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Tag Archives: moon

To the Moon and Back

20 Saturday Jul 2019

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Apollo 11, astronauts, divine, moon, mysteries of the universe, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

This week, on two successive evenings, I watched the TV video recounting of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, from “lift-off” to “splash-down.” It was the complete experience with footage from the NASA installation at Cape Canaveral, inside the space capsule and the historic first steps on the moon. I was taken by the closeup footage of the three astronauts. Without words, the enormity of what was happening was present in their eyes at each moment. When they did speak, their lightheartedness often belied the seriousness of their mission and spoke of their courage and willingness to “get the job done.” It was a gripping recounting of that historic event from fifty years ago.

Upon arising today at 6:10 AM, I went to the window to view the morning, already shining brightly through the glass. The sun was lighting up my panoramic view of a cloudless sky and 6 stories down the traffic moved soundlessly along the highway. As I looked to the left, there was the moon, still and beautiful in a 3/4ths – 7/8ths presence to me. I smiled and said “Good morning, Moon,” giving thanks for the brilliant minds that further our knowledge of far away places but grateful as well for the mysteries of the universe that serve to keep us on a steady course to the Divine.

Celebrating the Moon

31 Wednesday Jan 2018

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blue moon, eclipse, grateful, miraculous, moon, mystical, scientific, super moon, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, universe

asuperbluebloodmoonI would guess that people in Los Angeles who made the trip to Griffith Observatory this morning to see (exactly one hour ago – 3:48AM Pacific time) the moment of total eclipse of the moon are beginning to make their way home by now. Why would someone make that trek in the middle of the night just to see the moon? Well, maybe because it wasn’t just the full moon but rather a “Super Blue Blood Moon!” What does that mean? A blue moon is a rather frequent experience: the second full moon in the same month of the year. What makes it “super” is the fact that it reaches its closest position to earth, thus making it appear larger and brighter in the sky than normal. The “blood” designation comes from the fact that there is a red tinted shadow across the face of the moon due to the rays of sunlight passing through earth’s atmosphere as the moon falls into earth’s shadow. To add to all those necessary conditions for this phenomenon is the weather. Chances were good for a clear night in Alaska, Hawaii and California. I’m sure the resulting pictures will be glorious – and bountiful, especially since this is the first time this phenomenon was visible in North America since 1866!

It makes me happy to think that it is not only astronomers who get excited about these events. The way that the universe works is truly miraculous and we ought to be grateful for those scientists who are able in our time to define for us not only the “what” but the “why.” The Griffith Observatory director got into the spirit of the event in a wonderfully whimsical way, dressing up like a wizard and banging pots and pans outside the observatory while the crowd watched the eclipse. He was re-enacting a ritual from ancient Babylon in response to a populace that believed they had to scare away a mysterious creature that was swallowing the moon.

Director Ed Krupp seems to understand both the scientific and mystical elements of such an experience as noted in his statement to the press. “It’s one thing,” he remarked, “to learn about this event in a book and another to see it for yourself.” I wish him all the best and hope he keeps on banging his pots all day long!

 

 

 

 

 

Radiant Dawn

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

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darkness, dawn, eternal light, justice, light, meditation, moon, morning star, O Antiphons, shadow of death, silence, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Tibetan chime, winter, word of life

awinterdawn.jpgThis morning there was a shaft of light across my bed as I was throwing back the covers. I thought something – the wind or some animal – had tripped the light over the carport outside. When I looked out I saw a brilliant waning moon with the nearby morning star shining in response to its light. I don’t know when I first heard the line: The morning star shines clear in the sky, offering it the Word of Life, but it always comes to me automatically when I catch sight of that loveliness.

Then there was the silent dawn, clear and pure as the sound of the cymbal Tibetan chime that sometimes calls me to meditation. One of the advantages of the cold of winter (which some of us welcome on this date without much reluctance) is the clarity that accompanies the cold. Yes, there are the storms and the inconveniences but on a clear day there is a sharpness of the air, and breathing it in has the ability to shake the cobwebs out of the mind and get us moving quickly to our destination – literally or figuratively. Today appears to be one of those days. I will know it later when I leave the house. For now, I have the O Antiphon for today to spur me on.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

 

 

 

 

 

Moon and Sun

28 Sunday Aug 2016

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Hafiz, happiness, heart, light, moon, Sufi, sun, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

amoonsun

Here’s a little Sufi wisdom from the mystical poet, Hafiz, that opened to me first thing this morning. See what you think…

FAITHFUL LOVER

The moon came to me last night with a sweet question. She said, “The sun has been my faithful lover for millions of years. Whenever I offer my body to him brilliant light pours from his heart. Thousands then notice my happiness and delight in pointing toward my beauty. Hafiz, is it true that our destiny is to turn into Light Itself?” And I replied, Dear Moon, now that your love is maturing, we need to sit together close like this more often so I might instruct you how to become Who you Are!  (THE GIFT, 159)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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