The vast resources of the spiritual and religious traditions offer us sustenance and inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic. This index, which is being regularly updated, lists some foundational resources, followed by links to the resources organized by category. Click here to see the latest addition to the collection.
Spiritual Practices for the Coronavirus Pandemic provides links to spiritual practices to disarm fear and uncertainty, use while taking preventative measures, handle social distancing and quarantine, be present with illness, and sustain hope.
A Pandemic Alphabet by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat applies the practices in the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy to the pandemic. Some practices reframe what we are experiencing in light of the teachings of the spiritual traditions. Others suggest specific strategies we can use to cope.
E-Courses to Help During the Coronavirus Pandemic lists S&P programs available on-demand that will help you learn how to handle difficulties, stay healthy, and develop your contemplative practice.
The Spiritual Literacy Film Series consists of 26 half-hour films which will inspire and comfort you during the pandemic. Use films on such spiritual qualities as compassion, gratitude, and wonder for meditation and reflection. Each is available to stream as a video-on-demand for $1.99 to rent or $5.95 to purchase.
Spiritual Practices
Movies
Poetry and Music
Prayers
Readings
Other Resources
Be Like the Mountain by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Equanimity is a state of inner balance that enables you to remain calm and centered in the midst of turmoil, such as the times we are living through now. Read more about this sometimes difficult concept to understand and try using a simple saying and some affirmations to practice it.
Bless Strangers Quietly by Wayne Muller
Everyone could use a blessing these days. We want others to feel happy and be at peace during this extremely difficult time. Don't limit this practice to those you know. When you offer blessings to strangers without their knowing it, you will also feel its benefit.
Boring Holes by Terry Bookman
A teaching story from the Jewish tradition about a man in a boat who began boring a hole under his seat raises some questions about how our actions affect others. During this pandemic, do you ever think, "But it's only under my seat?"
Change Your Play by Piero Ferrucci
It is possible to face hardship with a different attitude and transform it into a chance for learning and growth. Here's an exercise to help you identify resources of strength, intelligence, will, love, resilience, and energy so you can activate a different modality during this difficulty.
Coping with Negativity by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spiritual practices can be antidotes to the negativity afoot in our private and public lives. Here are a few to try during the pandemic.
Chronicle Your Losses by Lama Surya Das
Every loss -- and people are experiencing many of them these days -- leaves us with feeling that need to be processed. Here are some questions to reflect upon after you identify some of your losses.
Crying Out to the Holy One by Joyce Rupp
There are dark times in all our lives when we may feel separate from God, and this may be one of them. Here is a personal ritual for when it feels like you and God are in "separate bedrooms." It includes a prayer, a meditation, and questions for reflection and journaling.
Cultivating Equanimity by Sharon Salzberg
When we realize that we are not ultimately in control of our lives, a truth that the pandemic brings home clearly, then it is important to find a balance between compassion and equanimity. This allows us to care and yet not get overwhelmed and unable to cope because of that caring.
Doing a Jigsaw Puzzle by Rami Shapiro
This fun indoors activity can also be an opportunity to reflect upon the unity of life and our connections with others. No one puzzle piece makes sense on its own. When we, like the piece, take our place, we discover the integrity and meaning of the whole.
Gathering Ourselves Together by Sue Patton Thoele
Among the many emotions people are experiencing during the pandemic is the feeling of being fragmented, of being beside ourselves energetically. Here is a simple spiritual practice to help you gather your physical, emotional, and mental selves together again. Repeating words can be very effective.
The Gift of Tears by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
As U.S. COVID deaths pass the 500,000 mark (in February 2021) and 2.5 million have died worldwide, tears are flowing . The spiritual traditions, and our own experience from crying at the movies and elsewhere, tell us that tears are a gift of God and in them is strength.
Holding Opposites Together by David Richo
During this pandemic, many of us are becoming aware of the opposites in our lives. We are afraid and also determined not to live in a fear-based way. We may be out of work and looking for work. The practice of holding different situations together grants serenity and courage.
How Not to Worry by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
The coronavirus pandemic gives us lots of things to worry about. But we don't need to let these worries sap our strength or deplete our emotional will. Here are some ways to deal with your tendency to worry -- from not jumping to conclusions, to using concerns to connect you with others, to turning worries into positive actions.
Lamentation by Abigail Hastings
Posted on June 1, a National Day of Mourning and Lament, after COVID deaths in the United States passed the 100,000 mark, this Call to Worship proclaims that we are knitted together in suffering that connects us to a Truth perhaps too terrible to look at or contemplate alone, and yet "every morning now is mercy."
Learning through Uncertainty by Susan Jeffers and Patricia Campbell Carlson
"If we embrace the good that can come from whatever life hands us, we have come a long way in learning how to embrace uncertainty," writes Susan Jeffers. Read more to see how this teaching can be applied to COVID-19.
Learning to Receive by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
During a pandemic, it's important for us to get better at receiving the love, care, and help of others. You don't have to be sick to need help. These are difficult times for everybody. Here are some ways to practice receiving.
Let Your Mind Rest by Chagdud Tulku
People are dying during this pandemic. You and your loved ones may die -- but not at this very moment. A Tibetan teacher advises that you appreciate that good fortune and let your mind rest.
Letting Go by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
The pandemic has forced many of us to let go of everything from regular routines, to ideas about the way things are or how people are supposed to behave, to the fantasy that we are in control. The spiritual traditions encourage us to embrace letting go as a practice that can bring us closer to the Divine.
Listen with All of You by Arjuna Ardagh
Whether at home, on the phone, or connecting digitally, you can hone your listening skills by giving your undivided attention to not only the words you hear but the mysterious presence from which those words arise.
Living as One Human Family by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
We can get so caught up in what's happening to our families or our neighborhoods during the pandemic that we forget this is a worldwide crisis. Here are some simple ways to acknowledge our connection to others around the world and increase our capacity for empathy.
Locate the Hidden Strengths Within by Donald Altman
Self-assessment is always a good spiritual practice, but too often we focus on where we are not fulfilling our aspirations. This practice shifts the focus to your strengths. What qualities do you possess that are helpful in this time?
The Luxury of Solitude by David Kundtz
Did you incorporate periods of solitude into your daily life before the pandemic forced it upon you? Now you can discover how a time of your own, a time alone, prepares you to be more authentic when you are with people again.
Make the Most of Difficult Moments by Sumi Loundon
Here's a simple exercise -- imagining yourself in a movie -- to appreciate how a moment, even a boring or difficult moment, has once-in-a-lifetime qualities.
Making a Vow by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Change is not easy, especially when we are facing difficulties. Making a vow reinforces your intention and affirms that "you can do hard." It gives momentum and importance to your efforts.
The One Good Thing by Patricia H. Livingston
Our brains are wired so we recognize danger more often than ease and joy. But we can retrain them to see the details in our lives that make us happy. And then we can cheer others by sharing our stories.
Opting Out of the Blame Game by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Is the pandemic some country's, some government's, some people's fault. If you find yourself obsessing about this, these practices are for you.
A Pet Vacation by Bradford Keeney
Pets have become even more essential companions for those sheltering at home. Now's a good time to honor that special presence by planning a playful time complete with special treats, a new toy, or an outing to a place full of fresh smells. Such celebrations will bring new vitality into your life as well!
Pilgrimages Close to Home by the Fetzer Institute
To our partners at the Fetzer Institute, and many others, we are sure, travel, treks, retreats, and pilgrimages are tempting escapes from the routines of pandemic life. They are translating those urges into practices that can be done on the front porch or a nearby lake.
Practicing Patience by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
The pandemic is forcing us to be wait and accommodate ourselves to others, to tolerate delays and let things unfold in their own time, and to accept that we personally are not in control of the timetable. This is when patience practices can really help.
Practicing Visio Divina with National Parks and Monuments
Many of the U.S. parks are closed, and people are not traveling. But there is another way to gain solace and inspiration from these places. This gallery opens with instructions for a four-part visio divina practice, followed by photographs from 24 parks and monuments to contemplate.
Prayers for the Neighborhood by Tom Cowan
Even when we don't see and interact as often with our neighbors, we can connect with them through a simple ritual.
Punctuation Exercise for Self-Assessment
How are you feeling today? About yourself during the pandemic? About the state of the nation and the world? Choose a punctuation mark to symbolize who you are today and find a way to explain your choice to others.
Questions for Activists by Charles Garfield, Cindy Spring, and Sedona Cahill
Just because we are living through a pandemic does not mean that we can ignore other concerns, causes, and commitments. In fact, the pandemic has magnified such problems as racism, income inequality, lack of adequate health care, and polarization in the society. "How can we continue to survive, dream, hope, and carry on in this time of change and transformation?" We can start with self-inquiry.
Recalling Unconditional Love by Allan Lokos
Here's a practice for those times when you are feeling alone and discouraged. Recall someone who has loved your unconditionally. See that being and bask in their presence.
Reducing Our Attachments by Chagdud Tulku
The pandemic has caused many of us to simplify our lives. In spiritual circles, this is often called reducing our attachments. Here's a simple exercise to help you break down the habit of holding on to behaviors and things.
Reflect on a Piece of Turf
The area we can safely traverse during a day may be smaller these days, but we can still experience the wonder in our world by focusing on something like a small piece of our yard or a nearby natural area. Albrecht Durer's watercolor painting of grasses, weeds, and flowers invites and trains such attention.
Resurrection as a Spiritual Practice by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Posted on Easter 2020, this practice is for any day and people of any spiritual tradition. It suggests 37 ways you can make rebirth and renewal a part of your life – from paying attention to noticing beauty, making connections, bringing hope to the world, working for justice, having reverence for life, and more.
Sacred Writing by Jamal Rahman
In times of anger and sadness, this exercise honors both your feelings and your responses to them. A second step allows your higher self to express itself fully.
Save Your Tears by Forrest Church
If you find yourself sad and weepy as you hear of the suffering in the pandemic, remember that a full cup of tears is proof that you have felt deeply.
Seeing Every Act as Significant by Joseph Telushkin
Jewish philosopher Maimonides suggests that we regard ourselves as being equally balanced between good and evil. Therefore, one good act will tip the balance toward good in our own life and in the entire world.
Smudging to Purify by Evan Pritchard
Purification is the first step in any ceremony or healing process. This practice comes from the Algonquin (Native American) tradition. As you learn about it, find a way, perhaps from your own tradition, to create a shield around yourself.
Spiritual Energy Boosters curated by Darran Polito
If you have run out of energy and are feeling draggy and depleted, check out this gallery of spiritual practices designed to boost your spirits and renew body, mind, and soul.
The Spiritual Value of Repetition and Routine by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
As many of us are sheltering-in-place, we are establishing new daily routines. This is a good time to incorporate practices into our spiritual lives that involve repetition of prayers, mantras, or special activities.
Spiritual Work with Memories by Frederic Brussat
Posted on Memorial Day 2020, this mini-retreat encourages you to harvest your memories of loved people, places, and experiences, and create some new meaningful ones in this time of pandemic.
Sweetheart by Bernie Siegel
The requirement that we engage in physical distancing does not mean we need to be social distancing. Now is the time to remember and connect with all the sweethearts in your life.
Talk a Walk by David Kundtz
Exercise is good for the body, and it's also good for reflection, decision-making, problem-solving, and crisis management. During the pandemic, take regular walks for clearing and refreshing.
Teaching the Spiritual ABC's by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Parents and caregivers who are homeschooling children during the pandemic can also pass on their spirituality at the same time. Here are some good spiritual practices to try.
Think of Your Heart as a Sunflower by Robert Frager
We all need support and understanding in this time. Here's a way to let the light from your heart touch another person, whether you are with them physically or seeing them on a screen.
Tonglen Meditation by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussa
This classic practice from Tibetan Buddhism means "taking in and sending out." It's a way to widen your circle of compassion. Through your in- and out-breaths, you work with both individual suffering you are aware of (so prevalent during a pandemic) and the universal suffering of all.
Tonglen for Activists Seeking Solidarity in Isolation by Kathy Bozutti-Jones
In tonglen practice, you breathe in a quality or situation and breathe out something to relieve or balance it. This tonglen meditation covers common distresses and goals during the pandemic.
Wear Hope Like a Skin by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
The "blahs" is another way of describing pandemic fatigue. In the fall of 2020 as the virus cases spike again and again, you may be experiencing feelings of inertia, depression, listlessness, and despair. The antidote to the blahs is hope. Here are some ways practice it in your daily life.
You Are What You Give by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Generosity is a spiritual practice that reflects an attitude of heart and mind. As nonprofits and other groups struggle to finance their pandemic outreach efforts, they need our donations and gifts more than ever.
Beasts of the Southern Wild directed by Benh Zeitlin
Six-year-old Hushpuppy faces the difficulties of poverty and climate change and proves she knows how to be a survivor. Our gallery shares her lessons, many of which also apply to how we can deal with the pandemic.
Begin Again directed by John Carney
"In this world of troubles / My music pulls me through," sang rocker John Miles. This romantic drama about a street musician discovered by a producer captures and conveys the healing power of music.
The Bird Who Needs to Be Still by Sue Monk Kidd
In this trailer for the "Openness" film in the Spiritual Literacy series, we hear of a time when a bird flew into a kitchen window and was stunned. Sitting with her, Kidd learned that in stillness is healing, and since we're all in this together, we need to honor one another's stillness. It's a good lesson for pandemic times.
Cast Away directed by Robert Zemeckis
Tom Hanks stars as a FedEx employee stranded on a deserted island. He models creative ways to handle being isolated from people while keeping his spirits up.
Films about Baseball
Opening day for the 2020 baseball season has come and gone. You can still enjoy America’s pastime with these movies about the players and the challenges in the sport.
The Four Seasons of The Good Place by David Glidden
For those looking for something to binge-watch, we suggest this situation comedy with a philosophical understory that asks some deep questions: What gives meaning to the lives we live? What happens when people die? And can philosophy provide the answers?
Holding the Globe by Fran Peavey
In this trailer for the "Compassion" film in the Spiritual Literacy series, an old woman responds to reading the newspaper by imagining herself reaching out to places on a globe, as the troubles of each location flash into view. "There is no way to invent a way out of the suffering of the present. It simply has to be lived and loved now in the real." As you remember the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this practice gives you a way to expression your compassion.
The Martian directed by Ridley Scott
An astronaut left behind on Mars models how to cope with isolation, anger, and disappointment. As he devises ways to survive, he learns to appreciate the little things that contribute to his living – for him, duct tape; for us, face masks.
Movies about Dystopias
As bad as pandemic times may seem, things could be worse. Stories about dystopias reflect the fears and excesses of contemporary societies: restrictions upon freedom, great inequities between the rich and the poor, anger and despair among the powerless, and a yearning for heroes. We can learn a lot from them about the consequences of our actions and attitudes.
The Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont
As concern grows over the high numbers of coronavirus victims in U.S. prisons and detention centers, our hearts go out to the incarcerated. This film revolves around two prisoners who discover how hope can give their lives meaning. One scene is particularly powerful as music provides a moment of grace.
Short Films about the Pandemic
The National Film Board of Canada has found gifted filmmakers to immerse themselves in the challenges of living in these perilous times with hope, patience, and perseverance. The result is a remarkable series called "The Curve." The collection includes documentary, animation, and digitally storytelling formats. These films about social distancing have the potential to bring us closer together.
Survival Films curated by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Films often illustrate the resilience, courage, and skills needed during extreme challenges. Here's a collection of movies about how intense situations, like the one we are living through now, can become transformative moments in our lives.
Badlands by Bruce Springsteen
Does this sound like our times? "Badlands, you gotta live it everyday / let the broken hearts stand as the price you've gotta pay." Yet here are some affirmations: "I believe in the love that you gave me / I believe in the faith that could save you / I believe in the hope and I pray that some day / It may raise me above these Badlands."
"A Cure for Sadness by Mirabai
This poem by the sixteen-century Hindu mystic poet proposes that recognizing beauty in what is right before us can be an antidote to the misery and despair we hear about and see.
A dragon was pulling a bear into its terrible mouth by Jelaluddin Rumi
This poem by the Sufi mystic Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks, encourages us to notice the presence of helpers in the world and to give our weakness to the One Who Helps.
The Good News by Thich Nhat Hanh
We are hearing a lot of bad news during the pandemic, yet good news abounds as well. The revered Buddhist teacher reminds us in this powerful poem that "the good news is published by us" and "the latest good news is that you can do it."
Have You Not Heard His Silent Steps by Rabindranath Tagore
In difficult times, we seek reassurance of the presence of the Divine. A mystic poet reminds us that in "sorrow after sorrow" his steps press upon our hearts.
I Asked for Strength by Hazrat Inayat Khan
This poem by the twentieth century Sufi mystic encourages us to see the benefits hidden in challenges. Reflecting upon it during the pandemic, we realize this time has has given us problems to solve, dangers to overcome, and people to help. "I asked for favours and God gave me opportunities."
I Can See Clearly Now by Carl Ray
This version of the reggae tune is a tribute by the country singer to his friend and mentor, Johnny Nash, who wrote and popularized it in the 1970s. Ray has added lyrics acknowledging the joy and relief of a nation coming out of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The singer notes, " 'I Can See Clearly Now' is a message of hope. In the darkest times of our lives, there is always light that can overshadow and overwhelm that darkness."
Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye
This poem by a Palestinian-American poet explores kindness as the deepest thing inside us. In his commentary, Roger Housden calls it a rending yet redemptive poem which reaches down to the roots of our humanity, which lie in the great heart where we all cry together.
Living in Hope by Suzanne C. Cole
This short poem raises up hope for times when we feel alone or sad, when circumstances overwhelm us, chores bore us, and it feels dark. Then hope, like beauty, peace, and love can restore us.
Tears by Svein Myreng
Here's a poem to reflect as hospitalizations and deaths mount. Tears make a path where joy and sorrow merge.
May It Bear Fruit
This prayer from Prayers for Hope and Comfort compiled by Maggie Oman Shannon remembers those who are especially vulnerable during the pandemic -- those who are lonely, cannot sleep, are struggling in their relationships, who feel victimized or unfairly treated, and suffering in other ways. It then asks that these difficulties yield benefits.
A Prayer for Those Affected by the Coronavirus
This prayer, written by Mary Ann Brussat in late January 2020, calls upon the God of Mercy to give us patience, comfort, and protection.
Praise Song for the Pandemic
This prayer by Christine Valters Paintner, founder of the Abbey of the Arts, recalls all for which we can be grateful during the pandemic with praise and blessings.
Prayers for Pandemic Times
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on spiritual habits by bringing more people to the practice of prayer. Here are 12 prayers from S&P's large collection of prayers and mantras appropriate for these times.
Children's Books for Support during the Pandemic
It's easy to envision a fairy tale that begins, "Once upon a time there was an illness so terrible that children had to stay home all the time." At such a time, children and their caregivers need to use their imaginations, and books can provide support. We've put together a collection of children's books on appreciating nature, dealing with emotions, developing useful practices, embracing loss and grief, gaining perspective, and staying home.
**Dealing with Resilience Fatigue by Frederic Brussat
This post in the Spiritual Literacy Blog points to an article in which psychologists note that in February 2022, people are feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally depeted by the pandemic. Resources in our Resilience topic to help address these feelings include books, book excerpts, articles, quotations, and spiritual practices.
Embracing Boredom by Frederic Brussat
Some people are getting bored as they shelter-in-place and are risking their health and others' by venturing out to stores and socializing. This blog post encourages us to see boredom as a spur to curiosity, an opportunity to look internally and make leaps of imagination.
Emotional Intelligence curated by the S&P Team
Our emotions are one of the richest sources of energy we possess -- and they can also trip us up, especially during difficult times. Spiritual teachers advise that we pay attention to both positive and negative emotions and work with them. Here are a month's worth of book excerpts to help you improve your emotional intelligence.
An Except from Alone But Not Lonely by Donna Schaper
Stay-at-home orders and social distancing have meant that many of us are feeling lonely, deprived of human interaction. Beginning by exploring the focus in a Hopper painting, this reading suggests that solitude helps us keep our spiritual life focused on God.
An Excerpt from The Age of Miracles by Marianne Williamson
"Love is an ever-renewable spiritual resource," writes Williamson. Terrible things are in the news these days, but love is also rising. Watch for that turning of the heart.
An Excerpt from Awake Mind, Open Heart by Cynthia Kneen
A story about how the great Tibetan poet-yogi Milarepa invited a demon to “Tell me about yourself” yields this advice for our own times: Lean into what frightens you. Don't look away. Even if you are afraid, don't run away. Open to what you are feeling.
An Excerpt from The Four Things That Matter Most by Ira Byock
Through a story about his ailing father, Byock establishes that it is entirely appropriate to rely on others, especially when you are ill. "It is wholly natural, normal, and necessary for human beings to depend on one another." This is good to remember when we and those we know suffer from COVID-19.
An Excerpt from The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Spirituality — the belief in connection, a power greater than self, and interconnections grounded in love and compassion — is a key component of resilience. And resilience is a very needed quality during a pandemic.
An Excerpt from How to Be Happier Day by Day by Alan Epstein
Change is in the air, and one of our teachers of this is the weather. Living our lives day by day, we are part of this universal system. Really experiencing the weather is a way to get out of yourself and enjoy an adventure.
An Excerpt from Intuitive Self-Healing by Marie Manuchehri
Self-care is important during any illness or period of concern about illness. Manuchehri, an energy intuitive and Reiki master, explains some simple chakra exercises to reduce anxiety and receive love energy.
An Excerpt from Jacob's Hip by Kerry Walters
Although written in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, this reading also speaks to what we are experiencing during the pandemic: a "limit situation" beyond the boundaries of normalcy, one of painful disorientation. Walters sees within such times opportunities for seeing, learning, and growing.
An Excerpt from Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen
Each of us has a pandemic story -- what we did, how we coped, what we missed, what sustained us. It is important to share these stories. Rachel Naomi Remen writes about listening to her patients' stories. What she says applies to all of us now: "In telling [our stories], we are telling each other the human story. Stories that touch us in this place of common humanness awaken us and weave us together as a family once again."
An Excerpt from Learning to Fall by Phillip Simmons
Simmons wrote essays while he was suffering from ALS. In one he advises us to "see God not only in the eyes of the suffering child but in the suffering itself." We live in an imperfect world -- the pandemic has taught us that -- so his prayer is still relevant today: "May we attend with mindfulness, generosity, and compassion to all that is broken in our lives."
An Excerpt from The Light of Discovery by Toni Packer
With the future so uncertain, many of us are learning to fully embrace the present moment; it is what we have at any time, but that truth seems more evident during the pandemic. This reading encourages us to be in touch with that reality, even if there is nothing particularly spectacular about it.
An Excerpt from My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen
The pandemic has brought us face-to-face with the unknown. Rather than try to find answers to the questions the unknown raises, Remen encourages us to cultivate a sense of Mystery and its power.
An Excerpt from Now and Then by Frederic Buechner
For some, this pandemic has become a time to get their affairs in order, whether doing end-of-life organizing or sorting photographs or identifying possessions. Others have started journaling and even writing their autobiographies. Here's good advice from one of the best autobiographers around on how God speaks through this medium.
An Excerpt from The Smell of Rain on Dust by Martin Prechtel
As the number of deaths from the virus shock the world, it is a time to grieve. An indigenous teacher explores the many meanings of grief -- what it is and what it is not -- and concludes that it is a sacred art.
An Excerpt from When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
Sooner or later, observes the Buddhist teacher, we are going to have experiences we can't control -- little things and huge societal impacts, like this pandemic. And the way to resolve our resistance to these events is meet them face-to-face.
An Excerpt from You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hahn
Every moment, even in the midst of a pandemic, can be a wonderful moment, once we free ourselves from preoccupations about the past and the future and settle into the present.
An Excerpt from Zen Heart by Ezra Bayda
Fear is so prevalent in many people’s lives these days – the basic fear of losing safety and the helplessness of losing control. A Buddhist teacher explains how to practice with fear to create a more spacious heart.
"K" Is for Kindness by Patricia Adams Farmer
A process theologian salutes our web-like universe where every small gesture of kindness sets the whole world atremble. And that is why, during a pandemic, we wear face masks. "With this simple act, we care for the whole web of vulnerable friends and strangers." It's a form of spiritual etiquette.
Making Reading Sacred by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
If you reading more while staying at home, here are some of the ways we make this activity into a spiritual practice through enthusiasm, gratitude, hospitality, meaning, and openness.
Passages on Solitude by Kent Nerburn, Esther de Waal, and Jeremy Langford
Solitude, although it may not seem so when you are alone in your home, can be an expansive practice, bringing us in touch with the pulse of life. There are lessons to be learned in one's "cell." Here are some ways to practice solitude.
The Spiritual Path of Grief by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Here is a collection of quotes from the spiritual traditions of the world about how people have navigated this painful path. There is wisdom here for those all of us affected by pandemic deaths.
12s Gallery: Patience curated by Darren Polito
Patience is a virtue, we've learned, and it can also be a life-saving practice. As countries debate whether to relax COVID mitigation measures, a key consideration is whether the public can be patient. Here are some quotes to reflect upon to assess your own capacity for patience.
The Call to Unite
This live 24-hour global event began Friday, May 1, at 8 pm EDT. Spiritual leaders, singers and storytellers, dancers and painters, public servants and poets participated, including Elizabeth Gilbert, Alanis Morissette, Krista Tippett, Marianne Williamson, Oprah Winfrey, Roshi Joan Halifax, YoYo Ma, Kabir and Camille Helminski, Richard Rohr, Eckart Tolle, Byron Katie, David Brooks, and many others. Go to the "See All Videos" section of the site to watch segments on song, spirit, courage, practice, and hope.
Coronaspection from the Elijah Interfaith Institute
This is a series of video interviews with 40 religious leaders from 15 countries and 7 religious traditions sharing wisdom and spiritual advice as we jointly face a global crisis. You may want to start with the trailer and composite clips. Or click on the photo of a teacher to access his/her video. Or choose clips by religious tradition. Most interviews are under 20 minutes, and some 1 - 2 minute "gems" have been excerpted. Watching one video a day would be a good spiritual practice. As Pope Francis puts it, "In this boat, we are all together."
Global Vaccine Poem
Designed to promote COVID-19 vaccination using the imaginative language of poetry, this is a collaboration between the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University and the University of Arizona Poetry Center. Visitors are encouraged to read a model poem, "Dear Vaccine" by Naomi Shihab Nye, and then write a few lines of their own. So far, thousands of people around the planet have contributed.
Love, Forgiveness, and Compassion Conversation Cards
These cards, created by S&P’s partners at the Fetzer Institute, are available to download and print on both sides of 8 ½” x 11” papers. The 52 cards with quotations, questions to discuss, and actions to take will enrich your conversations at home or in a virtual meeting as you share how to incorporate more love, forgiveness, and compassion into your daily life.
#Naming the Lost
This 24-hour vigil was held on May 20 - 21, 2020, from 2 PM - 2 PM ET, and archives of the entire vigil are available on the website. We encourage you to visit it for compassion practice. Participants from many different religious traditions from around the world read the names, ages, and locations of those who have died from COVID-19. The organizers explained: "The lack of collective mourning during the COVID-19 crisis has left many feeling even more isolated and alone -- and created a gap in the public conversation about what it at stake and who is suffering at this time. We know that every person who has died from COVID-19 and its impacts was so much more than a number or a statistic and we felt it was important to honor them and the people around them by reading their names." On the website you can sign up for updates and notice of future events.
One World: Together at Home Playlist
On April 18, 2020, musicians and entertainers from around the world, organized by Global Citizen, joined together from their homes to present a global broadcast and digital special to support frontline healthcare and essential community workers and the World Health Organization. You can stream the entire concert here or use the link to access the playlist on Spotify.
Resources for Grieving
This collection was put together by the Fetzer Institute when U.S. deaths from COVID-19 reached more than 500,000 and worldwide deaths were at 2.5 million. Included are links to S&P's wide array of resources on grief, Gratefulness.org's "Light a Candle" program, a conversation at Fetzer for end-of-life care, an invitation from the On Being Project to create brave space, and a 10-minute guided meditation on grief from Roshi Joan Halifax.
Window Swap
The pandemic has resulted in restrictions on travel between countries, and for some, even to visit families and vacation spots within their own country. If you long to see a new view, check into this website where with just a click you can open a window somewhere in the world.
This post in the Spiritual Literacy points to an article in which psychologists note that in February 2022, people are feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally depeted by the pandemic. Resources in our Resilience topic to help address these feelings include books, book excerpts, articles, quotations, and spiritual practice.
