April 8th marks a rare astronomical event, a total solar eclipse.  The path of totality will first make landfall on the Pacific coast of Mexico at 18:07 UTC (1:07 PM local time) near Sinaloa.

The path of totality will leave the Earth's surface at 20:16 UTC (4:16 PM Atlantic Daylight Time) in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada.

The total duration of the path of totality from beginning to end will be about 2 hours and 9 minutes. And, at any given location along the path, the total solar eclipse will last for a maximum of 4 minutes and 28 seconds, with the duration decreasing as you move away from the center of the path.

The path of totality will have traversed a distance across the Earth’s surface of approximately 3,200 miles. 

Today, we know that the eclipse, while it substantially blocks the sun’s light, does no harm to the Earth or its inhabitants. That was not always the case. Throughout history, many civilizations have associated solar eclipses with bad omens, often interpreting them as signs of impending doom, divine displeasure, or significant changes in the world. 

So, you can look up without any worry — but only if you are wearing protective eclipse glasses — and appreciate the wonder of the moon passing in front of the sun and how it changes the natural light surrounding you. 

But this might also be a good opportunity to reflect on the more sinister shadows falling across the Earth at the same time.

You see, each of us carries an inner divine light, the spark of creation, basic goodness, or whatever you wish to call it.

And each of us is responsible to protect that light within us, not to allow anyone or anything to block or dim our own divine light. There are forces, dark forces, that want to do just that — to snuff out our light or block it or weaken it — because the truth is that our collective divine light as human beings is our best protection against all the darkness that can really do massive harm to each of us and to our Earth