What can I learn from this moment in time?
Since August 6, 2017, we have had a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse, and currently Mercury is in retrograde. What I know now following the solar eclipse on August 21 is that behind the shadow of life, one can discover the light or uncover the answer to a problem.
Santa Barbara was engulfed in a heavy cloud cover the morning of the solar eclipse. I was not optimistic that I’d see the eclipse which I knew would be observable at approximately 10:15 am local time. Nonetheless I grabbed a pair of the safety glasses as I left my dentist’s office around 10:00 am. Something nudged me to do so – a “whisper of wisdom” no doubt.
As I approached a local restaurant to have breakfast, I saw a tiny bit of the sun peeking through the clouds. By the time I parked my car, there was a slight hint of blue sky and more sunlight. I grabbed the safety glasses from my purse and looked at the sun. And there to my amazement was the dark moon sitting on top of the brilliant bright sun. I was ecstatic and texted my sister and niece who were looking together at the eclipse in Tucson. We shared that blessed moment together. I looked again and was amazed at the majestic sight of this cosmological event. I was bearing witness at the same time with millions of others across the world. In this experience, there was a sense of being connected with something bigger than my one small life. I looked around me and saw two men looking from the doorway of the restaurant. I motioned for them to come look and to use my glasses. They were thrilled and advanced towards me with eagerness. In that moment we were in harmony with one another and the cosmos. It was a blessing and a miracle all rolled up into an opportunity to be connected under the heavens.
I recognized that more times than not, people long to be connected. In that one brief space in time, I was able to share an incredible celestial moment with two fellow human beings here in Santa Barbara, as well as with my sister and niece in Tucson. I was humbled by how simple it was to do. I will never forget that moment nor the happiness I felt in sharing it with others. Life is a mystery and for that I am grateful.
Beautiful whisper, Kathleen! I feel as though I shared it with you!
I experienced totality at the Santee National Wildlife rescue in South Carolina! It was spiritual and humbling to say the least. At totality you could see 4 planets around the sun. The diamond ring was too spectacular to describe. Life and the Universe. How lucky we all are to live!