The week before the eclipse life felt tense, unsettled, frustrating. Curiously, the eclipse seemed to clear the air!
So why not use it as a reset?
Because, more than anything, this eclipse experience reminded me to have faith.
What is faith?
Faith is a decision to believe in something you cannot verify.
For me, it's an act of letting go of fear, of control, of a desired outcome, and relaxing into a space of grace, of knowing that all is well, that I am safe and life is good.
I’d heard about the eclipse for months but had blown it off until a few weeks ago when my husband was eager to go. Since we waited so long to make plans, the closest motel we could find was 3 hours from the path of totality in Oregon.
We decided to book it anyway and drive from Washington on Monday morning as far south as we could get.
As Monday grew closer, reports about the number of people descending on Oregon circulated. The governor had called up the National Guard. It would be a traffic nightmare.
Then we heard no one was allowed to watch from the side of the road. Now where would we go? None of this helped my anxiety.
Getting ready on Sunday morning for our 36-hour road trip. I sat to meditate and got a gentle reminder. It was a voice I often hear, kind, wise and loving.
It said, “Relax. Everything always works out perfectly.”
Up until that moment, my entire week had been emotional, angsty, difficult so it was the exact reminder I needed.
Driving east, we encountered no traffic and decided to stop and walk around a picturesque mountain lake before heading into town.
That night at the motel, I got confirmation from an Oregon rancher I’d contacted that we could park on his land. Relieved that we had a destination and wouldn’t be hassled by police, we left early Monday morning, hoping to make it all the way to totality.
Again there was no traffic.
In less than 3 hours, we arrived in time to enjoy the sun rise over the high desert, the smell of Juniper in the breeze.
Before I knew it, the eclipse began.
A quick hour passed and then came the 90 seconds of totality. The temperature dropped, the sky darkened to resemble twilight. The sun was a ball of white wavy lines dancing and swirling around the shadow of the moon. It was nothing I’d imagined.
And then it was over.
The bright sun and warmth returned and soon and we were on our way home, ambling along small highways and by-ways, following rivers and canyons. In the afternoon, we crested Mt Rainier and stopped to take in the Cascade range, the fields of wild flowers and the snowy glacier.
Even though it took 9 hours, it was an absolute joy ride.
Back at home, feeling refreshed and renewed, I’m reminded to have faith.
Like me, use the eclipse as a reset.
Remember that everything is possible when you bring to mind 3 things:
1. Relax
When you relax, it stops the mind whir.
It cancels out anxiety.
It brings you back to the breath. And you come into the moment.
2. Affirm that everything always turns out perfectly
When I start to get anxiety about a situation- be it financial, professional or logistical- one of the ways I deal with those negative feelings and mind chatter is to look at the past.
Whenever I have dealt with a similar situation it has easily been resolved.
~My bills always get paid.
~I consistently arrive at my destination safely.
~I’ve successfully done (a similar task) in the past.
Simply because this is a“new” situation does not mean it will be any different.
3. Go for It
This is the reminder to do whatever it is that you’re afraid to do
-with confidence
-with eyes wide open
-with certainty that the outcome is assured
Usually what happens is better than you even expected!
How does faith or lack of faith show up in your life?
Try using these 3 steps to help you move into the future with greater confidence, assurance and ease. Life certainly feels more exciting and vibrant when we jump in and stretch ourselves.