Total Eclipse of the Heart - Phetasy News
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Despite being a tree-hugging hippie who loves all things “woo”, I didn’t catch the full eclipse fever that seemed to take over much of America leading up to the big event. My aunt, who had seen one before in Mexico, told me to witness a solar eclipse in its totality was “life changing.”
I said to my aunt, “I hope it pours,” the day before the eclipse. I would eat those words. Not because it poured—but because it didn’t.
My hunch is that my outright pessimism was a juvenile way to protect myself from disappointment in the event the day ended up being cloudy or rainy (which is what the forecast was predicting in the weeks and days prior). No one wants their life-changing event ruined by a few stinking clouds.
The day of the eclipse came and we decided, because I have a toddler and since traffic was supposed to be apocalyptic, it would be easiest to just enjoy it from the backyard. That way I could stare up at the sun and not have to worry about wrangling the tot as she could entertain herself with chalk and her water table in the shade of our back porch.
It was partly cloudy where we were and so as the new moon moved in front of the sun we breathlessly awaited glimpses of our majestic life-giving star. There was something sensual about the process of viewing it this way; in small doses, it felt like foreplay or a striptease, which made what happened during totality all the more explosive. Right as we approached the total eclipse, the cloud cover thickened and it looked as if we wouldn’t get to see it at all.
Then, inexplicably, the clouds parted and it was blue sky as far as we could see. Cheers erupted from all the surrounding yards and neighborhoods. For the minutes leading up to full coverage and for about eight minutes afterwards, the sky was clear. Not a cloud in sight. This was almost as awe-inspiring as what would follow. The sky turned a strange yellow before it darkened. We saw the “diamond ring” and then—totality. Like that, day became night.
Birds stopped chirping, crickets started. Solar lights and street lights came on. The child suddenly wanted to know what was going on after having no interest in why all the adults were wearing weird glasses and staring at the sun. She pointed out Venus next to the what was, formerly, the sun, now the moon/sun. We got over three minutes in totality and it felt like time stopped and sped up at the same time.
A total solar eclipse is like Burning Man or pregnancy—you have to experience it to truly understand. Something explodes in your heart and you’re never the same. I still don’t know how to describe what it stirs in your soul. Like most of life’s mysterious wonders—words don’t do it justice. But my aunt is right: a total eclipse is life-changing, and I’m already planning on where we to go for the next one.
Thumbnail artwork by Lara Cullen.
Email laracullenstudio@gmail.com to inquire or contact her.
I’ll admit… I was completely over the eclipse before it ever happened. I knew I was going to be at work when it happened, so it was very hard to feel much excitement at all. I’m glad you were able to experience it and get so much out of it.
A day without a night and a night without a day….
Ladyhawke reference
I was near, but not in the path of totality for the 2017 eclipse. I had no idea how amazing it would be so made no effort to drive the one hour to see it. As it turned out, it was cool enough where we were that I had an Idea what we were missing out on. So when I found out about this one two years ago, where my sister lives right in the path (near Dallas), I started making my plans to visit. I had been so upset about the weather forecast, but like with you, the skies cleared and it was in fact a beautiful day and an amazing experience.