Reflections on an Eclipse

Barry Newstead
Aug 24, 2017 · 2 min read

The solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 came at a moment where we are in need of perspective. It was so timely that it gives all of the true believers (I am not one) in omens a pretty big boost.

What are some useful reflections meaning of the eclipse?

For me, my reflections centre on our smallness and our shared environment. Humanity is less than a speck when one considers the cosmos and the eclipse is a reminder of this. Our “mark” is no more than a faint, temporary footprint in the sand.

The power of a solar eclipse is that we are all shown just how vast, awesome (emphasis on the awe) and immovable (for us humans) the environment is. Nothing a human can do warrants even the most fleeting comparison. Even global climate change will only damage us and many Earth bound species.

Now this might sound depressing, but it is anything but. This perspective can help us to shift from an egocentric, anthropocentric view toward a wider one that embraces so much more than our little lives or even that of 7 billion humans. When we see a solar eclipse or stand on a beach staring out into the vast ocean, our egocentric troubles fade away. Our desire to fight things, conquer things look futile (or more crudely, stupid) when framed against the awesome vastness and solidity of the environment which we cannot conquer.

So, for me, I’m trying to live differently. I want to reflect on the privileges I have, not the things I lack. I want to look for the opportunities to act in harmony with my environment and the people around me, rather than compete for a fixed pie of stuff that is worthless in the grand scheme. I want to work to focus on having a positive impact on others, rather than their impact on me.

While my mark will not remain over time, my life can be more happily spent seeking harmony with this beautiful universe during the small moment in time we have to enjoy it.

PS. I took inspiration from this RadioLab episode http://www.radiolab.org/story/sun-dont-shine/

and this image from Voyager 1 referenced in the RadioLab episode (https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/galleries/images-voyager-took/solar-system-portrait/#gallery-2)

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Barry Newstead
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