The Awakeniong of Pan
Paul Dunion
Have we awoken the wrath of the god, Pan?
The fury of this Pan-demic has his voice heard
everywhere. This god of wild grooves and
mountains appear to have awakened from
his favorite pastime, napping. To what do
we owe this nefarious visit?
The Arcadians warned that those who
awakened this god from his repose
would panic at the sound of his roar.
The volume of his thunderous howl
would easily knock the breath out
of you.
What does Pan ask for? Could it be some
measure of mindfulness regarding the
mutilation of his forests and the poisoning
of his water and air? Has the clamoring of
our machines disturbed his slumber, his
reaction known to create panic.
This son of Hermes may also be a messenger,
One who reminds us of our need to distract
from living intimately. Have we allowed
ambition, greed, and hubris to separate and
alienate us from ourselves, others, and the
earth?
Might this god of Nature be appeased
If we pause, refusing to simply lament
the loss of our distractions during this
Pan-demic. Distractions such as buying,
selling, viewing, building, conquering,
and planning.
All honorable ego activities until the
onset of extreme indulgence. You can
join Pan, the great napper, and rest
more, allowing the quiet to bring you
closer to what touches and moves us.
Primordial urges can once again guide.
Pan is a muse for fertility. He is at
home with growth, productivity, and
generativity. He may be asking you to
birth new vision. Even from social
distancing, you remember that others
long to be seen, welcomed, and loved.
Pan loves playing the reed flute. He
asks that you welcome music, tones
sung and played. Included are verses
that open the heart reminding us of
what truly matters. Words of gratitude
to a friend ring as a sweet anthem.
In the quiet, we can hear the voice of
Pan: “You have forgotten about your
creatureliness, about being body. You
hunger, thirst, produce and protect
your young, suffer and die. You are
asked to remember you are body.
You have allowed for the illusion that
mind can elevate you. Mind can remind
you of your wholeness, remind you of
the instinct of the Saber Tooth tiger
that lives in your primordial ooze, informing
of the sacred vs. something idolatrous.”
