(Credits and thanks to my dear friend and Jyotish Vedic astrology teacher David Hawthorne )

The media is abuzz with news of the total solar eclipse. While the most popular topic currently may be 'Where are you going to watch the eclipse?', Āyurveda and yoga's sister science, Jyotish (Vedic astrology), would recommend a different approach to occurrences of solar or lunar eclipse.

Eclipses are deemed powerful astrological occurrences in which one of the luminaries of the sky, the sun or moon, is occluded. In Jyotish, the sun (Surya) represents the soul, spirituality, and vitality. This darkening of the light exposes the shadow of the luminous body and collective and individual consciousness. An eclipse of the sun calls us inward toward the subtle realm. For this reason, rather than gazing at the eclipse, Jyotish recommends using this time to practice spirituality.

Due to decreased digestive power (Agni), traditionally, one would fast or eat lightly for approximately 12 hours before the eclipse. During the eclipse, one should stay inside and engage in a practice of meditation, specifically mantra meditation. Surya Gayatri or other mantras to the sun and your own personal mantra are all appropriate practices during this time. If you don't know Surya Gayrtri or have a mantra you're working with, 'Om' or 'So Hum' are appropriate practices.

As positive and negative emotions may be heightened during an eclipse, going inward creates an opportunity to integrate these strong emotions rather than react to them. The shadow nature of an eclipse will make evident the buried, disowned, and suppressed parts of ourselves that are ready to be acknowledged and worked with.

Eclipses mark the beginnings and endings of cycles, so practice mindfulness in what you intend to birth or let come to an end. This (current) solar eclipse occurs during Mercury retrograde, so it's also advisable to be extremely careful with communication during this time.

So, if you want to use this astrological and astronomical occurrence to further your practice, plan to use this shadow time to go inward. Stay in, get still, and mantra up... Kara Aubin, Ayurvedic Wellness Center

“To witness an eclipse, the temporary darkening of the Sun or Moon instills a sense of awe in most people. From ancient times, astrologers have considered these phenomena ominous portents. The belief is that eclipses may be accompanied by adverse incidents, even if these may take place with delay. The lack of clear empirical evidence concerning the nature and timing of such incidents suggests eclipses have questionable scientific merit. However, this notion has survived through the ages, including in mythology. This article attempts to resolve the age-old mystery of eclipses by giving a full account of the astronomical and astrological nature of such events.”

-- Cosmologer’s Blog: https://cosmologer.blogspot.com/.../truth-about-eclipses...

The upcoming total solar eclipse is a joyous and celebratory occasion for many people. Countless skygazers are gearing up to witness the rare cosmological marvel as it crosses over Mexico, the U.S., and Canada on April 8. Along with the 30 or so million people living in the path of totality, millions more are expected to travel for a better view. Crowds will gather at eclipse watch parties to cheer on as the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, and hundreds of couples plan to mark the phenomenon by tying the knot. But in other cultures and faith traditions, an eclipse is less of a spectacle and more spiritual. Some take time to meditate and reflect on the universe, while others engage in rituals to ward off negative energies.

Here’s how some religions and cultures observe this celestial event:

-Some Hindus, especially those with roots in South India, consider eclipses a bad omen, says Sangeetha Kowsik, a Hindu chaplain and spiritual life advisor at New York University. In Vedic astrology, an eclipse occurs when the shadow planet Rahu swallows the sun.

-Some Hindus who see eclipses as inauspicious fast before and bathe after the celestial event — sometimes with their clothes on — to clear themselves of negative energies, Kowsik says. Some temples, meanwhile, close down during the eclipse and offer special prayers. But Hinduism encompasses many spiritual beliefs, practices, and traditions, and not all Hindus view eclipses as unfavorable.

-According to other Hindu legends, all nine planets of Vedic astrology are said to live in the belly of the god Ganesha or in the tail of the god Hanuman. “So if you are a Ganesha devotee or a Hanuman devotee, all of these effects of these planets are gone because God is there to save you,” Kowsik says. “God is there to take care of you always and eradicate any issue you might have.”

-Muslims consider eclipses a sign from God. For many Muslims, eclipses are a time for prayer and spiritual contemplation, says Akif Aydin, president of the interfaith organization Atlantic Institute SC.

-Per Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad’s young son Ibrahim died on the day of a solar eclipse, and many of his followers at the time associated the celestial phenomenon with death and sorrow. Aydin says The Prophet Muhammad encouraged his followers to remember and worship God during an eclipse, inviting his disciples to worship with him at the mosque until the cosmic event passed. “It is a time to connect with God again — to remember God’s creation again,” he adds.

-Some Christians believe it signals the second coming of Christ.

In the eyes of some Christians, the solar eclipse is a sign that the “end times” — the period prophesied in the Bible when Jesus Christ will return to Earth — are imminent.

-The New Testament mentions the sky darkening while Jesus was hung on the cross, which some believers associate with a solar eclipse.

-Celestial phenomena such as eclipses are often accompanied by end-times predictions. However, some authors and scholars point out that such prophecies are usually rooted in North American evangelical ideas around the apocalypse.

-For Navajos, it’s a time of reverence. The Navajo Nation reservation will be quieter than usual during Monday's solar eclipse out of respect for the cosmic phenomenon.

While many towns and cities will be abuzz on Monday with people trying to catch a glimpse of the eclipse, the Navajo Nation reservation will be more still.

-According to Evelyn Bahe, a program manager in the Department of Diné Education in Window Rock, Arizona, Eclipses are a more solemn occasion in Navajo tradition. The Diné, the term Navajos use to refer to themselves, see the celestial event as a time to show reverence and respect for the sun and the Earth.

-“During the eclipse, we have to get back into our dwelling, close the curtains, and make it really quiet,” Bahe says. During this time, we cannot eat, sleep, or drink water.” Engaging in these activities during an eclipse is said to negatively affect a person and disrupt their spiritual harmony, Bahe adds. During previous eclipses, offices, parks, and schools in the Navajo Nation have closed to honor the cosmic phenomenon.

-Bahe says Navajos have varying explanations for what happens during an eclipse: Some consider it a meeting of the sun and the moon — while others view it as a rebirth and renewal of the celestial bodies. “It is considered a time of interaction between the Sun and the moon,” the Indigenous Education Institute’s Nancy C. Maryboy and David Begay say in a statement on the Exploratorium website. “(Navajo elders) sit quietly and contemplate or recount traditional teachings about the origins of the Sun and moon. These practices are grounded in their deeply held respect for the cosmic order.”

-Harmeet Kaur, CNN, and CNN correspondent Kristin Fisher contributed to this story.

Ancient Practical Reasons You Should Avoid the Eclipse:

"They call the Total Solar Eclipse “the King Killer,” the death of the Sun. The total solar eclipse is a big deal. Many people are in a frenzy of planning and traveling to stand in the great shadow’s path, but ancient societies warned against watching.

They advise against travel or “engaging in risky activities” during a solar eclipse. As the moon blocks the sun, Navajo elders voice caution, and Vedic astrologers strongly suggest against having anything to do with any eclipse, partial or total.

In Vedic astrology, we traditionally don’t want to expose ourselves to eclipses. They are shadows and considered delicate transition periods, so we stay inside. Especially during the total solar eclipse, it is best to stay inside. We also don’t want food in our stomachs while eclipses occur. It is traditional to fast on eclipse days and not to eat until the eclipse is over. This is true for both lunar and solar eclipses.

– Elaine Masters, Trip Well Gal