Mindfulness and the Dark Sky

About this time every year, I contemplate a move to the middle of a forest.  Not just because I like nature, but because I dislike harsh residential street lighting.  In the summer it’s not so bad.  The lights go on after the sun has already gone down, and the lights don’t seem so bright.  But now that the nights are long, dark and cold, these monsters are on all the time, and they are ruining my life.  And not just the lives of my fellow light-sensitive humans, but they can wreak havoc with bats, nocturnal birds,  insects, and other wildlife.

We can be accommodating creatures, we understand the need for public safety, and of course, we want an energy-efficient light source; the environment, after all, is a great concern to all of us.  But it can affect lives and migratory patterns, and it’s creating a health crisis. Besides ruining our sleep, it can also contribute to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, preventing us from seeing and admiring the night sky.

So what can we do about this?

Cities can do the following: create lighting curfews, put limits on emissions (especially on blue light), demand a reduction of glare for outdoor fixtures, and institute a ban on lasers, sky beams, and lit waterways.

As responsible citizens, we can do the following:

If the street lights interfere with your quality of life, you can call your city’s engineering department. Register a complaint with them, and ask them to put a house shield on the offending fixture. This may require several calls.  We can start turning off our exterior house lights when not in use. These lights create more light pollution than you would think. So we can turn them off and help nature restore itself. If exterior lighting is necessary, use a full cut-off fixture that eliminates uplight. By reducing the amount of light pollution, animals can start to return to their normal and instinctive behaviours, and our skies can start to clear.

This brings me to the benefits of stargazing.

• When we observe the night sky, we become part of something greater than ourselves. It allows us to connect something awesome and awe-inspiring.
• The night sky is ever-changing and can remind us that change is possible.
• It can connect us to our ancestors and history.
• Stargazing allows us to explore, fantasize, question, and search for knowledge.  The answers that can come to us while stargazing are often surprising.
• It alleviates stress.  We breathe deeper and more consistently; it brings a presence to our lives and allows us to disconnect from the busyness that rules our day.
• We connect to nature, which is important considering the Earth’s population stays inside more often due to the pandemic. Just 15 minutes of sitting in nature can help us to feel mentally and emotionally recharged.
• It gives you a feeling of solitude.  Remember, solitude is not loneliness, and it’s actually something that we as humans need (and sometimes crave).
• We get a different perspective.  We all need to shift our lens occasionally.
• And with a new perspective, creativity can spark.  Pick up a camera, start taking photos, create stories about the images you see, learn about the mythological creatures that inhabit the sky, and learn about the moon cycles, astrology, astronomy, or the tides.  It’s all connected.
• Connect with ourselves.  We are as much a part of the stars as they are a part of us.

This is all great.  An opportunity to connect and be mindful.  But is it really that easy? Yes, it can be.  You can sit in your backyard or balcony and lookup. You may or may not need extra viewing equipment.  However, if you cannot see stars because of pollution, you can visit a national park or observatory. And when you are there, it might be beneficial to share a photo of what you can see on social media.  And to ensure that future generations have an opportunity to have a dark sky to look at, you can support programs that protect public lands. For more information on how you can support the Dark Sky movement, and enjoy our night sky, visit the International Dark-Sky Association.

Go outside, look up, revel in the beauty of the night sky.

Dress appropriately (and bring along some hot chocolate).