Designing Spirituality Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Seeking Real Inspiration in a Virtual World
Our deep existential questions have risen up more strongly than ever in response to the psychological chaos that descended with COVID-19. The ways we answer these questions have been, like the pandemic itself, unprecedented. The institutional barriers of traditional religion have long been removed for millennials, who have found myriad new ways to feel a sense of higher purpose and belonging. Now the physical barriers of those communities are also removed, with the public health guidance to only gather virtually. Existential comfort is being found in many corners of Zoom rooms and conference calls.
For almost a decade, spiritual practice has been ingrained in my daily life, mostly in the form of physical yoga postures and seated meditation. That has certainly been a balm in the context of COVID-19, and virtual community circles have also offered transformative comfort. One example is the Sacred Design Lab’s “Family Chapel,” a 30-minute Zoom call held at 9am every weekday during the first few weeks of the shelter-in-place orders. During these sessions, the facilitators guided us through a simple ritual that included lighting a candle, listening to a secular song together, and reflection in small groups. These calls embrace diversity of belief and practice, and simply offer an intersection for strangers from around the world that want to come together to connect with a deeper sense of meaning.
Stories abound of people going to prayer groups or virtual weekly services offered through their local places of worship. Even my grandparents go to video church on Sundays! Humanity benefits when we spend time connecting with each other about our reason for being and how to serve the collective better. However, the time, energy, resources, and ability to do this is not equally spread. How might we make access to this type of inquiry more equitable?
