Tonight’s The Night! December 20, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Nature.comments closed
Image by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center via Flickr
It’s the first time in hundreds of years (372 to be exact) that a full lunar eclipse coincides with the Winter Solstice!
It’s apt to make the longest night of the year the darkest night of the year as well.
The astronomical event starts at 10:30 pm PST on December 20th, with the best viewing at 3:17 am EST on December 21st.
More specifically, from NASA:
The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST). At that time, Earth’s shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the lunar disk.
It takes about an hour for the “bite” to expand and swallow the entire Moon. Totality commences at 02:41 am EST (11:41 pm PST) and lasts for 72 minutes.
If you’re planning to dash out for only one quick look - it is December, after all - choose this moment: 03:17 am EST (17 minutes past midnight PST). That’s when the Moon will be in deepest shadow, displaying the most fantastic shades of coppery red.
Ring out those Bells.
Ring out those Solstice Bells.
Related articles and posts: Tonight’s Lunar Eclipse Comes With a Rare Twist (space.com) * Ring Out Solstice Bells * The “Star” of Bethlehem * Joy To The World * Ho~Ho~Ho! Merry Christmas! * Santa Claus is Coming to Town
To Share . . . Or Not To Share December 20, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, Writing & Writers.comments closed
Linda wrote a beautifully expressed post about her desire to share her novel with readers, The Desire of a Writer’s Heart.
Most commentators expressed a similar desire to share their words with a wider audience.
One commentator opined that artists who refuse to share their gifts are being “selfish.” She concluded her comment with a question:
“If we are given these gifts should we not share them with the rest of the world?”
After considering her comment, I responded:
Not necessarily. True gifts do not come with strings attached.
Some artists enjoy the journey of writing or painting for the journey’s sake and don’t wish to share their work or words with others.
That’s who they are. They are being true to themselves . . . as we all should be. Life is not one-size-fits-all.
“It is not selfish to do what we want to do . . . it is selfish of others to expect us to do what THEY want us to do.”
So, if we want to “share,” we should share.
And, if we don’t want to “share,” no one should pressure us into accepting THEIR view of the world.
Most writers want readers . . . and lots of them. I understand that.
But I also understand writers and painters who don’t crave an audience for their creations.
I’ve written two novels. I’m not inclined to seek out an audience to read them. I expect it’s because I value my anonymity more than the potential for applause, and my autonomy more than the possibility of accolades.
Fame comes at a price.
As writers, we should be guided by our desires, not by the expectations of others, in deciding whether and when to share our words with the world.
Related posts: Life . . . A Journey, Not A Destination * Our Field Of Dreams * Our Internal Compass * Fame At What Price? * Five Easy Writing Tips
Spirit Lights The Way 