WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Day 5/Elder Muse: Pillars of Creation
Image: From Near Infrared Webb Space Telescope – Pillars of Creation
.“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.” ~Rumi
We often think of space and the Universe as “out there” as if it’s there and we are here, as if Earth is separate from the rest of the Universe – but we are technically “in space” right now. The Earth and our solar system is estimated to be 4.6 billion years old.
The Universe is everything. Everything includes all of space and all of the matter and energy that space contains. It even includes time itself, and of course each one of us and all life here on Earth. There are billions of galaxies in the observable Universe beside the Milky Way.
The image taken from the far infrared Webb Space telescope in the short video below is 6,500 light-years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one Earth year. One light-year is light zipping through interstellar space at 186,00 miles (300,000km) per second and 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion km) per year.
Humans, and I am among them, forget this vastness and interconnected creation. We live our flash of a lifespan as if we are the center of the Universe and forget the creation that is going on constantly around and inside of us. This image and what it represents expanded my perceptions so quickly it was almost mind blowing.
“Earthrise” taken from by astronaut Bill Anders on Apollo on Apollo 8 Mission orbiting Moon
We all remember when we saw this “Earthrise” image as the astronauts of Apollo 8 orbited the Moon on Christmas Eve, 1968. This image most likely kick-started the environmental movement. The mission “will probably be remembered as much for Bill Ander’s picture as anything because it shows the fragility of our Earth, the beauty of the Earth, and just how so insignificantly small we are in the Universe,”
Many of us embrace that everything on Earth is elegantly interconnected. Yet when we try on expanding to the entire Universe it seems far beyond what the human mind can comprehend. Yet, I am curious how we can take this in and not recognize how vast on going creation is and that nothing is separate – simply a part of the whole….
I wonder when I die if I will become a star….again?
ABOUT ELDER MUSE – 31-DAYS IN DECEMBER, 2022
Taking responsibility for our own journey is at times incredibly challenging. For those of you who read this blog regularly you may have noticed there was only one blog post published from September-November.
I was on a journey of exploration and discovery on how it felt to work a temporary part time mainstream job 20-hours/week, as well as continue on with my own private house/pet sitting business at the same time. It seemed my writing and creativity went into a hibernation of sorts.
I became acutely aware of what is most important to me at this precious elder time of life..and what is not. What opens me to wholeness, creativity, compassion, beauty, peace of mind and love….and what shuts me down into scarcity and contraction in the midst, of “busyness”. .
From this short 3-month experience the “elder muse” made an appearance and patiently waited to reveal a plan to re-engage with creative artistry when the timing was right. Over the next 31 days you will receive a daily Elder Muse blog post accessed from the unfolding of the day – not planned or scheduled.
I have no idea what will arise…..but then do we really know ahead of time what our moment to moment daily experience will be? We are only asked to pay attention.
Case in point – Just now I almost missed this sunrise extravaganza while focused on the words instead of the ever transitioning beauty emerging right out the window…….
I appreciate that you will be along with me for this journey. Please feel free to make comments or add your own insights and humor…..
In Gratitude & Appreciation!
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DECEMBER 2022: ELDER MUSE BLOG POSTS: https://wildlyfreeelder.com/2022/12/