Search For Meaning In Troubling Times

Here's something to consider as we emerge from a tough time into an even tougher time...

It’s a quote from Viktor Frankl’s blockbuster, Man's Search For Meaning.

At this point it would be helpful [to perform]
a conceptual turn through 180 degrees,
after which the question can no longer be
“What can I expect from life?”
but can now only be
“What does life expect of me?”

It's a VERY powerful book, describing how Frankl coped with the horrific conditions of Auschwitz and 3 other camps... experiences which took the lives of his parents, brother, and pregnant wife.

I don't know about you, but i doubt i'd come through that alive, let alone sane. Frankl, though, did far better than merely survive.

He found meaning and, dare i say, even grace in his suffering.

I find this truly inspirational these days. Not that this compares with being in a killing camp, of course.

Still, suffering is everywhere right now. And no knowing what's going to happen to the world... or our loved ones... or ourselves.

As the stats show, the demand for psychiatric help, antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, and suicide hotlines has skyrocketed. More people are committing suicide, doing more drugs / alcohol, abusing family members, and so on.

Society is going through a collective trauma.

How do we, individually, deal with that?

A big question on my mind these days! And judging by the emails i receive, i'm far from alone in this.

How Does A Search For Meaning Help?

This quote helps me remember that we are not here to ask Life to serve us, nor to provide meaning.

We are here to serve Life. We are here to find the deep soul-meaning in our daily events. Life is asking US what the meaning of it all is.

When we shift our perspective to this level of awareness, suddenly nothing is very threatening.

The future isn't something to worry about,
but some new adventure to wring the juice from,
toast the mysterious Source of it all,
and drink deep.

Life is here to change us, to challenge us so that we can grow in the Divine Qualities: Love, Harmony, Compassion, Peace, Thankfulness, and so on.

That is the Question life continues to ask us — How will you face this situation?

It All Begins — And Ends — Within

In the same book, Viktor Frankl also famously said,

“When we are no longer able
to change a situation,
we are challenged to change ourselves.”

If that's not a motto for these days, i don't know what is!

We no longer have the luxury of coasting, unconsciously, through our days. Is this a curse, or a blessing? Sort of both.

As spiritual Wiccans, we know that this world is a playground and schoolyard. Wiccans know that life is a grand (if sometimes overwhelming) adventure for the soul. We're here to do something... and what else, really, but advancing and expanding our soul's perfection?

So what do we do?

We can't change the enormity of what's going on in the world around us. We can only change our responses to the external world.

And after all, that's the whole point of life on Earth.

That's where we may find meaning... and Grace.

With Brightest Blessings,

erin Dragonsong