A solar eclipse is a unique experience and also, in the language of Whitehead, a lure for feeling. It is a scientific event and also a human event. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the nature and purpose of life. Here are ten questions that can spur that reflection:
Adaptability to Darkness: How do we adapt to darkness, both physical and metaphorical, and what does the sudden darkness of an eclipse teach us about our resilience and ability to find comfort in the unknown?
Collective Awe: How do moments of shared darkness, like those during an eclipse, bring people together, and what does this shared experience of wonder and contemplation reveal about our collective vulnerability and awe?
Our Place in the Universe: How does the temporary darkness of an eclipse make us reflect upon our place in the larger universe? Do we feel more connected, less connected, or both to the larger network of stars and galaxies?
Momentary Novelty: What does the rarity of witnessing an eclipse or other once-in-a-lifetime events teach us about appreciating unique moments and phenomena that we may only experience once? Might every moment of experience, in its uniqueness, be an eclipse of sorts: an emergence and then a perishing?
Human Curiosity and Intelligence: What does the ability of science to predict celestial events, like eclipses, illustrate about human curiosity, intelligence, and our pursuit of understanding the natural world?
The Holy: How do eclipses evoke a sense of the holy or the divine as both fascinating and fearsome, and what does this tell us about the nature of our spiritual or religious experiences in the presence of mystery?
Contrasts of Light and Dark: How do the contrasts of light and shadow during an eclipse prompt us to reflect on the balance of opposing forces in our lives?
God: If God is not an all-powerful tyrant in the sky, but rather a living Presence of noncontrolling Love, might the darkness of a full eclipse reveal something of God?
Cyclical Patterns: Solar and lunar eclipses follow a certain rhythm or cycle, known as the Saros cycle. What do these cyclical patterns tell you about the universe and your own life? Does your life, too, exhibit cyclical patterns? What are they?
Transience and Permanence: How does the fleeting nature of eclipses make you contemplate the interplay between what is transient and what is permanent in your life and the broader universe?
God and the Eclipse
Freedom within Creation: An eclipse is a result of the natural laws of the universe, or, if you prefer, habits of the universe, working in a precise and predictable manner, showcasing that creation operates with a degree of autonomy. This autonomy can be seen as an expression of God's noncontrolling love, allowing the universe to unfold in its complexity and beauty without divine intervention.
Subtle Presence: The noncontrolling love of God in an eclipse can be reflected in the subtle yet profound experience it offers. God's presence is not overpowering or overwhelming; instead, it's found in the quiet awe and wonder that people feel as they witness this celestial event, reminding us of a presence that accompanies rather than controls.
Revelation of Beauty and Order: The beauty and order inherent in an eclipse, from its predictability to the awe-inspiring visuals, can be perceived as expressions of God's love. This love is not coercive but is instead revealed through the intricate and magnificent design of the cosmos, inviting us to find joy and wonder in the natural world.
We grow accustomed to the Dark
Emily Dickinson
We grow accustomed to the Dark -- When light is put away -- As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp To witness her Goodbye --
NASA Videos explaining the April 8, 2024 Eclipse
Solar Eclipses
BBC's In Our Time
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss solar eclipses, some of life’s most extraordinary moments, when day becomes night and the stars come out before day returns either all too soon or not soon enough, depending on what you understand to be happening. In ancient China, for example, there was a story that a dragon was eating the sun and it had to be scared away by banging pots and pans if the sun were to return. Total lunar eclipses are more frequent and last longer, with a blood moon coloured red like a sunrise or sunset. Both events have created the chance for scientists to learn something remarkable, from the speed of light, to the width of the Atlantic, to the roundness of Earth, to discovering helium and proving Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. With Carolin Crawford, Public Astronomer based at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Emmanuel College; Frank Close, Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford; and Lucie Green, Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University, College London