Author: Debbie Norris, Ph.D. | Date: August 10, 2017
Mind-Body Influences of a Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse, a celestial event of awe and wonder, is set to grace the United States from coast to coast on August 21, 2017. As we anticipate this remarkable event, it’s natural to ponder the physical and psychological effects it might have on us. Our lives are intricately tied to the cycles of celestial bodies, from the daily rotation of the Earth influencing our sleep-wake patterns to the changing seasons dictated by our planet’s orbit around the sun. Even the 28-day lunar cycle can impact our moods and behaviors. These cosmic rhythms extend their influence beyond humans to all living organisms and ecosystems.
While we often take the regular celestial cycles for granted, less frequent phenomena like solar eclipses can exert unique and subtle effects on our physical and mental well-being. In this blog, we explore the ways a solar eclipse can influence our physical environment and, in turn, our bodies and minds.
1. The Darkening Effect and Its Impact on Animals
The most obvious physical phenomenon during a solar eclipse is the temporary darkening of the environment as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, obstructing sunlight. Light profoundly influences animal behavior and hormonal responses. An example of this influence is seen in horse breeding, where artificial adjustments to lighting can regulate a mare’s estrous cycle.
Studies of wildlife have shown that animals are significantly affected by the sudden darkness during a total eclipse. Bird calls, including those of doves, starlings, and various other species, cease during the eclipse’s shadowy phase. These avian vocalizations resume with a cacophonous fervor as daylight returns following the eclipse, mimicking the dawn chorus. Observations reveal that some birds, such as egrets and herons, change their flight patterns, flying to roost at the onset of totality and returning to the water to feed when light returns minutes later. Even frogs, typically nocturnal singers, begin to croak during the eclipse’s totality, only to fall silent once daylight is restored.
2. Hormonal Changes in Humans
Solar eclipses can also trigger hormonal changes in humans. Studies have indicated that prolactin levels, a hormone crucial for regulating metabolism, the immune system, and pancreas development, increase immediately following a solar eclipse. Interestingly, this post-eclipse rise in prolactin mirrors the peak in prolactin typically observed during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, coinciding with the break of dawn.
3. Gravitational Shifts and Their Effects
During a solar eclipse, there is a subtle yet measurable shift in the gravitational forces acting upon the Earth. The moon’s gravitational pull is potent enough to cause the tides to rise and fall, a phenomenon well-known for influencing the hormones and behaviors of many animals. Research has shown that shifts in the moon’s gravitational force directly affect the feeding and reproductive hormones of various species.
During a solar eclipse, the gravitational forces of both the moon and the sun align, exerting a combined force on the Earth. The exact consequences of this unique gravitational phenomenon on hormones and behavior remain a subject of study.
4. Electromagnetic Field Alterations
Another physical change occurring during a solar eclipse involves shifts in the electromagnetic field within the Earth’s ionosphere. This electromagnetic field arises from the electrical tension between the Earth’s negatively charged surface and the positively charged atmosphere that surrounds it. Termed the Schumann resonance, this global electromagnetic resonance typically registers at 7.83 Hz, spanning a range from approximately 3-60 Hz. This resonance, named after its discoverer, Winfried Schumann, plays a significant role in the Earth’s natural electromagnetic environment.
Previous experiments have demonstrated that during a solar eclipse, the electrical tension in the Earth’s atmosphere increases. The eclipse’s shadow has the potential to induce alterations in the ionosphere significant enough to impact radio wave propagation, and potentially even human physiology.
5. Electromagnetic Fields in the Brain and Heart
The human nervous system operates through the polarization and depolarization of electrical charges within neurons. These processes lead to the firing of neurons and the transmission of sensory information, thoughts, and feelings. Analogous to the Earth’s surface, neurons carry a negative charge within the cell, surrounded by a positive charge outside the cell. Intriguingly, the electromagnetic fields generated by the brain and the heart operate within a similar frequency range to that of the Earth’s ionosphere, approximately 0.5-100 Hz.
While research on the specific effects of a solar eclipse on electroencephalography (EEG) patterns of the brain remains limited, ample data suggests that fluctuations in the ionosphere’s electromagnetic field—anticipated during a solar eclipse—can induce significant bioelectric changes in both the brain and the heart. These alterations encompass shifts in EEG patterns reflecting changes in human brainwave activity and electrocardiography (EKG) patterns of the heart. Furthermore, calcium ion uptake, vital for both brain and heart function, is also impacted. Other documented effects tied to changes in solar geomagnetic activity encompass elevated blood pressure, impacts on the reproductive system, alterations in immune system function, cardiac and neurological effects, changes in mental health, and a multitude of stress-related conditions.
The Quest for Long-Term Effects
Determining the long-term effects of a solar eclipse is a more complex endeavor. Celestial phenomena like solstices serve as transition points from one cycle to another, triggering shifts in seasons, daylight hours, and the cascade of hormonal and psychological changes that accompany them. These changes often go unnoticed due to their familiarity, but they are undeniably the result of pivotal moments in the grand celestial cycle.
While the long-term effects of a solar eclipse are not easily predicted, it is clear that significant celestial events can mark the beginning of new cycles or “seasons” in the broader context of life on Earth. Saros Series 145³ offers a potential framework for understanding these cyclic transitions.
Embracing Change with Mindfulness
Inevitably, we cannot escape the natural rhythms and cycles of the universe. One constant is change itself. Whether it’s the daily, lunar, or seasonal changes, or the rare celestial events like solar eclipses that arise from the alignment of the sun, the moon, and the Earth, mindfulness emerges as a key tool for navigating these transitions smoothly.
Mindfulness empowers us to stay in harmony with the ebb and flow of change. It is a quality that evolves through mind-body practices, akin to how strength develops through exercise.
Mind-body practices, particularly meditation, offer a path to conscious awareness of shifts in our moods and feelings. These practices allow us to consciously process the experiential effects of environmental and life changes. As we approach the solar eclipse and the surrounding days, cultivating mindfulness can help us observe any shifts in our emotions or feelings. Some days, our energy may feel subdued, while on others, it might soar. We may experience periods of heightened expansiveness and days of introspection. Rather than resisting these experiences, we can embrace them with deep, conscious breathing and allow them to flow through us.
Mindfulness, appropriate at all times, takes on heightened significance during the days surrounding a total solar eclipse like the one on August 21, 2017. It offers us a unique opportunity to self-reflect, honoring any feelings that arise or do not arise during this potentially pivotal moment in time. Through mindfulness practices, we cultivate the capacity to align ourselves with the broader universe and gracefully ride the waves of change, finding greater comfort and ease in the process.
FAQ:
Q1: What is the significance of the total solar eclipse that occurred on August 21, 2017?
A1: The total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, was a celestial event in which the moon passed between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sunlight. It had both physical and psychological effects on living organisms, including humans.
Q2: How do daily, lunar, and seasonal changes affect our lives?
A2: Daily, lunar (moon-related), and seasonal changes have a profound impact on our lives. For example, the daily rotation of the Earth affects our sleep-wake cycles, while lunar cycles can influence our moods and behaviors. Seasonal changes, caused by the Earth’s orbit around the sun, affect our metabolism and moods.
Q3: What are some of the physical changes that occur during a solar eclipse?
A3: During a solar eclipse, several physical changes occur, including the darkening of the environment as the moon blocks sunlight. This darkness affects animal behavior and hormones. There are also subtle changes in gravitational forces and electromagnetic fields during an eclipse.
Q4: How do solar eclipses affect animals?
A4: Solar eclipses can significantly affect animals. Studies have shown that during a total eclipse, bird calls cease, frogs become active, and some animals change their behavior, such as flying to roost during totality and then returning to feed when light returns.
Q5: What hormonal changes occur in humans during a solar eclipse?
A5: Studies have shown that prolactin levels in humans are elevated immediately following a solar eclipse. Prolactin is a hormone that regulates metabolism, the immune system, and pancreas development. This rise in prolactin levels mirrors the increase seen during REM sleep.
Q6: How does the electromagnetic field of the Earth relate to the electromagnetic field of the brain and heart?
A6: The electromagnetic field of the Earth (Schumann resonance) operates within a similar frequency range as the electromagnetic fields of the brain and heart, approximately 0.5-100 Hz. Changes in the Earth’s electromagnetic field during a solar eclipse can affect EEG patterns of brain waves and EKG patterns of the heart.
Q7: Why is mindfulness important during significant celestial events like solar eclipses?
A7: Mindfulness is crucial during celestial events like solar eclipses because it allows us to consciously process and be aware of any changes in our emotions or feelings. It helps us adapt to shifts in our environment and within ourselves, fostering greater comfort and ease during times of change.
Q8: What role does mindfulness play in aligning ourselves with the universe?
A8: Mindfulness helps us align ourselves with the universe by allowing us to observe and adapt to changes in our inner and outer environments. It cultivates our capacity to flow with the natural cycles and rhythms of life.
Q9: How can mindfulness help individuals align themselves with the universe?
A9: Mindfulness enables individuals to align themselves with the universe by facilitating the observation and acceptance of shifts in emotions and feelings. Through mindfulness practices, people can gracefully navigate and adapt to the natural rhythms and cycles of the universe.
About the Author:
Debbie Norris, Ph.D., is the author of “In the Flow: Bridging the Science and Practice of Mindfulness” and the Editor-in-Chief of MindBodyJournal.com. Dr. Norris is the Founder of The Mindfulness Center™, based in Washington, D.C. She is a Psychologist-in-Residence and Director of the Psychobiology of Healing Program at American University, and a past professor at Georgetown University Medical School. Dr. Norris is renowned for her online meditation teacher programs,