Totality: Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
What more can I add? Do I need to say more? Just this: I came. I saw. I stood in awe. And for those few brief seconds–maybe 120, at most–I was completely enthralled and totally enchanted by the sheer magnitude of the unending beauty of all that our natural world offers us if only we will pay attention, halt the cynicism, and risk losing ourselves in the beautiful and majestic unknown.
Those 120 seconds are some of the most memorable and awe-inspiring moments of my life. I’m sure they will always remain so.
Eclipse photo taken at time of totality with a Nikon S7000. I hadn’t planned on taking a picture as I just wanted to experience it completely. I grabbed my camera, shot this one pic quickly, and then put it down. I’m glad I did. Taken in Orangeburg, SC.
The Eclipse Geeks. That’s me on the right.
Giving Voice to My Astonishment 
Thanks for sharing your awesome photo and personal experience. While I chose to follow my yoga teacher’s guidance instead and experience the eclipse internally, I do not feel I missed anything by not viewing it personally. However, I totally agree that being in nature is the greatest gift to ourselves and to our spirits.
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I just read your recent post on the eclipse. I do appreciate the way you chose to experience it internally. Also, the flowers, mantra, and intention–sounds like you had a wonderful personal observance. Nature…:)
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I admire how you experienced those 120 seconds. Tomorrow I am headed to the silence of a small island for the weekend, and what you wrote reminds me of how lucky I am to be able to get out into nature.
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Thank you. Enjoy your time spent in silence and nature. Yes, we are so lucky!
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Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]
5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8
These natural events cannot help but cause us to stop in Awe and Wonder.
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Yes! And what an awesome and wonderful responsibility we have to care for this beautiful world and all her creatures great and small.
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