Lead with Love: A total eclipse of the sun

When we went to Wyoming in 2017 to see the last total eclipse of the sun in the U.S., I was reluctant. Why leave my home for just a few days to witness something that I had seen multiple times before? Of course, I was confused by the fact that while I had seen a solar eclipse, I had never seen a total solar eclipse.

Wow, what a difference “total” makes on the profundity of the experience. I was amazed, God-smacked, silenced, awed. It was so other-worldly, surreal, and spectacular to witness this total eclipse out in the middle of a cow pasture in Wyoming with the Grand Tetons in the distance. 

There were two things that struck me and surprised me most about this experience.

First, silence. We were camping with a very large group of people; as the moment of totality approached, not only they, but all of the little creatures around us that usually make sounds were absolutely silent. It was mesmerizing.

Secondly, there are the few seconds before a total eclipse where just this tiny bit of light is shining out behind the shadow of the moon. Scientists call this the diamond ring effect because the tiny bit of light looks like a sparkling diamond on a ring. The amount of light that came from the sun even when it was 99.9999999% blocked was astounding. It was still so bright… until it wasn’t. Exhale. Darkness. Quiet. Connection to something beyond myself. 

I am currently making plans to go somewhere to witness the total solar eclipse that will be visible from multiple locations in the U.S. in April of 2024. As I was planning, I started to think: We are these beings of incredible, luminous light, and yet, we are blocked by this darkness, this shadow. The shadow is judgment and shame and blame and, in the most extreme cases, war, brutal violence, oppression, exploitation, murder, and destruction of the environment. As a species, it feels like we are in a total eclipse. Our light is blocked by a shadow. 

As in a solar eclipse, even the tiniest bit of light beaming out from behind the shadow creates a powerful effect where we are not in darkness. I witnessed this, and I think truly there is a lot of light in this world; we just don’t see or hear about it as much. Living in the digital age and metabolizing photos and information of terrible, inhumane, and unbelievable things makes it hard to remember at times that there is also so much beauty, kindness, and caring happening, too. 

My heart has been so heavy with the news of multiple wars, refugee crises, growing anti-everythingism, and environmental destruction. With so many huge problems, we need to be working together, and instead, we are fighting and bickering like 4-year-olds on the playground. From a “spiritual” perspective, we know it’s all good. We are learning lessons, and one day, we will wake up. Or we won’t. But we know fighting with reality or adding more judgment and rage isn’t going to fix the problems. 

The answer, as frustratingly small as it feels, is to be the light. The only way to overcome darkness is with light. So, where in your body, mind, or relationships is there war? Oppression? Opposition and righteousness? We have to clean this up. We have to turn off the TV and internet and turn on our intuition, inner guidance, and open-heartedness. We can continue to stand for the rights of those who are exploited and murdered and for things we feel need to be defended like children, women, animals, Earth, and we can do it from a place of light. Standing FOR versus fighting against. 

I am excited to witness another total eclipse of the sun on April 8, and I am ever hopeful that it doesn’t continue to feel like we are in an eclipse of the heart of humanity. I know that no matter what, I can continue to shine my light as a beacon of hope from beyond the darkness. And when I forget, I can remember what the beautiful poet Amanda Gorman shared with us on President Biden’s Inauguration Day: “There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”