Psychiatric views on daily news
Today is E-Day, the day of the solar eclipse, an event with historical lore and meaning for thousands of years. Many people hope to see a total solar eclipse by the moon, but cloudy weather can dash certain expectations and obscure what we see.
religious
The set of reactions and meanings are religious and generally developed before current scientific information such as:1:
Christianity. Some believe that this solar eclipse heralds the Second Coming of Christ and the “end times” when Jesus will return to earth, the wicked will be judged and the righteous will be rewarded.
Islam. It is generally considered to be a time to turn to God and pray, affirming that the events of the entire universe are in His hands.
Judaism. In the centuries-old Talmud, a total solar eclipse is a “bad omen for the world,” and the Orthodox Church recommends prayer, introspection, and a desire to do better.
Hinduism. There is also a legend that incorporates solar eclipses, which are generally considered unlucky, and prayer, meditation, and chanting are recommended to ward off bad luck.
Buddhism. Buddhism can perhaps be placed under the rubric of spiritual rather than religious, given that there is no divine being, and is often seen as an auspicious day for spiritual practices such as chanting mantras. It has been done.
psychology
Before scientific understanding, solar eclipses seemed to evoke a primal fear, followed by relief, awe, and euphoria when the sun returned.2 As a result, people seem to be more considerate and cooperative. But some people become obsessed with such eclipses and go to great lengths to see them.
socializing
Participating in it tends to evoke a sense of collective wonder, inspiration, and reconciliation. A study after the last total solar eclipse in the United States in 2017 found that individuals became more group-oriented, at least temporarily.3 There is a sociological term associated with this called “collective boiling.”
folk beliefs
Besides formal religious beliefs, several folk beliefs have arisen throughout history. One is that a total solar eclipse is a disruption of the natural order and therefore a bad omen. Another is the common idea or image of the sun being eaten by dragons, wolves, demons, etc. Human sacrifice could be a form of atonement, or it could be that the sun and moon were producing more children, as was the case with the Tlingit. With nods to modern psychology, there’s an interpretation of the battle between the sun and moon, raising hopes that all will be well, which is exactly what we need in our current polarized times.
Some may have noticed how the paths of this eclipse and the 2017 eclipse intersect in Carbondale, Illinois. Not only does it remind us of Christ, but it also reminds us of the great blues legend of the 1930s, Robert Johnson. At a crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in a combination of religious, folkloric, and sociological beliefs, he makes a deal with the devil to acquire great technology, and after a brief but great success… It is said that he was poisoned by a jealous woman. , career.
usa today
Being in the middle of such a unique event makes analysis difficult. Indeed, even if cloud cover is a concern now, there is a lot of interest and plans to try to see the full picture within another 20 years. Many areas across the board have business benefits, such as alcohol sales (which can be a boom after a disappointment).
Perhaps the biggest debate and division of opinion right now is what to do about whether children go to school or not, which is basically a mini-version of what to do during COVID-19. It’s something like this. I couldn’t find any large-scale studies, but many schools are operating with parental support and in “adequate security,” and some today are closed, offering e-classes at best. doing. Therefore, parents must handle the monitoring process. This is sometimes referred to as the age of “safetyism” or the helicopter parent, with an overemphasis on safety and security that also precludes much-needed reading and practical life learning. Perhaps after the eclipse we will have a better perspective on this strategy.
Thoughts as a conclusion
In general, most people who watch a total solar eclipse live are in awe, but it’s unclear how long it will last. We also don’t know much about the potential disappointment of not being able to see due to cloud cover. This is the same as having expectations disappointed in life. The expected collective excitement could certainly fizzle out. Perhaps the legend of Robert Johnson reminds us of moral priorities. The conspiracy theories common to this eclipse raise such moral questions.
Keeping a sense of spiritual awe alive is important for solar eclipses and other similar events. You can do this by intentionally looking for events that evoke memories and inspire awe. The benefits of awe are positive for both mental and physical health.
Dr. Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist specializing in cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry and is currently a retired private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific author and speaker, he has published a weekly weekday column titled “Psychiatry’s Take on the Daily News” and “Psychiatry and Society” since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve been writing a weekly video called. He has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Abraham Halpern Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Social Psychiatry. To date, he received the Public Administration Award from the American Psychiatric Association in his 2016 year, was named a one-time Hero of Public Psychiatry by the APA Congressional Chair in 2002, and was named an Exemplary Psychiatrist by the National Alliance. I won an award. In 1991 he suffered from mental illness. He is an advocate and activist on mental health issues related to climate instability, physician burnout, and xenophobia. He is currently editing the final book in his four-volume series on religion and psychiatry for Springer magazine, “Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, Christianity, and the Present.” oriental religions and spirituality.He serves on the editorial board of Psychiatric Times.
References
1. Barras D, Craley D, Pham M. Awe and fear: How religion has responded to social eclipses over the centuries. ABC27 News. April 4, 2024. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://www.abc27.com/news/us-world/science/ap-awe-and-dread-how-religions-have-responded-to-total-solar -Centuries of solar eclipses/
2. Persaud R. Psychology of solar eclipses. psychology today. April 21, 2017. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/slightly-blighty/201708/the-psychology-eclipses
3. Goldie S, Jones N, Piff P. The social impact of a spectacular solar eclipse. psychological science. 2022;33(9):1452-1472.
