A few days ago, many of us around the planet witnessed something extraordinary…The Moon moved across the Sun.
For a brief period, something we take completely for granted…the light above us…began to disappear.
At the same time, something else remarkable was happening in our skies. Six planets…Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune were appearing across the morning sky in what astronomers call a planetary parade which has been described as a once in a millennium spectacle.
Standing on this tiny planet, witnessing these enormous movements taking place above us, gave me a strange but beautiful sense of perspective.
We spend so much of our lives believing we are in control.
We organise our diaries…We make plans…We worry about tomorrow…We replay yesterday.
Yet above us, an extraordinary cosmic order continues whether we’re paying attention or not.
The Earth turns…The Moon moves…The planets continue their journeys…And the Sun rises again.
The Vedic tradition has always had a profound awareness of time and the movements of the cosmos. In the scripture Srimād Bhāgavatam, planetary movements and eclipses are not simply spectacles in the sky; they are traditionally regarded as significant moments that invite greater awareness and introspection.
Whether or not we understand all of their subtleties, I find there is something deeply humbling in that idea.
To me an eclipse itself offers such a powerful metaphor for life.
The Sun doesn’t actually disappear…It is simply obscured…And perhaps our inner life can be like that too.
There are periods when our clarity becomes covered.
Fear covers our courage…Noise covers our intuition…Disappointment covers our gratitude.
And sometimes the difficulties of life can even cover our sense of connection with something higher.
But the light hasn’t gone anywhere instead something has simply come between us and it.
This is one reason kirtan has become so meaningful in my own life.
When I chant, I don’t necessarily feel that I am creating something new within myself.
It feels more like I am uncovering something that was already there.
Mantra by mantra, the noise begins to settle.
The things that felt enormous become a little smaller.
And somewhere underneath all of that mental activity, there is stillness.
Watching the eclipse reminded me of this.
For a moment, darkness moves across the light…But we don’t panic and wonder whether the Sun will ever return…We know it is still there.
Perhaps we need that same faith during the eclipses of our own lives.
When things become uncertain, when our direction isn’t clear, or when we simply don’t feel like ourselves, perhaps we don’t always need to find more light.
Sometimes we just need to patiently remove what is covering it.
And perhaps practices such as kirtan, meditation, prayer and good association help us do exactly that.
So this week, I’ve been sitting with one simple question:
What is currently standing between me and my light?
Because the eclipse eventually passes…The shadow moves…And what was always there…shines again.
Jagannātha Dās
Come and Experience It
If these reflections resonate with you, why not come and experience kirtan for yourself?
Every Friday, we come together at OMNOM Birmingham for an evening of mantra, music, meditation and community. I also share kirtan at retreats, festivals and gatherings throughout the year.
Whether you’ve experienced kirtan many times or you’re completely new, you’re warmly welcome.
See all upcoming events:
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