perfectly solves the coronavirus admonition to physically disconnect. But, it’s the beauty beyond the surface — a profound connecting while disconnecting — that attracts me.

While various explanations exist for the differences between namaste and namaskar, I like the ones best on detechter.com. Either greeting is said to develop a spiritual connection with the person being greeted. More poignant than a casual “Hello,” “Hi,” “Cheers,” or “Ciao,” I love this greeting of respect and honoring the other person. May its use continue to outlast any virus. 

The coronavirus is tragic, I agree. But, here we’ve learned something joyful amidst the corona confusion. Flourishing in the creativity of chaos can lift humanity to another level. The choice, as always, is ours. Let it begin with me.

Namaste Khush Raho (Be happy)

Namaste Jeete Raho (God bless you)