Autumn Equinox 2023—Wondering Beyond

          The equinox is eleven days away as I write this, but as I gazed at the waning crescent moon rising just next to Venus this morning, I certainly felt an equinox special moment.  There is this awareness of perspective that happens when the crescent moon rests against a backdrop of one or more of our solar system's planets that makes me feel both small and large at the same instant. I think that the tiny crescent shadowed by the darkened circle of the moon helps me see the moon in fully rounded three dimensions, and Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are suddenly more than just bright dots, they too become round and more full.
            At these moments, I can visualize the big moon in the foreground with planets circling beyond, and stars and galaxies filling in the backdrop.  For just a moment, it's as if I can actually see the vastness of our solar system and I can visualize the vastness of the universe.
            When this happens, astronomy comes alive, much like it does when one looks through a powerful telescope at planets and galaxies.
 
            By Equinox time this year, 2023, the moon will again be waxing toward full and the stars will again become faint while the moon travels the arc of our sky.  On this day, there will be other perspectives to explore, other balances to enjoy, like perhaps the balance of a kayak on open water, or the balance of waves on the lake, and the dance of raindrops returning to a larger source, falling from cloud to lake, cloud to ground and stream and river and sea. And all will be awaiting the colorful pageantry of turning leaves.
            As I enjoy the sun-filled late September day and the moon-drenched early autumn night, I'll clearly feel and sense my own balance. Then for just a few perfect moments I'll forget all my cares and worries about life and humanity so that I can be simply one with the universe, both infinitesimally small and infinitely large.