Thanks, Marshall, for your reflections. We experienced the "Totality" in St Clare, MO, about an hour south of St. Louis at the Meramec Golf Course. Driving through St. Clare was like driving through a town festival--bar b q smoking from every corner and almost every lot barking their $20 parking space fee for out of town pilgrims. In 95 degree heat, shaded under a tent, we waited with anticipation and watched with our eclipse glasses as the shadow of moon began to invade the top right sector of the sun against a clear blue sky as it gradually darkened and the temperature dropped between 15-20 degrees. Then finally it happened--the TOTALITY! At first cheers by the 200+ people viewing from the grass-covered landscape. Then a silence of awe as we yanked off our glasses and witnessed the bright aura around the black sun, the sky turning darker, revealing Venus and Jupiter and few brighter stars, and triggering the night songs of the crickets and cicada. For a change, people stopped to contemplate and relate to the larger Universe, our home. Another cheer as the Totality ebbed, bringing back the light and heat but also a lingering sense of awe and peace. In the next hour and a half some folks continued to watch the completion of the eclipse while others headed back home to St. Louis, Iowa, Minnesota and other places with a sense of joy and satisfaction and that we are part of something much larger than that in which engages them daily. In addition to trying to live in the Totality Zone, I hope many young people will be excited to explore the many realms of science, that others will no longer be science deniers, especially related to climate change, and that we all will leave with a greater consciousness of our humanity's being the Universe reflecting upon itself and called to know, do and be the Great Work of being in relationship with it in ways that are in sync with its continuing, complexifying, interdependent emergence as differentiation, diversity and communion. Ellie elliestock@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: W. J. via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> To: W. J. <synergi@yahoo.com> Sent: Tue, Aug 22, 2017 3:44 pm Subject: [Dialogue] After the Great Eclipse I was extraordinarily privileged to witness the Great Eclipse yesterday from close to the center line of totality. 'Awesome' doesn't begin to describe my experience. Further thoughts on the Great Eclipse: 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. 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. 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? 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 Comfort Zone is about staying with the Daily Grind of ordinary life. What Radical Newness are we afraid to face? Awareness of our mortality, maybe? 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 decide to get on that Path. 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? 6. You gotta be prepared for the event. So get ready 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 see the celestial event. 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%. 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. 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. 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. Marshall Jones _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net