Consider the impossible odds. Out of the billions of stars, galaxies and possibilities in the universe, we live on a planet that has a single satellite, the moon, which is exactly 400 times smaller than our host star, the Sun, and positioned exactly 400 times closer to Earth.
Once in a while, the moon passes in between us and the Sun, covering our star perfectly, casting it’s shadow on our planet and flipping the day into midday night; a celestial spectactle known as a total solar eclipse.
In the next 2 minutes, I hope to convince you why you need to be outside on Monday, April 8th and experience this once in a lifetime event. First, some basics.
Where Do You Need To Be?
In the red shaded area below. To find out more, click here for an interactive map.
Anywhere along that red path, you’re golden. If you’re in the orange, your S.O.L.
The red area marks the path of totality. If you’re in range, you’ll get the full experience of a total solar eclipse. Being in the orange is like having a lottery ticket with 5 out of 6 numbers for the jackpot. If you have the means and the time on Monday, do yourself a favor and trade it in for a winning ticket. The enrichening experience of totality is a truly rare event.
If you miss out, you won’t get another chance until 2044 or 2079.
When Is This Thing Happening?
All you need is 10 minutes. If you’re in the red zone, just be outside from 3:15pm to 3:25pm. That’s it. Bring your eclipse glasses if you intend to look up and watch the Moon slowly complete its obscuration of the Sun.
Depending on your location, the main event begins at approximately 3:18pm. For 1-3 minutes, you’ll experience totality, the shadow of the moon.
The sky will change colors, unlike anything you’ll ever see again.
Stars and planets become visible with the naked eye.
The dazzling corona of the Sun will be whipping light in every direction behind the darkest hole in the sky you’ll ever see.
You can actually look up at the Moon, covering the Sun, with your naked eyes, accepting an invitation to be immersed in the cosmic tango that is our solar system, or as Kepler referred to it, the music of the spheres.
Why It Matters
Very few people get a chance in life to actually feel connected to something bigger than themselves.
In our modern day and age, we’re in constant motion. We’re inundanted with 24/7, doom and gloom corporate click-bait news. Our social media feeds are infinite and disrupting everything from our attention to how we interact with everyone around us.
To make matters worse, our collective mental health is in the toilet. Enough has been written on the current mental health crisis, rooted in isolation and loneliness.
I truly believe an event like this is a gift. An opportunity.
For a brief moment, we’ll get a revitalizing dose of stillness, or as Oliver Burkeman would call it, some cosmic insignificance therapy. An opportunity to witness the heavens, horizon and harmony of our solar system. A sobering reminder that we are one humanity, with one collective home; a pale blue dot, suspended in a sun beam.
And that’s a beautiful thing. Don’t take it for granted.
Compliment with the story of Ryokan and the vital lesson he learned from the moon, and my article on using the night sky to rediscover your calling in this world.
Much love.
SG
Build. Understand. Discipline. Stillness. “B.U.D.S” is written by me, Dr. Shawn Gill - I’m a pharmacist and Father of two boys. During the day, I work as a deprescribing pharmacist, helping patients get off drugs, safely and effectively. At night, I write this newsletter. B.U.D.S is a community that's focused on inspiring individuals to take account of their health and wellness, as well as reverse mental health and chronic disease. If you’d like to support this mission, please subscribe below. Much love. SG
The North Star
With exactly three weeks to go until the April 8th total solar eclipse, I wanted to revisit an old series on my blog titled - Lessons From the Sky.
Lessons from the Sky
One of my favourite poems is from the 18th-century Japanese monk, Ryokan. The legend has it, he returned to his home one evening to find all his belongings (the very few he had) stolen. His response? He wrote a haiku. The thief left it behind: the moon