“Notes on Faith” is the source of Griot’s inspiration, A transdenominational series featuring black thought leaders from across religions.
Family, are you ready for what’s going to happen tomorrow? For several months now, there has been worldwide buzz about what will happen during the solar eclipse scheduled to occur in North America on April 8, 2024. School closures and early release. Expected rail strikes and traffic delays. Stock up on water and disinfectant. Snowstorm forecast. Unrest among the homeless. People are warned to get food and other essentials, and disaster response agencies are on standby.
Across traditions, many spiritual and clairvoyant luminaries have united in issuing warning messages and using the internet to predict the significance of the times and news headlines. In an interview titled “How to Prepare for a Solar Eclipse” with Blackmagic363, a “conscious” YouTube hip-hop commentator and promoter, “cardiologist” Aquarius Maximus said that a total solar eclipse is ” They say it marks a “calm” new beginning.
“You can feel that something bigger is going to happen. Something shocking is going to happen,” she said, adding, “Don’t be impulsive. Stay inside.”
Her advice echoes warnings in the news. “You’re in the eye of the needle, so to speak, of eclipse season,” astrologer Rebecca Gordon said in a recent CBS interview. “At that time, there may be some confusion and confusion. So there may be times in your life where you say, ‘Why did I leave that job?’ That relationship just started and that relationship is over. A lot of changes can happen…don’t plan too much. You need space to respond thoughtfully, so give yourself space. ”
Now, we know that saints are likely to be suspicious of insights derived from astrologers and lesser-known types of astrological advisors called “cardiologists.” Understood. But as Christian faith leaders, these are beliefs and traditions that we must take seriously as we lead our communities to address real spiritual issues regarding current events. For example, consider the talents of Issachar in the Bible. This mathematician took seriously what the elements showed us and studied the stars like the shrewd predictors of his time.
Believe it or not, throughout history there have been important events surrounding solar eclipses. “If you look at the patterns and the cycles… there are simply incontrovertible big things happening at the eclipse,” Gordon said, adding, “On December 1, 1955, civil rights icon Rosa Parks refuses to give up his seat on the Montgomery bus, just two days after the lunar eclipse.” That strategic move would spark a pivotal movement.
As we observe these signs of the times, how can we take advantage of the undeniable global significance of celestial alignments?
“A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth and completely or partially blocking the sun’s light in some areas,” NASA says. I am writing. This only happens occasionally because the Moon does not orbit in the exact same plane as the Sun or Earth. The period when they line up is known as eclipse season, and it occurs twice a year. ”
However, this time it will pass directly in front of the sun, creating the first total solar eclipse since August 2017.
Experts at the intersection of faith and science agree that this is a powerful event that prompts us to pause, be aware, reflect, and plan to move into the next chapter of our lives with a bang. doing.
This is not modern philosophy. Ancient sages across a variety of belief systems have long taught us that celestial beings have varying levels of meaning in every culture. Through folklore, mythology, and the sacred texts of various religious traditions, sacred texts provide a lens through which events in the sky provide a cosmic lens through which we can understand the hand of a divine Creator within the natural order of things. Shows you can see the work. Remember, the three wise men were instructed to follow the Star of Bethlehem to find the Savior. And Luke’s Gospel seems to suggest that a solar eclipse will occur during Jesus’ crucifixion.
“By this time it was about noon, and the whole country was in darkness until three o’clock. The light of the sun had gone out. And suddenly the curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn from the middle. , he cried out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And with those words, he took his last breath. ” (Luke 23:44-46 New Translation)
Centuries later, enslaved African Americans were told to “follow the North Star” to gain freedom. In Afro-Protestant thought, traces of these teachings can still be found in contemporary gospel music (such as Karen Clark Sheard’s “The Heavens are Telling”) and in the Bible. The sky represents his craftsmanship” (Psalm 19:1 NIV).
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For those who consider themselves deeply spiritual and rooted in faith, this moment offers an opportunity for contemplation, to ponder the mysteries of the universe and universal connections, the deep meanings to be found in our lives. may encourage you to do so.
Even among those who do not identify with a particular tradition, heavenly events can symbolize transformation and rebirth. Specifically, this interaction between the moon and the sun leads to instantaneous reflections of contrasts between day and night, light and darkness, and chaos and order.
This symphony of events shows us the orchestrated chaos that is constantly unfolding around us and invites us to think about our connection to the universe. The moon’s momentary occlusion of the sun poetically reveals the depth and mystery of the full, luminous darkness, and the light that is always waiting for us to peek out from the shadow cast by the eclipse. We may get the data we need from scientists. Similarly, we have evidence of divine organization when our ancestors lived in connection with nature, the stars, and the Creator.
As leaders of faith engaged in a diverse global society, we all About the wonders of God’s hand. Discover the meaning of these wonders and become a conduit for earth-shaking miracles. From Haiti to Congo to Sudan to Gaza, we hope for peace and harmony of power. May we learn to expect that what we think only happens once in a while becomes a regular occurrence. May we remain open to awe-inspiring moments.
The Reverend Alisha Laura Jones works as a consultant to various arts and faith organizations and as Professor of Music in Modern Society at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, helping people find their groove in a fast-paced world. We are faith leaders who support you.she is an award-winning author In flames?The peculiar theopolitics of fire and desire in black male gospel performance (Oxford University Press). Learn more about. DrAlisha.com.
Pastor Calvin Taylor Skinner is dedicated to empowering frontline communities in Knoxville, Tennessee and the United Kingdom. He uses his beliefs and policy to address energy justice, criminal justice reform, voter education and mobilization, electoral politics, and world affairs. Together with his wife, Pastor Alisha Laura Jones, they lead Insight Initiatives, a consulting firm focused on capacity development and live event production.
