SOLAR ECLIPSE, an ancient perspective

it just feels different...

As Christine Taylor Butler expressed on our "Black Biz  Banter" podcast yesterday, there is a heightened level of excitement this time around.  Christine Taylor-Butler is the author of over 90 books on STEM, ecology, animals, mystery and many more.  The ones we discussed on April 4, 2024 are called, "Solar Energy" and "Experiment with Solar Energy."

Taylor-Butler explained that though there are many eclipses several times per year, this one is special because the total eclipse will occur in one large viewing area of North America and that this occurs every 100 years.  She looked up the "Path of 2024 eclipse" from the Scientific American.   The official name is the "Path of Totality" which will be seen from Texas first, where Taylor-Butler will be observing.  She went on to say that her sister would be in Ohio which also along this path.  Unfortunately Illinois is not along the path, but the  Adler Planetarium has planned special viewing events just the same.  The difference may just be that the eclipse will be partial instead of total.

During the eclipse, twighlight will come forth as if it's sunset and the sun's corona and solar flares will be visible.

The Sun has had a special place in ancient African cosmology and is often referred to as Ra or Re.  The Sun was not worshipped as God or the creator, but was viewed as "a manifestation of God's power."  ["Foundations of African Thought" by Chukwunyere Kamalu.]  The author goes on to say that "God is nature as opposed to being separate from nature."

In "Survival Strategies for Africans in America" by Anthony T. Browder, his chapter called, "Learn to Interpret Religious Imagery" he states:
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Among the elements of nature, the sun was considered to be one of the most powerful visible expressions of the Creator.  It was symbolized by several Netercherw as it moved across Nut--the sky.  Heru was the morning sun, Re represented the midday sun, and Amen was the evening sun.  These aspects of the sun later personified the three stages of life that every person would experience:  infancy, adulthood, and eldership."

When looking at the video this morning of the solar eclipse which occurred in South Africa  (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTpqtn4/) the sun and moon combination look like a large eye in the sky with the pupil being black and the eye outline as the sun's corona which was shaped just like an eye.  This is where the eyes of the Netcherw (divine principles of the creator) came from referred to by Browder in "Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization."  According to Browder, "The eyes of the Netcherw were considered to have been the two symbols of light in the heavens, the sun and the moon.  The right eye was called the "Eye of Heru," and represented the sun.  The left eye was associated with Djhuiti and symbolized the moon."  The sun and moon will be together on this day which could be interpreted as seeing from both perspectives or a higher perspective.

Sit with that for a minute.  Coincidence?  It is at least food for thought and an interesting addition to all of the conversations that will be had after the world witnesses this phenomenon.  What are your thoughts about the effects of the eclipse psychologically or physically? 

Want to Learn More?

As always, I appreciate that you have read through this blog post.  I hope that you’ve become curious to read more books by Christine Taylor-Butler, or Anthony  T. Browder.  We ask that you consider purchasing your books from our Black owned bookstore, Afriware Books, Co.  If there is a title you’d like to purchase that is not mentioned here, or could not be found on the website, feel free to email us at:  [email protected]