A total solar eclipse will happen on Monday, April 8th. I can’t say that I’m a huge astrophysics follower, but I am a big media event junkie and I’m hearing a lot about this rare event. People – many people – have been waiting for this for years. Those who have spent their careers in pursuit of astronomical knowledge earmarked this date decades ago and, well, here it is!
The Canadian Space Agency says ‘a spectacular and rare celestial event is set to unfold… as the moon aligns perfectly between earth and the sun, temporary darkness will sweep across parts of the country, captivating countless spectators.’ Now, granted, it might be cloudy that day or something unexpected and earthly might pull our attention away from focusing on this. And, along with all the excitement in the news, we’re hearing of school divisions in Eastern Canada being closed so that children don’t look up and hurt their eyes.
But all those mere mortal concerns aside, I plan to grasp onto this moment somehow. Hearing the word ‘totality’ is enough for me to try something, and hearing eclipse-chasers describe something like this as a peak life experience should be enough reason to get most people outside. A peak experience is a high point in life when people feel in harmony with themselves and their surroundings. Often described as a feeling of euphoria. Not sure about you, but for me that is rare, indeed. The moment I first saw my newborn’s face is really the only one that comes to mind. Perhaps a few experiences with music that moved my soul.
So my anticipation is rather high. I don’t expect to be blown off my feet, but perhaps I will be able to harness the power of knowing that so many humans are focused on a single thing: looking up. But not directly into the sun. Looking to the heavens for a sense of something larger than us and our problems. Absorbing the strangeness the light will take and harnessing the power inside ourselves of this little blip in time.
Even if it’s merely to stand still for a moment and see if it touches me somehow or enriches my spirit. I will wear my special necklace that has a gem from my mom. I know my friend will line her stones and keepsakes outside in her garden in case they might capture a sort of essence. My other friend will bring out his guitar. What will you do?
Science is what we’ll see, but mystery is what we’ll feel. Or perhaps we won’t really feel much of anything except a shared moment in time. But it’s a rare moment. It will be 80 years before the next similar total solar eclipse in 2106, which means many of us will be watching from the other side.
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