We should always endeavour to wonder at the permanent thing, not at the mere exception. We should be startled by the sun, and not by the eclipse. We should wonder less at the earthquake and wonder more at the earth.
G. K. Chesterson
The reappearance of the crescent moon after the new moon; the return of the Sun after a total eclipse, the rising of the Sun in the morning after its troublesome absence at night were noted by people around the world; these phenomena spoke to our ancestors of the possibility of surviving death. Up there in the skies was also a metaphor of immortality.
Carl Sagan
Since man, fragment of the universe, is governed by the same laws that preside over the heavens, it is by no means absurd to search there above for the themes of our lives…
Marguerite Yourcenar
We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil’s bargain
And we’ve got to get ourselves
back to the garden.
Joni Mitchell, Woodstock
Taking things for granted is a major malaise of the human condition. It is so easy to get into a rut of familiar routine and cruise through the day in autopilot. When this happens, life loses its spice and enthusiasm wanes.
I need to cultivate awareness, at regular intervals every day, to avoid this `taking for granted´ trap that tends to ensnare us in our day-to-day existence. Conscious appreciation for the immenseness of the starry sky, for example, or of the perpetual flow of vast amounts of water in the majestic river on whose banks I have made my home; these are simple exercises which help me remain present.
During these spring weeks, we are more tuned into the ever-unfolding dynamic of flora and fauna, but what about later in the year when the initial vernal explosion has ebbed?
Sometimes, on my daily walk, I pinch myself to be reminded that this is not the same river that was here yesterday. My thoughts then go to where yesterday’s waters might be today, perhaps already in the expansive ocean, and where tomorrow’s waters might be right now, on their way from the glaciers high up in the Alps. The river takes on more life and sweeps me up in its vitality of the here and now, leaving me invigorated, vibrant, and grateful.
The same is true of the relationships we have, in our daily interactions. We, ourselves, are not the same person on awakening as the one who went to sleep the night before. `Every breath a new beginning´ is a mantra I like very much and use regularly in my meditation. The lover, the child, or the neighbour who was there yesterday has been superseded by today’s incarnation. Creation is always in a state of flux.
Only when we are prepared to look closely, to tune in with the heart, will we recognise today’s novelty in everyone. Otherwise, there is a danger of my projecting onto you what I believe was there yesterday, or even what I would prefer to be there today. My relationship is then with projections of my making, but not with you. How I often fall into this trap!
As we are all subject to the human condition, these projections are forever being fired in all directions. This raises the bar in terms of maintaining awareness in the present moment. When we rise to this challenge, dis-covery replaces re-cognition. We are given the opportunity to re-discover each other with new eyes in each encounter. Life takes on a new freshness, with a depth of richness, vibrancy, and colour.
This week provided one of those precious reminders of the vibrancy of life that costs nothing and requires only the combination of information and a little bit of luck. It was an astronomical event, a spectacle of the highest order, in my estimation.
A contemplation in which I often happily engaged in childhood was that of imagining the movement of the spheres within the solar system and beyond. This mental fantasy has never become tiresome and continues to provide enjoyment and a sense of wonder to this day.
Twelve months ago, for the first time in my life, I was privileged to witness a total eclipse of the sun. It was indeed a fabulous experience, never to be forgotten. If ever there is any way you can get into the path of totality for an eclipse, do it. Take the day, or even the week off. Make the effort, grab your siblings, your partner, your children, and go to the ideal location!
It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people to see a total eclipse, and it is one of the grandest sights in all the natural world. It is something you will always remember, and you will continue to recount the stories to your grandchildren for as long as you live.
Last Saturday morning, around noon local time, brought yet another solar eclipse, this time partial, which could be seen right here from my home in the Rheinland, provided skies were clear. It was with considerable excitement that I went to bed on Friday night, hoping for a clear dawn to greet me at the other end of my slumbers.
And so it unfolded. From the very first waking moment, it was clear that it would be an excellent day for observing the imminent celestial pageant. This can be considered a bonus for anyone who, like me, grew up in Ireland, a country famous for its overcast weather. This shows that my inner metrological template is still that of my Irish childhood, even four decades after emigrating.
After meditation and breakfast, I pocketed my protective glasses and headed out along the river for my regular walk, which would be longer than usual. The eclipse was scheduled the begin at 11.10. Just after this time, the initial effect was already clearly visible. It looked like Cookie Monster was beginning to nibble at the top right lunar quadrant.
My awareness began to expand, as I reflected on the phenomenon that was beginning to unfold. I felt a certain lightness of being and a very strong sense of belonging. From a meta perspective, everything appeared as one, with each element of Creation having its own unique place in this grand scheme of things.
Finding a free bench in the park outside the village, I settled in for a longer period just before the eclipse reached its climax at ten minutes past noon. Now, totally relaxed and in awe of what was happening, my heart began to fill with gratitude. What a privilege to be able to experience something so superb!
As I watched in awe, two contrasting ideas came to mind. The first concerned vastness and infinity. What an amazing notion, to consider that our solar system is at the edge of a galaxy which is only one of between 100 billion and 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe.
In reverie, I wondered if such eclipses took place elsewhere in this universe and marvelled at the notion that they, too, might perhaps be regularly observed by indigenous conscious beings.
On the other hand, I felt the depth of the moment. This generated a sense of grandness and abundance which comes of intimate awareness of cosmic phenomena. Indeed, I felt tiny, gigantic, and intimately connected with the universe at one and the same time. The experience of being simultaneously both a grain of sand on the beach and the entire cosmic ocean is truly uplifting and humbling.
It is sometimes the case that the extraordinary draws our attention to the miraculous nature of the mundane. That certainly stayed with me after the second hour, when, from my vantage point, the spheres appeared to separate and go their separate ways.
The final impression was that of the mutable nature of the world of matter, to which we belong, within the infinite embrace of the Spirit of Love, the Love that we are.
