dont burn your retinas
the solar eclipse is here
Yesterday, as I walked along the fire trails that cut through the forest behind our house, a leaf stopped me in my tracks.
It’s always a good day when a leaf stops you in your tracks.
This particular leaf, lying unassuming in the dirt shining bright pink & turquoise.
Not content with its fluorescent status, this leaf was also studded in diamonds. Whilst the other leaves held the recent rain modestly, the drops on this star were perfectly round and suspended. I picked the leaf up. The drops stayed in tact. I moved it around a bit. The drops stayed. I started to tip the leaf. The drops eventually behaved as I believed water ‘should’ and obediently started to slide off as if to say, ‘you’ve seen too much’.
I stopped, not wanting the magic to fade. I carefully placed the leaf down again and went on my way.
I’d spent the first half of the walk looking forward, my mind full of potential problems waiting to be fed. Now my gaze stayed down. I looked at every leaf. All beautiful, yes, but none could compare to diamond, turquoise pink.
A little while later I heard something fall to the East. Seconds later a Lyre Bird ran across the track in a rather panicked way. It’s ok I said in my head, practicing my telepathy. I’m a friend. She ran even faster, her gargantuan tail swinging wildly.
Its Friday. The day before the partial solar eclipse. One of my favourite astrologers Jules Ferrari says ‘this is THE week’. It’s all happening. ‘No more procrastination. Do something on this new moon phase that puts you on the timeline of your greatest desires’
A candle burns on the table as I write. It’s illuminating a card Rachel made for me. ‘Shining one’ it says.
Every solar eclipse transports me back to faded memories of Rimini, Italy. The year is 1999. I’m 15 going on 21 in a leopard print bikini smiling at all the men. My Dad who is very into astronomy and not at all into astrology is telling me all about the solar eclipse that’s happening in a few hours. I’m saying ‘yes, no’ in all the right places but my attention is everywhere but his scientific discourse. I’m scanning my environment for any potential opportunity to not lead a boring life. In 1999 my Idol is Kate Moss. I’d read an interview with her in ‘Big’ magazine that would plop through the letterbox every month. I read how at 15 she got ‘scouted’ at a shopping centre in East London. My dream at the time was to be a model even though I never admitted it to anyone. I had a short lived modelling career aged 6 for a ballet magazine. I got chosen, but I think they regretted their choice. It was one shoot. I wasn’t a natural. My facial expression was never quite right, but still I clung to my dream. I knew from my magazines that models had to be at least 5’8. I was 5’7 at a push. I also knew I didn’t have the right face, body, anything really but I still believed somewhere that maybe, just maybe my dream would realise.
So, my Dad talked about physics, I scouted for scouts.
My parents are the least material, aesthetically focused people I’ve ever met. They never placed any importance on appearance. I dont think they knew what to make my passionate interest in clothes and make up. Every time I’d go out my Dad would look at my painted face and frown. ‘You’re gilding the Lilly’ he’d say.
I dont know why I was so interested in such an arguably shallow subject, especially when the people who bought me into the world were so keen to engage me in meaningful activities. I sort of wish I’d listened more. I have this theory about parents and children that has been disproved about a million times, my brother being one such case but I hold on to it anyway.
It’s the theory of opposites. The child will rebel against the parents, no matter what. I rebelled against my earthy, intellectual parents with their health food ‘sweets’, homemade bread and hand me down clothes. I dived into the 90’s plastic jewellery, fast fashion, neon colours and plastic food.
In the end I returned to my roots but I’m still seduced by beauty in all forms and always will be.
So. The year is 1999. My Dad has set up a contraption using a coke can and a mirror, so we can observe the moons shadow passing over the sun in the midday heat without burning holes in our retinas. Throngs of Italian tourists have gathered round. We crouch down in the sand to watch this miracle unfold. the air is filled with romantic sounding cries. ‘Stupendo! Fanstatico! Cosi Buono!’ 15 year old me is grateful for my Dad for all these potential new boyfriends or model scouts. The sun comes back out. The people disperse. We get ready to leave. That evening I wait until my parents are asleep before leaving them a note ‘I’m going out, dont worry, dont come and get me’. I walk out into the night.
🌙
This eclipse is an opportunity to ritualise the things you love.
‘On Saturdays partial Solar Eclipse and new moon we can enter a new story, a new timeline. This is the beginning of a whole new cycle, not just astrological but energetic. We release the stickiness and procrastination with the lunar eclipse in Virgo and now the slate is clear, an ending, now a beginning. Do something on this new moon phase that puts you on the timeline of your greatest desires’ (read her excellent post here)
No more procrastinating! Lets gooooo!
If all this Aries energy has you fired up and you’re ready to take that next step in the direction of your greatest desires, I’m hosting a free info session for my upcoming Yoga Teacher Training this Sunday 30th March 1030am - 1130am either in studio in online. If you’re curious about this training and have questions, come along. It’s a great opportunity to ask me anything. With great love, all is possible.
Love Clare
