Humans as one of the creatures that can lift their faces cannot be separated from the influence of the sky conditions. It is said that one of the revolutions in human evolution was his ability to raise his face to the sky so that the next development could be passed quickly. Other animals such as apes, whose evolutionary tree is closest to humans, still walk bent and pay more attention to the ground, which indicates that they prioritize worldly matters such as the necessities of eating, drinking, sleeping, and sex.
After evolution formed a more flexible human neck and walked upright, humans learned from the sky about directions and seasons. Human talent in finding patterns is like a double-edged sword, therefore patterns that cannot be sensed because they appear over a long period are an odd thing. In short, strange omens that occur every few years such as comets, meteors, lunar eclipses, and solar eclipses are considered bad omens. Interpretations from all corners of the world differ on this matter, but the common thread remains the same, namely the arrival of a disaster soon.
This odd sign is considered a message of the disaster sent by the gods. Dis-as-ter comes from Greek which means bad star (a sign of a strange sky). For the Masai tribe in East Africa, a comet means starvation, for the Zulu tribes in the South a comet means civil war, for the Eghap tribe in the West a comet means disease, and for the Luba tribe in Zaire, a comet means the death of a tribal leader. There are still many different interpretations from all corners of the world.
The solar eclipse that has occurred in my country is also inseparable from the myths of the arrival of calamities. Asians believe a solar eclipse occurs because a mystical creature devours the sun, so people make loud noises to drive this creature away. Because it is believed that this mystical creature can poison food, drink, and even fetuses in the womb. Meanwhile, the Mesopotamians thought that the solar eclipse occurred because of human sins, so they lit candles together while praying to the gods so that the sun could shine again.
There are still many myths from all over the world that interpret the signs of a strange sky as a disaster. Therefore, it is not surprising that many cultures and religions carry out a ritual in welcoming an eclipse. Luckily, the Chinese people who were very systematic starting around 1400 BC they began to record the occurrence of these strange signs until in the end it was found that strange signs from the sky such as the appearance of comets, meteors, and eclipses were natural phenomenon that occurred every few years. Humans are hungry for the meaning that our existence must have a special meaning for the universe. Until now, humans have not stopped at the search for these natural phenomena.
Humans can predict exactly how and when these strange signs. Even these signs are no longer strange, but only ordinary natural phenomena that appear every tens or even hundreds of years. Be thankful for science that puts forward rationality so that it can answer these phenomena so that finally we no longer need to be afraid and perform unnecessary rituals to dispel myths. Today we can see freely how this rare natural phenomenon occurs while enjoying its beauty.
My country was once special in the eyes of the world because only in my country is the only area where a total solar eclipse passes. I woke up early in the morning to witness this rare natural phenomenon, armed with a piece of used X-ray paper, enjoying the beauty of the eclipse even though it was not 100%. This rare natural phenomenon gives goosebumps, and many even shed tears when witnessing this phenomenon. For those who enjoy nature, of course, this natural phenomenon is something very extraordinary and thrills the little heart.
All beings created by the Most Beautiful Being must always yearn for their origin, therefore, as a human being who is hungry for meaning when he sees beautiful phenomena, his little heart must be trembling. There are things inexplicable words that touch the little heart from the bottom. For me, these kinds of things indicate the omnipotence of God, seeing this phenomenon makes us as humans grateful for His blessings.
Islam, the religion I believe celebrates this rare phenomenon with a prayer ritual. Because prayer is a ritual to signify gratitude to the Creator. Moments like this are the right time to reflect on yourself while giving thanks and contemplating the meaning of creation and the purpose of creation. Ah, thank God for allowing this generation to have witnessed this extraordinary solar eclipse. One time, I obliged myself to approach the area where the total solar eclipse visited. Hopefully, someday it will happen.
