Stardust and starlight

Hari Aum.

 

Om Namo Narayanaya. 

I recently visited a science museum with some of my relatives and saw an amazing virtual reality show about our cosmos. It was based on real astronomical data gathered from various observatories. It made one feel as though one was walking through space, seeing stars, planets, galaxies and even black holes.

It was magical. Breathtaking. Absolutely stunning.

(My favourite childhood memories include visiting the local planetarium to watch shows about the stars. They are so beautiful. But this was even more special due to the virtual reality aspect —we were not sitting looking up at the stars; we were walking among them!).

As this science show explained, we are all literally made of star stuff. We are all physically made of stardust or cosmic dust.

As many of you will know, the nebulae (which are the ‘nurseries’ where stars are born) are filled with gas and materials that create not only stars, but also their surrounding planets and the beings that live on them.

We are, therefore, literally born of the stars (physically). The materials in our bodies are ancient, made of recycled matter (that existed in the soil, and in the plants and other substances we eat). 

When a star dies, it may form a supernova which leads to an enormous explosion that scatters starry material over vast distances in space— this material is used for the creation of new stars (and their associated planets).

At the end of the show, my relatives and I felt a sense of extraordinary wonder, of awe, of joy, a thrill — at living in such a cosmos. 

How vast is the cosmos. How small is our Earth. And, how tiny and microscopic are we in the grand scheme of things.

Yet, our little Earth is very unique. It is described as being in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ in the cosmos— a spot at just the right distance from a star, our Sun, which leads to a temperature that sustains life as we know it here (not-too-hot and not-too-cold).

So, today, as we go about our daily routines, let us take a moment to remember that we are, all of us, made of stardust. Born from the stars, we were made to reach the stars. Not just the light of the physical stars (in terms of space travel in the future) but the the light within—but very importantly, reach our inner light, the light of awakened consciousness.

Each of us is truly a little light in our ourselves, a little spark of the great lights in the sky above us— physically. And in terms of our consciousness, we are a little spark of the great Light, that immense power that created this immeasurably vast universe and ourselves.

It is easy to forget this truth in the midst our busy daily lives— but when we look up at the night sky, glowing with stars, we can remind ourselves of this wonderful truth. 

We are very fortunate to be here. On our own little Goldilocks planet, our Earth, having the opportunity to live our lives, spending time with our loved ones, and reaching out for the ultimate star—the Divine that created us all. 

So, let us take care of this Earth, our shared home. It is so beautiful, so very precious. And, let us chant a little mantra daily for peace within and without. The mantra is our guiding light; a representation of our inner star, our inner light. Let this light shine bright in our lives.

Om Parameshvaraya Namah. 

Om Namo Narayanaya 

P.S. After watching this stunning show on the cosmos, I purchased a simple, portable handheld telescope and am excited about doing some more star gazing. Many of our neighbouring planets (e.g. Venus, Mars) are visible in the night sky with the naked eye. I am hoping to get a slightly better view with my mini-telescope. 

P.P.S. We are all made of star stuff. In the world of spirituality and twin souls in particular, it is said that some of us are also ‘starseeds’—beings who lived in other worlds in the past (it is likely that many of us on this Earth have lived elsewhere before we were born here, especially as the cosmos is vast, and we have been born many times).

Starseeds are said to be one type of being who are interested in spiritual growth (their own and encouraging that of others). This is some further information on star seeds: https://www.yourtango.com/self/things-feel-true-might-be-starseed-soul-originated-from-another-world

I’d never heard of starseeds until a couple of years ago when I realised that I was on a twin soul spiritual journey. I have had dreams of the stars on a few occasions (often for no particular reason), specifically the constellation Orion (this is one of the constellations associated with star seeds). In some of these dreams, my twin soul was also present. 

Based on the description of starseeds associated with Orion, and certain features of my life (including dreams, distinctive birthmarks, and other life experiences), I feel it is a possibility that my twin soul and I are starseeds connected with this constellation.

And one specific task of Orion starseeds is to recognise the connection between science and spirituality—something which I’ve discussed in previous posts and will continue to write about (as a spiritual seeker and practicing doctor). 

I may write more about this topic of starseeds and their spiritual journey later (Pradnya, the twin soul I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this blog, has also shared some information on this subject online).

Hari Aum Tat Sat.