MMany people are getting ready to experience the total solar eclipse on April 8, when the sky will go dark in the middle of the day. We are used to the daily pattern of light and darkness, and the movement of the planets and stars in space. Why are people so amazed by an eclipse, which is a rare and brief moment when the moon covers the sun?
Solar eclipses have had a strong impact on human history: They have sparked many religious stories, and in at least one case, as described by the ancient historian Herodotus, even halted a war. Many people who have witnessed an eclipse have reported seeing sharper shadows, feeling a change in the air temperature, and noticing droppingunusual animal behavior , even before the sun disappears. During totality—when the moon completely covers the sun—the visual experience is incredible: A reddish band similar to a sunset stretches across the horizon in all directions, bright stars appear in the daytime sky, and thesun's bright white corona , its outer atmosphere, becomes visible.Most people will never see a total eclipse. The moon's shadow falls without any concern for where it lands. Currently, less than 10 percent of the world's population has been in the shadow or "umbra" created by the moon during totality. If an eclipse had not passed over densely populated India and China in
The corona itself springs prong-shaped streamers, resembling devil’s horns.
, this number would only be around 2 percent. Even when the shadow passes over towns and cities, not everyone can witness the event due to work and weather. 2000However, I was fortunate to be one of the few who saw the eclipse a few years ago, in 2017. I thought I was prepared when I traveled to Idaho to see it. I had read about the corona and seen many photos of it beforehand. But even though I knew what it was supposed to look like, there is no substitute for the real thing. The corona itself forms prong-shaped streamers, resembling horns of a devil, which are both beautiful and extremely terrifying. As I watched, I remembered some lines written by the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, "For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror which we are barely able to endure, and it amazes us so, because it serenely disdains to destroy us." July 2009While watching this terrifying beauty, I felt uncomfortably small and insignificant. It made me realize how temporary we humans are. In Earth's long history, solar eclipses are not rare or random—they happen regularly like sunsets, occurring hundreds of millions of times, over and over again. If eclipses are like the chimes of a cosmic clock, humans barely live long enough to notice a complete cycle.
Similar shifts in perspective are common among people who witness a total eclipse, as shown in a study published in 2022 called
, "The Social Effects of an Amazing Solar Eclipse," by researchers at the University of California, Irvine. The study analyzed millions of tweets posted during the 2017 solar eclipse and found that those sent from the path of totality were more likely to express not only amazement but also kind and friendly language. This year, my colleagues from the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies in Santa Monica
(IACS) are getting ready to expand on that research. studyCognitive neuroscientist Nicco Reggente, principal investigator of IACS, expresses a particular interest in how an eclipse might affect prosocial behavior and how an individual's personality might influence the chance that watching such an event will lead to self-transcendence. He and his colleagues define self-transcendence as a positive changed state of consciousness linked with ego-dissolution, connectedness, and a heightened sense of ethics, which affects a person’s well-being, sense of purpose, and pro-social attitudes. On April 8, Reggente and Leo Christov-Moore, a senior research scientist at IACS, will attend an eclipse festival in Burnet, Texas. Together with Sensoria, another consciousness research organization, they will gather information on self-reported experiences of self-awareness, connectedness, awe
Many report shadows growing sharper, the air temperature dropping, and animals behaving strangely.
, and perceptual distortions from over 1,000 eclipse observers immediately after the cosmic event. The data will be a crucial test of the researchers’ hypothesis that extraordinary experiences can encourage changes in belief and pro-social sentiments. In previous studies, they discovered that experiences of self-transcendence are highly linked with “aesthetic chills,” enjoyable goosebump-like feelings. The researchers will also gather data on these experiences, which they anticipate observing in their participants.
As the story goes, King Louis the Pious passed away from shock after witnessing a total solar eclipse 1,200 years ago. Although such accounts are likely frequently embellished, it’s true that no one can be completely ready for a psychologically transformative experience. However, you can prepare for the physical hazards. These are easily avoidable: Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, such as ISO-certified eclipse glasses. In fact, almost all of us have been taught (for good reasons) to never stare at the sun. As a result, looking directly at it can feel strange, even with protective glasses. In Idaho, I felt like I was gazing up at a mighty deity who might punish me. Even though I knew this wasn’t the case, I certainly felt like I was connecting with something much more powerful than myself. I’m excited to do it all over again on April 8. Feeling so small and insignificant can serve as a reminder of the astonishing spectacle that governs the universe of which we are a part.Lead image: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani hypothesis The importance of feeling small and insignificant.
According to legend, King Louis the Pious died of fright after witnessing a total solar eclipse 1,200 years ago. While such stories are likely often exaggerated, it’s true that no one can be fully prepared for a psychologically transformative experience. But you can prepare for the physical risks. These are easily avoidable: Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, such as ISO-certified eclipse glasses. Indeed, nearly all of us have been conditioned (for good reason) to never stare at the sun. As a result, looking straight at it can feel weird, even with protective glasses.
In Idaho, I felt I was staring up at a powerful god who might smite me. Even knowing this wasn’t so, I was certainly communing with something far more powerful than myself. I’m looking forward to doing it all over again on April 8. Feeling so small and insignificant can be a reminder of the stunning drama that governs the cosmos of which we are a part.
Lead image: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani
