Earlier today there was an eclipse that crossed over 13 states in the US from Texas to Maine. Some saw everything clearly (or as clearly as an eclipse allows one to see everything clearly) and others had to deal with cloudy conditions that seriously affected how the eclipse was seen.
Seven years ago, in 2017, the path of the eclipse was over 7 cities in the US named Salem. In 2024, another 24 cities in the US named Salem were in the path of totality, for a total of 33. Some conspiracy theorists have tried to tie 33 cities names Salem over 2 eclipses to the age Jesus was when he was crucified. Really?
Conspiracy theorists are also going on and on about the fact that there are 7 cities named Nineveh in the path of the 2024 eclipse. Nope. There were only 2 cities with that name — one in Indiana and the other in Ohio — in the eclipse’s path. The other five — in New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Kentucky — enjoyed the effects of a partial eclipse but that still doesn’t count as a total eclipse.
Of course, they failed to mention that Carbondale and surrounding area colloquially known as Little Egypt in Illinois was also in the path of the eclipse so …. let my people go or something like that, right?
These same conspiracy theorists are claiming there have been 7 solar eclipses in the US since 1776. Um, no. Since 1776, there have been more than a dozen total solar eclipses that have affected the contiguous United States of America. Two of them were in the 21st century — back in 2017 and today. Yes, there will be a third total solar eclipse in August 2044.
There was a total solar eclipse in 1979 and before that in 1970 and before that in 1963 and before that in 1932 and in 1925 and in 1918 and in 1900. Oh, wait! That’s 7 in the 20th century. I wonder if that counts for anything with the conspiracy theorists?
Also, there were 7 years between the eclipse in 1963 and the one in 1970, and 7 years between the eclipse in 1925 and the one in 1932. How come those 2 eclipse gaps of 7 years that don’t mean anything to conspiracy theorists?
Anyway, there were more eclipses in the 1800s and the first recorded total solar eclipse in the US was in 1778. There were other eclipses before that, but before that, the United States of America wasn’t known as the United States of America so that’s a moot point. But the fact remains that there were other eclipses before 1776.
Now as to the claim that there will not be another total solar eclipse like this for another 375 years, that’s only partly correct. You see, the geometry of the Earth’s orbit and the moon’s orbit and everyone’s relationship to the sun means that every 375 years, everything that was where it was today during the solar eclipse should be in exactly the same spot in 375 years, God willing, provided something catastrophic doesn’t happen in the universe to add or subtract from that equation. But that being said, total solar eclipses happen somewhere on the planet every year or two. Those are the facts on that claim.
Anyway, conspiracy theorists are also pointing out that today’s eclipse fell on 1 Nisan 5784 with no further explanation as to why that might be significant. Most of them have no idea why they need to mention that point, so I will. 1 Nisan is the first day of the month of the Jewish New Year and represents the Exodus from Egypt. Hey, conspiracy theorists, you missed making that flawed connection between 1 Nisan 5784 and Little Egypt in Illinois. Just sayin’ …
The last big “oh no” moment being touted by conspiracy theorists is that NASA gave demon names to all the Satellites monitoring the eclipse. What those conspiracy theorists forgot to mention was that Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks could also be visible during totality and that comet is also known as the DEVIL COMET. I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
But when I went looking for those NASA satellites that conspiracy theorists claim all have demon names, no matter how hard I searched, this is what I found.
Nary a demon name to be found among those satellites unless there’s a demon name I’m unintentionally overlooking.
My point is that every time a natural phenomena takes place that conspiracy theorists are uncomfortable living through, they start pointing to the signs they claim are signs of the end times. The number 7 seems to feature prominently in their fearmongering when it suits their purposes, but is conspicuously absent when it doesn’t.
My reason for writing this blog entry is to point out that what is meant to happen will happen, with or without the fearmongering. Conspiracy theories will continue to be shared by conspiracy theorists. Those who are naïve will fall for those conspiracy theories and worry about the future when there’s no real science to those theories and nothing that can be done even if what conspiracy theorists predict come to pass.
Instead of being afraid of the future and worrying about things you can’t change, focus on what you can change and find strength and joy in the future you are creating for yourself as well as for others. All of us believe in the end times but in different ways. For atheists, the end times happen when the body expires. For spiritual people, the end times are only the beginning of something even more magnificent. For everyone in between, the end times are a reality but each of us has our own understanding of what the end times are for us as individuals.
I love watching total solar eclipses and partial solar eclipses. I love watching total lunar eclipses and partial lunar eclipses. If you love eclipses, I hope you enjoyed today’s magnificent show from the universe and the powers that be that impact the universe.
Isn’t life amazing?
Elyse Bruce
08 April 2024
Elyse Bruce 