Inspiring Awe
Transcendent moments that make us feel at one with the world
“It’s amazing to step out of the busyness of our lives, to come back to the mystery of our own existence.”—Jack Kornfield
The reviews are in, and Eclipse 2024 was positively cosmic. Did any of you get to experience it?
While much less dramatic than the photo above, my husband and I and a friend were able to catch the show at our local park. Even at 92% totality, it was amazing to watch the moon align with the sun, experience the sudden drop in temperature, see tiny fuzzy aphids magically appear and hover around us like little fairies.
If anything could make you feel like a speck of flitting fuzz, it would be an event like this.
As moved as I was by the experience, I wasn’t prepared to be equally moved by the TV images and reactions of people taking in the show as it unfolded from Mazatlán to Maine in real time.
How so many millions can be brought to their knees in total wonderment — in the dark of day — is not something we get to see very often.
The collective gasps of awe and wonder pouring out of elated gatherers was as much a thrill for me as the event itself.
As one reporter so aptly put it:
“For a nation pulled apart by every manner of division, the eclipse and the awe it inspires offers a moment of unity, if brief. It is a reminder of the collective experience of being alive, of the dance between spirituality and science, and the sheer astonishment at being part of the greater story of things.” 1
Wouldn’t it be great if we could see more joyful bonding among our human tribe? Perhaps you can join me in holding that intention.
You can start now by sharing your experience of the eclipse in the comments if you had one. And if not this eclipse event, perhaps you can
tell us about a jaw-dropping experience you’ve had that made you feel like you were part of a greater story of things.
Ahhh ☀️🤩
Want more?
Eclipse 2024
The 40-second ‘movie’ version by yours truly, where not much happens, but you get the vibe… [best with sound]:
A beautifully curated series of images that will take your breath away and have you wanting more (thank you, Andy Adams 🙏🏼):
Totality in all its splendor…
In case you missed it…
Weathering Change
How do we respond to changes we don't like and didn't ask for? How can we embrace unpleasant circumstances that don’t match our picture of how things should be? How do we hang out with what is without pining for what isn’t?
From “Gazing Skyward, and Awaiting a Moment of Awe,” by Elizabeth Dias, national correspondent for the New York Times covering faith and spirituality.
How wonderful. We live on the wrong continent and couldn't see and experience it...
It was such a momentous afternoon for us here in northern Vermont. We celebrated with our daughter and her family and the kids out in a huge field sitting in our lawn chairs and dancing around with the baby. The kiddos just loved the glasses and the whole affair. They seemed to get it that this was something really special. Their mama brought a moon cake and we all just were in silent awe when it got completely dark. This memory will last for a lifetime. And I’m so glad we could share this event and see our humanity and enjoy the vast universe and not see our petty differences.