“...the symbolism and science of celestial eclipse attest to a provisional extinguishing of the light, inevitably followed by its welcome resurgence" - The Book of Symbols

The darkness is always followed by light. Nature teaches us that, and millions of us we're able to witness that today. I wept as the moon and sun aligned to bring out the night sky and the mystical colors on the mountains today in Sisters, Oregon. A place where only two weeks ago I wept as this community celebrated the life of Taylor. I thought of a poem her sister read at the service, “A butterfly lights beside us, like a sunbeam... and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world... but then it flies on again, and although we wish it could have stayed, we are so thankful to have seen it at all". I thought of this again when Ellie passed away, searching for memories of her in her glory and beauty, and searching for the light that had to be there from the darkness of losing her. And now I think of this today, having my world rocked witnessing the eclipse and wishing it would last a second more but rejoicing in gratitude for having the experience at all. I've had dreams about the eclipse all week and now that it's happened I am aware of its significance, not only in my life but in the lives of the millions of people coming together, for a moment to be still in absolute awe. A sublime reminder that we are a part of this larger system, the cycle of existence on a massive scale. I felt the spirits of those no longer with us still present in the surreal moments of the morning, and it was beautifully healing. To experience the emotions of death and rebirth mirrored by the most spectacular celestial death and rebirth event I'll ever witness... it was all aligned. Today I am grateful as I embrace the light, the dark, and the inevitable resurgence of light.