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Special Partial Lunar Eclipse

I’d probably be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the upcoming, actually very special, partial lunar eclipse that will occur during the wee hours of Friday morning, November 19^th (2021). I’ve seen so many posts and articles about it, I sort of feel as though I’m just being redundant by writing about it here. But just in case this scintillating blog is your lone connection to the outside world, let me alert you now: 2021’s second set of eclipses is upon us, and the first in the series will occur a few hours after midnight Thursday night – also known as a few hours before dawn Friday morning. (The second, a solar eclipse, will take place on December 4th.)

Whether you decide to stay up late (ok, very late) or get up early to watch it (should you make that bold choice at all) depends upon whether you’re a night owl or a morning rooster.

What to Expect

While I’m still a bit unclear as to the astrological significance of eclipses, I understand how they occur astronomically. And when we watch them take place (obviously the lunar eclipses are the ones we can directly observe without burning our retinas), it’s hard not to feel overcome with a sense of existential awe. Every single time I’ve witnessed an eclipse I’ve imagined a visceral connection to my ancient, ancient ancestors who must have been blown away by the mystery unfolding before their eyes.

I think eclipses are thought to be revelatory in some way. I don’t know why, but as we approach this particular partial lunar eclipse I’m focusing more on how it is expected to be the longest lasting eclipse (three hours and 28 minutes) this century – but also the longest in the past 580 years. It seems like we’ve been experiencing a number of celestial events in the past couple years that have been significant in that way. Is it a coincidence that humanity seems to be going through some pretty significant shifts in these times?

Beam me up? – Photo: L. Weikel

Whoa

Every once in a while, especially when witnessing celestial events, I’m left with such a profound shift in perspective that it’s hard to even form words to describe the visceral effect. I mostly feel it in my chest. Is it my heart attempting to expand into the space above? Is it simply the enormity of All That Is that takes my breath away? Or is it the flip side of it all? Am I overcome by just how teeny tiny and insignificant everything is here – not the least being my solitary self but also all the struggles and worries of our entire planet?

Which leads me to ask: have you ever tried to imagine what existed before the Big Bang? Or what exists beyond…what? IS there a boundary to universes? Where does anything begin? Or end? Try to imagine it.

Yeah. Did you feel that weird sensation in your chest?

Whoa.

Cloud Winged Ones – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-9)

Photo – travelandleisure.com

Leonid Alert

In case you didn’t realize it, the Leonid meteor showers will be taking place this weekend (Saturday and Sunday evening, November 16-17^th, 2019). Had I realized it before this evening, I would’ve written this post last night. As it is, this won’t get automatically sent until 1:00 a.m., which I suppose could still work to provide a heads up for some of you.

When I first began this 1111 Devotion, I didn’t imagine my posts becoming a harbinger of meteor showers, but that’s apparently something that’s evolving out of this practice. I’ve written about the Delta Aquarids, Capricornids, and ‘advertised’ the Perseids. And now the Leonids.

I’m guessing it’s because looking up, increasing our awareness of the cosmos, promoting our realization that we inhabit an incredibly vast universe (and even that – my use of the singular ‘universe’ – feels limited) all feel deeply important to me. It feels important that we earnestly begin expanding our awareness of ‘reality’ (even more accurately, realities) sooner rather than later.

And That’s Just the Physical…

It’s amusing, I guess, that I consider watching the skies for ‘shooting stars’ to somehow be a gateway for us to consider other realities. Why would this be so, when they’re clearly part and parcel of this shared physical reality?

I guess I’m enamored with meteor showers because they have the ability to both confirm the physical fact that chunks of debris (from exploded planets and massive ice chunks and who knows what else) careen through space and burn to a cinder when slamming into our atmosphere – and also remind our spirits that we can experience astonished delight by simply witnessing a hoped-for but totally unpredictable point of light streak through the sky above our heads.

Why I Rant

I was out walking in the dark this evening, weaving my way along the stones and across the logs traversing the springs that bubble up along the path. The trees, having only recently lost their leaves, looked a bit naked in stark relief against the midnight blue of the star strewn sky.

But their nakedness allowed me to look up and actually see the bazillions of stars that are visible in places where light pollution barely exists. My heart cannot help but expand beyond all boundaries when realizing I’m staring into the Milky Way galaxy from my single little spot on Mother Earth.

When I look up and feel that vast sense of expansion, I yearn for everyone to stop what they’re doing and look up. I yearn for everyone to turn off the lights and look up. I yearn for everyone on Earth to stop for a moment and remember there’s so incredibly much more to life than what occupies most of our minds and consumes most of our thoughts.

Indulge the Magic

I’ve written about a couple different meteor events, but this is my first post about the Leonids. So tonight or tomorrow night, around or after midnight, turn off your lights. Go outside if weather permits and, if possible, spread out a blanket and allow yourself the luxury of both connecting your back (literally) to Mother Earth and your spirit to some magic.