There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has drastically changed the world in 2020. Things we once took for granted have been put on hold for months. We used to see the world as stable, but all of a sudden nothing is certain.
Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have caused many industries and spheres of life to change. We now see medical professionals online, for example. But spirituality is perhaps undergoing a bigger change than any.
Most people accept that spirituality is a part of the average person’s life. It does not necessarily have anything to do with religion. However, spirituality is often disregarded or not spoken about because we tend to see it at odds with modernity.
There are lots of examples of spiritualists rejecting modern advances, especially seeing as certain technology keeps our minds firmly grounded in the physical. But with COVID-19, spirituality has had to enter the twenty-first century. Here’s how.
Online spiritual services
With places of worship closed, spiritual leaders are communicating with their communities via online means. They get in touch through email, online chats, and video calls. Services are broadcast on streaming platforms.
This is even true for psychic readings. Spiritualists have been forced to find new ways to get spiritual advice. While email and online psychic services have been around for a while, many people have been reluctant to take the leap.
It may seem strange that psychics can do their job at a distance – you can see full list on heraldnet.com. After all, they are reading the individual to a large degree. And some psychics are surely struggling to get used to the new normal. But, like everyone else in 2020, they need to adapt to stay relevant.
Accessibility
Some spiritualists are taking advantage of the changes to reach people who would normally avoid spirituality. Religious events like baptisms, circumcisions, and coming-of-age ceremonies are now accessible to even the most far-flung members of a family.
Now it is easy for people who would usually not be interested enough to make the effort to get to a service to access these events. Spiritual leaders are using the opportunity to speak directly to them, making the services themselves more accessible so as not to put any visitors off.
Information sharing
For spiritual traditions that involve a lot of learning, embracing modern technology can make a huge difference. Instead of catering lectures and sermons to the lowest common denominator, leaders can easily share extra information, whether readings or videos, online.
This also makes it easy for teachers to give courses on spiritual topics to a wide range of people around the world. By doing so, they can charge a small access fee and reach hundreds of students, making a better living than they were before while teaching more people.
Most spiritual traditions are based firmly on ancient teachings. However, they also emphasize the importance of the here and now. Embracing the twenty-first century can make the spiritual experiences feel more authentic and relevant. COVID-19 has been hard on everyone and has forced us all to adapt. In many cases, the new normal is here to stay.