We're coming up on a rare sight for Missouri: a total eclipse.
Do you have your lens filter for your camera? Are your glasses or viewing method verified as safe? Do you have a viewing location picked out? Great!
Still, there's one more thing to consider:
The uncertainty of reaction.
I took physics in college. I know the Moon is slipping in between the earth and the sun for a little bit. It's not a monumental celestial moment. But I really don't know how I'll react to it.
While science may not have evidence that total eclipses have physiological impact, there's plenty of evidence that it can have a deep and profound impact on our emotions.
The emotional impact can vary. Some who've seen a total eclipse have stood in wonder and awe at our cosmos at that peak moment. Others have reported feeling connected to humanity, to the earth, to the universe. Unity, peace, belonging - the range is vast and varied.
I bring it up, though, because there can be unsettled emotional states too. Considering the volatile feelings running through the nation right now, fragile and weary emotions could be more susceptible to unexpected feelings brought on by the disappearance of the sun.
The reason total eclipses have been seen as ill omens and portents of doom might have something to do with how people and nature react to the sun playing Extreme Peek-a-boo.
If pets or children become agitated at this “unnatural” event, taking them indoors or just keeping them close can help.
If loved ones become afraid, it's quite okay. Consolation and closeness can help everyone pass through the event together.
If someone feels like crying, reassure them. The actual moment of complete eclipse is relatively brief, and crying has been a not uncommon reaction.
The point is, no one knows how they will react to a total eclipse until they experience it. And like all of life's experiences, the emotional component can be mixed and intense or barely registering.
Scientists have cried, adults have screamed, and children have thrilled to the deep wonder and joy of this human experience.
The human reaction varies by the person. Some will see it as anticlimactic or boring. Some might be overwhelmed and have to escape the experience. And still others might go in fearfully but come away from the experience with a sense of deep joy and contentment.
So just being aware that people may react in surprising ways can help you and yours experience this moment in time, fully and together. And with all of the division around us, this moment of unity and collective awe may be just what we need.
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