Wonders Never Cease

Insights from an eclipse

Notes on Wonder

Years ago, National Public Radio coined the term driveway moment: when a radio story is so riveting that you stay in your car to hear it rather than exiting toward your destination. I love NPR's reporting and storytelling, so I've had many of those moments!

Lately, though, I've been thinking about the opposite situation—when some natural phenomenon is so compelling that I can't bear to have any barrier between myself and what's transpiring—when I step out of my car to look at a double rainbow, or out of my house to walk under the light of a full moon. My most recent get-out-and-watch moment was one of my favorite sights in nature: enormous flocks of starlings flying in overlapping formations—swooping, swirling, rising, diving. 

How do they do it? And why? Each time, I have to pause what I'm doing-thinking-saying to take in that ecstatic aerial dance. In that moment, nothing seems more important than to stop and witness. 

Back in 2017, when we learned that a total solar eclipse would be visible from Kentucky, we drove 325 miles to chase the sun's shadow, to watch the moon slide in front of the sun, bit by bit. During those fleeting minutes, as day suddenly became night, as crickets took an out-of-sequence cue to sing, my heart raced and goosebumps traveled across my arms. 

Never had I been so conscious of being a creature on a planet. With my feet touching the ground, I was watching a cosmic phenomenon, and both of those things were in the realm of my human awareness. 

These days, I spend so much of my time stuck within my own mind, staring at screens, managing mundane details, that I often forget this reality—that I am a part of all of this. 

And it's this feeling—the feeling of wonder—that reminds me, again and again. 

Yes, the animal part of me wants safety and certainty, but the human being in me wants expansion beyond my boundaries, connection to something larger than myself, affinity with star and sky. The human being in me wants Oneness.

This April, a total solar eclipse will be visible again—this time, right from my home in Indianapolis. I'm eagerly anticipating standing outside again and experiencing that swell of wonder and apprehension and fascination, wrapped in reverence for the immensity and complexity of the universe. 

Neuroscientist Dacher Keltner says that our society is currently experiencing a narrowing of consciousness as we increasingly limit our sensory intake to screens. According to him, the emotion of awe can provide a compass through this crisis because it creates feelings of expansion, broadens our views, and enlarges our sense of what it means to be a human being. In fact, Keltner says humans are neurophysiologically wired this way—to allow our individual borders to thin and then to connect with the individuals around us and with the larger world. 

His book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, is structured around eight sources of wonder, listed in the order of significance per his scientific research. I expected nature to top his list, but remarkably enough, our most significant source of wonder is the courage, strength, and goodness of other people.

Once I got past my surprise, I felt so elated at this fact. Think of it—at the end of the day, we are most awed by each other—by our actions in the world, our kindness to one another, our desire to care for, protect, and love our fellow human beings. 

Reading that, I couldn't help but feel hope. 

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Some recommendations:

• For me, no one captures the state of wonder like the poet Mary Oliver. In "Mysteries, Yes" (full text here), she exclaims: 

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous

to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the

mouths of lambs.

How rivers and stones are forever

in allegiance with gravity

while we ourselves dream of rising. 

-Mary Oliver

• I came across this fascinating upcoming eclipse-related event: The Universe in Verse. Designed and hosted by Maria Popova, author of The Marginalian (a truly wonderful newsletter), this celebration will feature gifted artists, authors, and poets such as Rebecca Solnit, Krista Tippett, Roxanne Gay, and Ellen Bass. (I'm swooning.) The event will take place at the Moody Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, but both livestream and recorded options will be available. 

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Notes on Joy

Those who know me also know I have a tendency toward self-torture when it comes to my writing life—why can't I write quickly enough? well enough? deeply enough? (You get the idea.)

When I feel myself getting mired in self-criticism, one of my go-to podcasts is Artists for Joy by creative coach Merideth Hite Estevez. 

First, how can you resist the title? Second, the episodes are unfailingly relatable and always renew my cheer and energy. 

For a small sample, listen to "'Mini-Joys: Life's Algorithm," in which Merideth shares the positives that the Internet has brought her—new friends, experiences, ideas. I love her quest for laugh-out-loud online content, which the Internet now feeds her regularly. She's made The Algorithm work for her—she’s made it bring her joy.

Merideth is also an award-winning musician (an oboist), so you’re sure to enjoy her exquisite background music choices in each episode. 

• The multi-talented Merideth is the author of The Artist's Joy, which I've pre-ordered and can't wait to read! 

  

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Notes on the Writing Path

• Poetry. National Poetry Month is coming up, so keep a watch for events in your area! I've been invited to read my poetry on April 1, 2024 at 12 noon at the Indianapolis Artsgarden (110 W. Washington St., Indianapolis). Given that April is also Earth Month, I'll be sharing some of my ecology- and nature-themed poetry. Please join me—I'd love to see you there!

I appreciate your interest! If you'd like to read more of my work, some of it is featured on my website: DheepaRMaturi.com. 

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In the meantime, I’m so glad you’re here! Thank you for reading, and see you in a few weeks!

-Dheepa