Experiencing Totality

“You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings.”
~ Elizabeth Gilbert

“Follow your inner heart and the world moves in and helps.”
~ Joseph Campbell

The impact of an eclipse can last for weeks and even months, especially potent ones like the one on 8/21. One reason is because the energies, lessons and gifts get triggered as other planets make contact with the eclipse degree in some significant way.

As mentioned on Track-1 events occur in early September that will trigger the eclipse energies and in a big way. And as the eclipse on 8/21 gets re-activated in early September the significance of the eclipse to you personally may become quite clear as both Mercury and Mars directly intersect or cross the eclipse degree. Here I want to share with you how I experienced being under a total eclipse, one of the most powerful experiences of my life, and how it relates to the recent eclipse on 8/21. 

In July 1991 there was a total eclipse in Hawaii which I was fortunate enough to experience. During the recent eclipse on 8/21 the excitement of that 1991 eclipse came rushing back to me. It felt as though the cosmic energies of the 1991 eclipse were imprinted upon my being and were reactivated during the solar eclipse on August 21st though this time I wasn’t actually in the path of totality. 

As I was journaling about my eclipse experience I was drawn to re-read an article I wrote about the impact the 1991 eclipse had on me. I would like to share parts of that journal entry with you as it feels like it has a message for us now, 26 years later. 

The Solar Eclipse of July 1991…

On July 11th, 1991, at 5:00 a.m. I was somewhere on the ocean between the islands of Maui and Hawaii. We were there to watch the total eclipse soon to take place. But at this point it was raining…hard.

We watched the partial phase of the eclipse begin at 6:30 a.m. on a TV on the boat. Totality begins at 7:28 and lasts only a few minutes. From our current vantage we wouldn’t be able to see anything except for what was on TV. Imagine the frustration and disappointment of all the people who traveled 3,000 miles, got on a boat in the middle of the night only to see the eclipse on a TV in the rain!

By 7:10 it’s still raining and we’re all getting very anxious but the boat captain was determined to get us to clear skies so we could view the rare celestial event about to take place and headed a lot farther away from shore than he intended. A few minutes later all our prayers were answered and we were under clear skies. We knew we’d be able to see totality…everyone was ecstatic!

We all got out our special glasses and watched the remaining of partiality as the moon glided across the sun on her way to blocking out the solar light which she did at exactly 7:28 a.m. We took off our glasses and witnessed the sun, moon and Earth in perfect alignment as we experienced totality for 6 minutes and 53 seconds. Just about the most amazing 6+ minutes of my life.

I wrote pages about what I saw, felt, heard and thought during those minutes but what has stayed with me and left a lasting impression is the vast difference between partiality and totality.

Partiality is waiting, being in anticipation, feeling like you’re on the verge of something but not quite getting there…like being in limbo. It is thrilling but not fulfilling.

Totality is wholeness. It evokes feelings of having a special connection with the Universe. It’s being and living in the moment and feeling blessed and grateful just to be a part of life. In those moments I felt empowered and hopeful and peaceful.

Many times I’ve reflected upon all this and what it meant to me. What I came to realize was how often, in fact probably most of the time, we experience our lives partially…that because of fears or feeling lack of some thing, or too old, or because of some lingering wound or a zillion other reasons and excuses we keep ourselves from living our lives “at totality.” 

After having had such powerful experiences of “being in totality” during the 1991 solar eclipse I knew I wanted to be there as much of the time as possible. So I asked: “How can I do this? Where do I begin?”

And I heard from a higher place within myself:

“Start by looking at the areas of your life that have been calling to you for a long time. Meditate on this, allowing yourself to feel what is Divine in it. Let it move through you. Release expectation while keeping your focus on moving towards your own totality. A key is to remember that you are already in the path of Universal energy, that is now manifesting as the eclipse path, and that the Universal energy is always flowing to greet you. Know that your Higher Self will lead you to the next step…and the one after that. Then follow your passion with courage and faith.”

The realization I had upon re-reading this was that the cosmic agenda of the August 21st eclipse seemed to be imparting essentially the same message as the 1991 eclipse…seek what makes you empowered and strong and enthused about your life and that which makes you feel alive and whole. “Look at what has likely been calling you for some time.” This really hit me and initiated a life-affirming process within me that is still occurring today.

I find it interesting that there are so many significant events re-activating the recent potent solar eclipse. It is surely a sign that we are in a time of awakening and acceleration!

The afternoon of the eclipse of 1991 I took a nap and had a dream that I danced in the eclipse path as it crossed the Pacific Ocean so that I could stay in totality as long as possible. I felt gleeful and unencumbered and free…and I knew I would spend my life seeking totality…or experiencing it.

I leave you with this quote by Mary Oliver:
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”