<html><head></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:24px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_14402">I was extraordinarily privileged to witness the Great Eclipse yesterday from close to the center line of totality.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18600">'Awesome' doesn't begin to describe my experience.<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18625">Further thoughts on the Great Eclipse:<br id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18626"></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18627"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18628">1.
It's so difficult for those acculturated to Western ways to 'stop
doing' and 'just be aware.' This was a rare chance to just give in to
being transfixed for a few minutes and possibly open up to contemplating
the deep Mystery of the created Universe. And why there is Something
rather than Nothing. And our Somethingness and our Nothingness. And who I
am in relation to all creation and the Great Unknown.<br id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18629"></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18630"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18631">2.
So we immediately think, 'There's going to be another one in 14 years.'
Another way to use anticipation or rationalization to escape from the
moment of just being in the great Now.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18632"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18633">3.
There's so much beauty in the Universe. But it can take the astonishing
beauty of an unusual experience of a celestial event to bring us back
to being aware of the Great Beauty of Everydayness. So why are we so
eager to escape?</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18634"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18635">4.
There are always many things on everybody's 'To Do' List. And thus a
kazillion excuses NOT to stop and pay attention to a Great Eclipse.
Especially if our unconscious </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18636">Comfort Zone is </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18638">about staying with the Daily Grind</span> of ordinary life. What Radical Newness are we afraid to face? Awareness of our mortality, maybe?</span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22171"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637">5. To see a Total Eclipse, you gotta be in the 'Zone of Totality.' You gotta be in the Path of the oncoming great shadow of the moon. And for most of us, you gotta <b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22492"><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22491">decide to get on that Path</i></b>. So what Path of life are you on today? Very few just happen to show up at the right spot out of sheer luck. Most of us gotta stop doing everything else and just go! Or not. And if you're in the 'not' group, what are you saying about you? 'Next time', maybe?<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22388"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637">6. You gotta <b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_26579"><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_26578">be prepared</i></b> for the event. So <b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22580"><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22579">get ready</i></b> to get on your chosen Path. Order your eclipse glasses in advance, plus whatever other gear (telescopes, filters, hats, etc.) you'll need to be able to actually <b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22545"><i id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22544">see</i></b> the celestial event.<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22595"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637">7. Even if you get very close to Totality, deciding to stay back in the '99.998% Zone' is NOT the same being 'all in' or in the '100% Zone.' There IS a HUGE difference in your experience if you can't go all the way to 100%.<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22846"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637">8. It's absolutely totally OK to decide either way. Those who Go aren't any better or more human than those who stay behind.<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_22403"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637">9. And no matter how well-chosen your spot is on the Path of Totality, there is always the possibility that clouds will obscure your view, or you could get rained on and sopping wet. You know, that just happens to some unlucky people! Some things are beyond our control. So plan ahead and carry an umbrella.<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_23039"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18637">10. If you do decide to go, stay alert in the Now! Don't let exhaustion, sleepiness, or petty distractions rob you of your experience. The eternal Now is all you get to play with.<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18639"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18640">Marshall Jones<br></span></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18641"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18642"><br id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1503429071961_18643"></span></div></div></body></html>