It would be remiss of me not to mention the Lunar Eclipse that is occurring at this very moment. The moon will be fully eclipsed at 5.44 p.m. EST, a state of affairs that will continue for an hour.
For those fortunate enough to witness the event, there is a peculiarity of this particular eclipse that will cause the moon to take on a dark red hue, a true 'Blood Moon.'
Unfortunately, there is absolutely no sign of any lunar presence, seen or unseen, in this late afternoon sky. The sun is casting its reflection into every window, creating a multitude of tiny solar images... but the moon either is concealed behind a building or is otherwise beyond our vision at present.
I shall be obliged to content myself with a photograph from Canada of a lunar eclipse from the past. I imagine this is what I would see if it were true night here.
In most cultures, an eclipse of any sort is considered to be an event of magic and power, whether for good or ill. Special prayers and rituals developed for times when the sun or moon was hidden from view. In some traditions, it would be said that the Sun had swallowed the Moon and magical rituals would be performed.
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