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The Way of the Sage

I got up early this morning to see a "large" procession of planets.

I was so excited. I mean, six planets, all in a row. I definitely wanted to see that.

I remember being dragged outside in the pre-dawn darkness a few years ago. We were up early in the cattle yards helping a newborn calf feed when someone told me to look up. Across the clear sky stretched 30 to 40 satellites all in a long line, looking like a string of diamonds twinkling in the night sky. I must admit it was amazing. I tried counting them, kept losing my place, finally relaxing to enjoy the sight.

I don't know what I was expecting for the procession of planets, but it was definitely more than a little influenced by those satellite "diamonds". We had perfectly clear skies, and I got up at the right time, on the right day. For those of you who know me, you know that for me, that is significant. I forget things all the time.

I scanned the sky quickly and saw nothing.

I went back to Google and looked it up again in case I'd gotten the details wrong. It was definitely the right time and right day. Then, I actually read what I was supposed to be looking for. Not a string of diamonds, but six planets, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune, spread across the night sky in an arc from the eastern horizon to high in the northwest sky.

I went back and had another look.

Yes, I could see Saturn and Mars, but none of the others.

I was disappointed and a little embarrassed. Disappointed that I couldn't see all six planets, and at the same time a little embarrassed that a string of satellites to hook us up to Starlink were more impressive to my eye.

I found out later why I couldn't see the rest. Mercury and Jupiter were too low on the horizon for me to see over the trees at my place, and Uranus and Neptune are invisible to the naked eye.

That got me thinking: how many times have I built things up in my mind so much that when the real thing arrives, it's a letdown? I end up missing how amazing it actually is simply because it didn't match my expectations.

I often say to people that we don't have to know every detail of the plan; we just need to know the direction we're headed. We become so fixated on how things should work out in our heads that we forget to leave room for magic.

So, as disappointed as I was initially about the planets not lining up the way I had imagined, I'm grateful I got to witness something so rare in our humble Milky Way.

While six planets lining up is uncommon, happening only once or twice a decade, I want to be fully present for the Great Procession, when all seven major planets line up. This happens only once every 100 to 200 years, with the next expected in 2040. Next time, I'll know just what to look for and enjoy the event for what it is, instead of expecting it to match an imaginary picture.

By the time you read this, the current six-planet lineup will likely have passed, but if you're interested, there are two more planetary events this year:

● The "Morning Trio" (14th August): Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars should be visible in the pre-dawn sky between 4:00 am and 6:00 am, all visible to the naked eye.

● The "Autumn Quartet" (22nd October): Visible between 5:00 am and 6:30 am (even if it's spring for us here), bringing together Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.

A Seed to Carry

Where in your life might you be disappointed because something doesn't look the way you imagined it would?

Before deciding that it hasn't worked out, look again.

Perhaps the question isn't:

Why didn't I get what I expected?

Perhaps it is:

What is here that I haven't recognised yet?

May this day bring you peace.

May you feel the warmth of the sun on your face.

Until next time,

Leeanne

(P.S. Hit reply and let me know: what is one expectation you're letting go of this week?)