12/08/2026
Today, are you pausing or performing?
Today, many people will be looking up to watch the solar eclipse. I was raised with a different understanding of what an eclipse represents.
As a young girl growing up in Kenya, my mother would always say:
"An eclipse is not entertainment; it is a time to become still."
I remember businesses closing early, streets becoming quieter, and families staying indoors. Life seemed to pause for a little while, as people honoured the moment with respect rather than excitement. Whether that was because of tradition, faith, or cultural wisdom, I don't know, but I remember how deeply it was respected.
My mother would encourage us to stay indoors, avoid eating if possible, reduce unnecessary activity, pray, meditate, chant, or sit quietly. She would often say that during an eclipse, we should avoid anything that involves unnecessary exchange of energy and instead preserve our own. That teaching has stayed with me throughout my life.
In Ayurveda and Vedic tradition, when the light changes, the energy around us changes too. It is believed that prana, our vital life force, can become unsettled, while agni, our digestive and metabolic fire, may become weaker. This is why the tradition encourages simplicity, rest, and inward reflection during an eclipse.
Ancient Vedic stories also speak of Rahu and Ketu, symbolising karmic transformation, illusion, and profound change. Across many ancient cultures, eclipses were viewed as sacred moments, times to pause rather than perform.
Today, science has given us a much deeper understanding of eclipses! We know they are extraordinary astronomical events, and certified eclipse glasses allow people to observe them safely. I deeply respect both science and tradition. For me, this isn't about deciding which is right. It's about choosing the tradition that resonates with my heart.
While many people will gather to watch the eclipse, I will be doing something quieter. I will be praying through meditation and reflection because, in my experience, some moments are honoured not by looking outward but by listening inward.
Whatever you choose today, whether you watch the eclipse or spend the time in stillness, I hope you do so with intention, respect, and awareness. After all, every tradition carries a story, and every scientific discovery expands our understanding. And ultimately, each of us has the freedom to choose the path that feels meaningful to us.
Today, I choose stillness.
Will you be looking up… or looking within? Wellness With Kajal