Separation, meaning, racism and balance

In a recent discussion, some insights became clear about the human psyche (human psychology) and the separation experience due to the pandemic. COVID-19 has forced many of us to experience separation in new and penetrating ways, but it's not new for everyone. Cultures of color in the United States have experienced racism in numerous ways for centuries; separation is usually involved.

For example, the Black culture has experienced separation, and therefore racism, as in bathroom use, bus seating, being owned, receiving death threats, being killed and more. The dominant White culture, however, has escaped racism and this type of separation with the exception of women. Throughout the centuries, women of all colors experienced separation as abuse, racism, judgment, domination and bias.

Today, people in all cultures are living separately. Families are not sharing face-to-face experiences; people are isolating by staying home; people are wearing masks which promotes facial separation, and people are fearing for their lives. These experiences and more are forcing everyone to separate from each other.

When depth psychologists look at individual and cultural (collective) expressions, they realize that the psyche underlies these expressions, which they describe as myths. But these myths are not considered fantasies. On the contrary, the myths are considered meaningful expressions from which we can learn about human nature and develop consciousness (awareness).

This separation myth can have many possible meanings, but one critical meaning is that the White culture needs to truly experience separation. When we "walk in someone else's shoes," we can genuinely empathize with the other person. Racism has fostered separation for cultures of color, producing pain and suffering. Now, psyche is forcing the White culture to understand and experience the pain and suffering of separation, and to develop an empathy for cultures of color.

Of course, cultures of color are struggling with COVID-19 as well, and people from these cultures are dying at a higher rate than people in the White culture. So, you might ask: What is the meaning of this myth for people of color? Well, the simple answer is that the human psyche does not seek right or wrong, or good or bad. Instead, it seeks balance. Just as water seeks its own level, so, too, the psyche seeks balance. So, the White culture's one-sidedness requires balance.

Developing empathy can lead to balance between cultures and reduce racist separation, promoting greater ease and peace for everyone. Perhaps, we need to pay attention to the separation imposed by COVID-19 and the meaning of this psychic myth to develop greater empathy and balance.