This was a cosmic year. It started with a Total Solar Eclipse.
Seeing the corona of our Sun during an eclipse is like glimpsing the soul of a star. The corona is the outermost layer, hidden by the Sun’s overwhelming brightness, only revealed in rare moments when the Moon perfectly aligns with the Sun, casting a shadow that reveals the usually unseen corona.
My family and I wore eclipse glasses and watched as the Moon glided into place, slowly making daylight turn to dusk. We had settled ourselves on a green hill that overlooked a pond of ducks that responded to the events by waddling to shore, disgruntled by their day cut short. Song birds quieted as nature on Earth responded to nature of the spheres. I still had my glasses on when I heard, “Take off your glasses, MJ!” The totality had begun, announced by the street lamps that blinked to life in the darkness. A nighttime sky in daytime.
The corona streamed out with tendrils of cosmic fire and shimmered with ghostly light. Here on Earth we could see fiery ropes trying to escape, lashing space from a deep furnace of energy. In its motions the Sun seemed to be speaking to us, a speechless audience, looking up in awe to see what is usually unseen.
The Sun’s message: We must take off our dark glasses to see what is hidden from view.
This experience pulled back the curtain on something we know exists but do not usually see. The power and vastness of the corona can be explained by physics, the timing explained by the calculus of the Moon’s orbit around Earth that determines when and where the Moon will arrive between the Sun and our part of Earth. It is a predictable dance where the laws of gravity, light, and of fusion of energy are understandable.
A total eclipse is about science. But the power of an eclipse is harder to explain.
Seeing the corona calls on us to reframe our understanding of existence. It deepens our awareness of the interconnection between cosmic phenomena and everyday life, reminding us that we are part of a much larger story. It evokes a sense of wonder that resonates deep within, transforming the ordinary sky into a reminder of the unseen forces that drive the universe. It encourages us to seek out the hidden, to explore the unknown, and to recognize that some of the most beautiful and essential truths lie just beyond the veil.
Experiencing the eclipse with my family was more than just witnessing an astronomical event; it was sharing a moment of awe and wonder that connected us all on a deeper level. The sky itself transformed, and for those few minutes, the world seemed to pause, as if time itself held its breath. In that rare stillness, we shared not just a view of the Sun’s hidden corona, but a shared sense of connection to something vast and cosmic—something that put everything else into perspective.
The eclipse became a kind of shared language that had no words, a powerful experience that bound us together as you stood under the same sky, watching it change in ways that generations before have marveled at, and that future generations will continue to seek out. There’s a profound sense of unity in seeing something so rare and majestic together, reminding us that family moments are not just measured by the time spent but by the depth of feelings shared.
This event didn’t just live in the sky—it became part of our family’s history. It’s now a memory that carries a unique light of its own, one that will be retold and revisited, growing richer with time. The eclipse was a reminder of how extraordinary it is to share in the beauty and mystery of the world, to come together not just as spectators of the universe, but as a family, making the moment an intimate chapter in our shared story.
How can we take off our dark glasses to see what is hidden from view? Working at being aware that there is more to see than meets the eye involves cultivating curiosity, openness, and a commitment to looking beyond surface appearances. It’s a practice of questioning the obvious and recognizing that there is always a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered. Here are some ways to develop this mindset:
1. Practice Mindful, Open Observation
- Spend time truly observing your surroundings. Whether it’s nature, a piece of art, or even a simple object, take the time to notice the details. What colors, textures, or patterns stand out? What shifts when you look closer? This exercises the mind to notice subtleties and to be attentive to things that are often overlooked.
- Engage all senses, not just sight. Listen for background sounds, see colors, or pay attention to nature. Each sense can reveal something different about the environment.
2. Be Curious, Ask Questions, Seek Depth
- Make it a habit to ask questions about things that seem ordinary. Why does a phenomenon occur? What led to a particular event? What history or processes are behind an object or a person’s experiences?
- Try to avoid taking things at face value. Instead, dig deeper by asking “why” multiple times to unravel layers of understanding.
3. Embrace Different Perspectives
- Step outside your usual viewpoints by engaging with different cultures, fields of study, or art forms. Each perspective brings a unique way of seeing the world, revealing aspects you may not have considered.
- Challenge your own beliefs and assumptions. Be open to changing your mind or expanding your understanding when new information comes to light.
4. Cultivate a Beginner’s Mindset
- Approach situations with a sense of wonder and curiosity, as if encountering them for the first time. This helps bypass the tendency to dismiss something as “already known,” and encourages deeper engagement.
- Allow yourself to be surprised and to acknowledge when you don’t know something. Embracing uncertainty opens the door to new insights.
5. Engage in Reflective Practices
- Journaling, meditation, or simply taking moments of quiet contemplation can help connect you with subtle insights that arise from within. Reflect on what you’ve experienced, and consider how it relates to broader themes or hidden patterns.
- Reflect on past experiences with fresh eyes. Revisiting memories or significant events can reveal new layers of meaning.
6. Pursue Knowledge in Diverse Fields
- Studying subjects outside your usual areas of interest can provide insights that connect back to your primary pursuits in unexpected ways. Whether it’s astronomy, philosophy, or even a new language, knowledge from different fields can reveal hidden connections.
- Embrace interdisciplinary thinking. The world is interconnected, and insights often emerge when blending knowledge from science, art, history, and culture.
7. Appreciate the Invisible Forces
- Recognize that unseen forces shape much of what we experience. Gravity, magnetism, emotions, and even social dynamics are powerful yet often invisible. Consider how these forces manifest in daily life and influence the world around you.
- Study natural phenomena that reveal hidden forces at work, such as the movement of planets, the growth of plants, or the behavior of animals.
By consistently practicing these habits, we can become more attuned to the depths of reality. It’s about embracing the idea that the world is infinitely richer than what appears on the surface and allowing that awareness to transform the way you perceive and engage with life.
The sky had even more to offer this year. Seeing the aurora together, especially so soon after the eclipse, felt like witnessing another chapter in the sky’s hidden story—this time right from our own driveway. It was as if the universe had come this time to meet us halfway, draping a red scarf of light across the heavens, offering a rare gift without asking us to even leave home. The simplicity of stepping outside and being greeted by such a vivid display made the moment feel even more magical, as if the extraordinary had made a personal house call.
The aurora’s slow dance, shifting and shimmering, was like a whispered secret shared just among us. It carried the sense of wonder that comes from experiencing something fleeting and rare, a moment that could only be appreciated by those present to see it. The red wave was not again just physics, its light explainable in the sky; it was a bridge between us and the unseen forces at work in the cosmos, connecting the world above with the everyday world of your home.
(Credit: Nicole Cassar, Northern Nevada)
Sharing this with our family made the aurora more than just a spectacle; it became a shared wonder that deepened our bond. It reminded us that some of life’s most breathtaking moments can happen in the simplest settings—right outside our front door.
Like the eclipse, it revealed that the sky holds more than what meets the eye, and being there together allowed us to witness not only a cosmic display but also the beauty of a life intertwined with those you care about, embracing the mysteries of the universe together. The depth of feelings happens when you share what the usually unseen can show us.