Dance of Moon & Sun

The Penumbral Moon and Now the Solar Eclipse!

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Well over a year ago, my childhood friend Chip Gasser reached out to me from London, asking if I, and our other childhood friend Kara, would like to meet him in our homeland of Bethel, Maine for the eclipse. It was such a sweet invitation. Though I thought he was overplanning just a bit—the Bethel Inn wasn’t taking reservations yet. Alas, he ultimately couldn’t make the trip.

I planned nothing. Didn’t even buy glasses.

In my house, Luke and Sadie were not that excited about the eclipse. Their dismissal of this historic astrological phenomenon, I didn’t understand. However, I adopted their uninspired attitude.

Then, we had folks from New Jersey stay at our Airbnb on route to Vermont for total eclipse viewing. My excitement grew; I wanted to jump in their car on Sunday and head North with them.

Yesterday, when the day came, I regretted having no plans and no glasses. I searched all over Leicester—no glasses to be found. Instead, I made two pinhole cameras and sat on the deck with the dogs. I felt such remorse to be alone.

The skies began to darken; what a feeling—ominous and soothing at the same time. Django, our white Shepherd, grew uneasy as I imagined ancient people must have felt during their first eclipse. The chickens started for the coop, thinking it was bedtime.

I texted Luke. “I want to watch the eclipse here with you. Bring glasses.”

To my surprise, he texted back immediately, “On my way.”

The secretary at his school purchased glasses for everyone. Luke showed up, then Sadie, then her boyfriend Dylan. Sharing one pair of glasses, we had our own impromptu watch party. My heart swelled, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so happy in an excited and innocent way.

To imagine us all having this unifying, awe-inspiring experience. All of us under the power and wonderment of nature and astronomy. I imagined families and strangers gathered in fields in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine huddled together or lying on the ground, eyes fixed on the sun, sharing glasses, lenses, and telescopes. What a beautiful image.

Video of Our Watch Party

I'm not as connected to astronomy and the skies as I would like to be, but this season has hit me in a unique way with the penumbral moon and now the solar eclipse and other rare astrological occurrences. I've no doubt we ants marching on Earth are affected.

I offer you Five Journal Prompts so that we may linger together with the effects of the solar eclipse:

• When was the last time you experienced awe and wonderment? What elicits awe in you? How might you seek the feelings and experience of awe more in your life?
• What is something that has been casting a dark shadow in/on your life? Can you think of 1-3 ways that there is or could be light amidst the shadow? Beauty in the darkness?
• Are there shadow aspects of the self you have been avoiding looking at? Can you embrace them and ask them what they have to share with and teach you?
• What’s in alignment for you right now and lighting you up? How might you build upon this?
• The Super New Moon and the solar eclipse signify new beginnings. What new do you want to call into your life? What steps might you take?

With love and light on your path,

Jess

88 Marshall Street, Leicester, Massachusetts 01524
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