The End of Night and Counting Stars

Winter Solstice, Carol Connor

The End of Night and Counting Stars

The milky way. The dark of night. Two nocturnal occurrences that after eons, are becoming exceedingly rare to see. Why is it that as astrology becomes more mainstream, fewer people can see the sky, the actual stars and planets that affect earthly energies?

I've thought a fair amount about how most of the industrialized world can't see the night sky. The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by
Paul Bogard, addresses this and much more.

This is an important book that reads as a beautifully written novel, studded with memorable quotes, offering solutions and avenues for awareness and raising questions, such as:

-Will the sky be visible to future generations as lighting throughout the earth increases?

-How is light pollution defined and regulated? What are our rights, in keeping one of the natural wonders, the night sky, in view? What mitigation can be done?

-How has knowing the dark shaped past cultures? How will the loss of it affect the future? How is it affecting the present?

This is a must-read for those of us concerned with the welfare of our planet! The impact of the loss of darkness on all species[yes, including humans] is sobering. It is time to re-connect to the stunning beauty of the universe, to remember to look up, to notice what you see or can't see, paying attention to what phase the moon is in. There is nothing like looking at stars and planets, if you are able to see them, as a reminder that we are simultaneously insignificant and connected to everything, a part of the mystery of it all. Scary, to know that this is being lost.
For more about the book:
 http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Bogard/e/B009SOX16E


“Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said, no more counting dollars
We'll be, we'll be, counting stars”

      -OneRepublic, Counting Stars
 to see their video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg&feature=kp