Have you ever had the experience of feeling your perspective change, in almost a visceral way? After watching this video, I’m a changed person. You might end up that way, too.
OVERVIEW from Planetary Collective on Vimeo.
As you watch The Overview Effect, you’ll see glorious, fragile Earth from the International Space Station, with a narration by some of the astronauts who filmed it. At about the four-minute mark, you’ll see thunderstorms, and then the aurora borealis. At about 6:30 you’ll hear that the astronauts, while not working, tend to lose themselves in “earthgazing.” At 11:10, astronaut Edgar Mitchell says he was both excited and troubled by a certain effect he’d experienced in space, and upon his return, asked a local university if they could find a name for it. They did. It’s called salva corpus amanti, which, in this context means, “You see things…with your eyes but you experience them emotionally and viscerally with ecstasy and a sense of totally unity and oneness.”
This morning on my way to an appointment, the fog was breaking up, still drifting over newly-green fields in our rural area. Sun began to come through, as well as a bit of blue sky. I watched the cars in front of me rolling along, and I marveled that they stuck to the road instead of floating off into space. I considered my priorities for the day and realized how unimportant they are, and I am. We little ant-people, bustling about on our lovely blue planet, rarely stop to realize how small it all is. This is the after-effect of the video, for me. As I watched the film and heard the transcendent music, I felt tenderness and gratitude for Earth’s generosity, and fear for her vulnerability. I’m sure that my being almost sixty adds depth to my appreciation. Enjoy.
I was struck once again with the fragility of our planet. It’s sobering to realize how greed and warfare and politics are threatening our planet. My fear is that by the time we stop arguing about global warning, it will be too late to do much about it.
I am worried for my grandbabies.
Thank you SO much for posting this video, Lynn! I have no words really…amazing…awe…nothing can describe how this film made me feel and see our world. I must share it! Cindy
Great to hear from you, Cindy!
Wow Lynn, call me a speck on the planet 🙂 a very eye opening video and thank you for sharing. It’s amazing when you think of how this planet supports such a diversity of life and how fragile it all is. And what a great look through the eyes of the men and women who experienced this awesomeness up close and personally. Are we ultimately responsible for helping this big blue ball stay on it’s trajectory no matter what? Definitely! Now we just have to convince the rest of the world!!!
Deb
Hey, Deb, thanks for stopping by. Hope you are well and loving life!
Thanks for sharing the video and your perspective. We live on such a tiny little planet, and it is in so much trouble. Let’s hope that people in the future begin mending personal and national relationships.
Let’s hope so, or else it’ll be like brawling on the decks of the Titanic.
Well said, Humor Me. Well said.
Ah Lynne, I loved the video and the thoughts that it evoked in you. That feeling of deep awe, inestimable wonder – I don’t think we touch those emotions often enough. And when we do, we are the better for it. Without any hokey intent, I just find that when I am struck by both the magnificence around us and the tiny specks of energy we are within it, I feel humbled and amazed.
You know, Mimi, I didn’t intend to put up two posts one after the other about awe, but I guess I’m in that kind of mood. It’s almost like being in an awake dream. Beautiful and surreal. In my novel, Dakota Blues, I gave my character a scene that actually happened to me on a beach in Hawaii at dawn, the experience of feeling insignificant, and oddly reassured by that feeling. Feeling humbled can be therapeutic to one’s mental health, I found. Have a beautiful Sunday.
Enjoyed the video and your post. The meat & dairy industries are killing us all. The earth is in peril.
The leading cause of cancer, heart disease, global warming and water scarcity is one and the same.
Here is a link to a blog I follow:
http://hpjmh.com/2014/02/06/cancer-heart-disease-global-warming-water-scarcity/
A sensitive and touching post. Thanks.
When I read “We little ant-people, bustling about on our lovely blue planet, rarely stop to realize how small it all is,” I had to think of the shot of earth by the lunar lander that was made public yesterday or the day before.
Instead of the beautiful blue and white sphere that looks so substantial when shot from the closeness of the space station, you see a barely perceptible speck. That, too, gives one a great perspective on how insignificant not only we humans are but our home as well.
Martin, what struck me was that we go about our lives with such unintentional hubris. To think of, for example, the turf battles between “red and blue” politics. We’re so tiny. Our issues are so tiny, except for this one: preserving Spaceship Earth.
Yes, Lynne, our hubris is simply — so many negative words to choose from — repulsive is the one that keeps coming to my mind. But I don’t think we’ll ever fully realize how tiny we are until we eventually come in contact with an alien civilization. And then we’d probably immediately try to destroy it.
Or they us.
Absolutely, Lynne, no doubt about it, I imagine.
Wow. I am speechless. This takes my breath away. Thank you for sharing.
Tess, I love that these scientists (the astronauts) were so moved.
As humans, we must realize we are not the centre of the universe, I guess. A little humility is a good thing. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this amazing video. It definitely evokes a different and thought-provoking perspective.
Doesn’t it, though? Thanks, Sandy.
Lynne, I’m glad you’re finding that precious space to observe the world around you That’s why I’m proud of the people who are activists, who fight to keep our earth from being destroyed by single vision, narcissistic money grabbers who want to destroy this earth for their own profits. I admire people who think beyond themselves, and work for the betterment of the people and the government for equal rights of all.
As I speak, a friend of mine in North Carolina is in Raleigh, marching and fighting for the people of her State. We may look like ants, but we are a community. We never live alone, and the responsibilities are great.
Have a great day, Lynne! Let’s hope for rain!
Good to hear from you, Kathy!