The handshake has become an important human gesture throughout much of the world. The customs surrounding it vary from country to country. Here in North America, a firm handshake, accompanied by eye contact, is considered appropriate. However; in the Middle East and in Japan a weaker handshake is preferred, as a firm one implies rudeness. There are other various subtleties worldwide, which unless you spend your time travelling to foreign countries, you probably do not need to know. For the past few weeks, you cannot turn on the news without hearing about the Coronavirus, which like many viruses, can be spread by a simple handshake.
The handshake was practiced as far back as the fifth century BC and is believed to be a sign that you were not harboring a weapon. In India, a greeting and/or parting gesture that supplants the handshake common in most of the world, is to place your hands in a prayer position in front of you and with a slight bow, speak, “Namaste”. This is a way for the god within each of us to honor the god in the other person. It does not require physical contact and therefore does not contribute to the spread of disease. My dear friend and swan mentor, Dr. William Sladen, would not shake hands with people for that very reason. He was well into his nineties when I knew him and most of the other people who knew him thought he was strange, but I loved that about him.
This new virus has now been classified as a pandemic. It has led to certain areas declaring a state of emergency. Naturally, the media has thrown a large percentage of people into near hysteria. The news will tell you that it seems to target older people and people in nursing homes, implying that those people’s lives might in some way be cut short – as if they were already leading quality lives and being contributing members of society. It is my guess that most of the people in nursing homes would just as soon that their lives be finished; but keeping them alive ensures a regular paycheck for those employed to care for them. Nature will continue to find ways to decrease our burgeoning population. She will continue to give us viruses, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and earthquakes. In our ignorance we will continue to fight wars, eliminating still more lives; but until human beings awaken as a whole, these disasters will continue. Even if we are not concerned with contracting a virus through a handshake, the symbol of Namaste – of honoring each other – is the first step towards world peace.
