April 8th
Solar Eclipse of April 8th, 2024
I was and still am convinced this eclipse will go down as one of the most defining events in human history. The end of an age. I wasn’t going to miss it. I was listening to a lot of Rage Against The Machine at the time, and I raged out of Los Angeles with my eyes set on the PATH OF TOTALITY.
Experiencing a total eclipse in the Path of Totality is considered one of the greatest natural phenomena one can experience. I thought it was very important for America to experience this. The collective awe brings people together. It connects you to yourself. Like the Sun and Moon perfectly aligning to remind us this very thing. But the entire path of totality was cloudy. Suspiciously cloudy.
How much do I love the path of totality?
I got totaled in Missouri during the 2017 eclipse, and it was the greatest thing I’d ever experienced. I was not missing this one and basically scouted every possible location on the path of totality. And I was LOVING Mexico clearly. They had a better chance for clear skies, so I was heading there. To a mysterious place called Zona Del Silencio.
(whispering) And I was paranoid there was some cloud seeding going on to prevent America from seeing it. As a joke at first because of the rapture fear mongering, and never entertained the cloud seeding conspiracies. But I found a shockingly large amount of evidence this could of been happening. Again, I was listening to A LOT of Rage Against The Machine at this time, which wasn’t helping.
There is HUGE difference between seeing a partial eclipse and being in the path of Totality. HUGE. Here’s Fernando Tatis Jr. to help give you an idea.
It pains me to see people having to experience something so different without realizing it. You need to barrel up like Tatis when an eclipse comes your way. You need to get TOTALED. If I was the President of the United States, I would use our military to force everyone into the path of totality. And I’d fire ALL the cloud seeders. I’d be a pretty chill President beyond that.
Anyway, so my car breaking down in Arizona would be really bad, obviously. And that is exactly what happened. It felt like the universe (and cloud seeders) were conspired against me. This is a once in a lifetime event! I planned this for decades! I was PISSED.
But wow, that rising crescent moon looked cute AF though.
Tow trucks. Headaches. I got back to LA the day before the eclipse, totally heartbroken. I entertained the idea of flying somewhere, but the entire path had clouds in the forecast. Except Maine lol.
What if I went to Maine? lol
As a joke, I looked on Delta and found 1 middle seat left for a redeye to Portland, Maine. Leaving in 3 hours.
What would Zack De La Rocha do in this situation?
April 6th I was heading the Mexico.
April 8th I was in Maine. Maine!
I only packed my camera. I rented a car from someone on the internet(long story) And was now raging north to get into the Path of Totality in time. In fucking MAINE!
I ended up in Mars Hill, Maine. I found a group of Maine Martians gathered on a solar farm, and joined the party with less than 30 minutes to set up.
And then the show began…
As the moon completely blocks out the sun, lots of weird and beautiful shit happens.
Like a 360 degree sunset.
The Pineal Gland releases a flood of the greatest drug available, Melatonin. AKA, “The Hormone of Darkness.” Which I really like saying.
Your circadian rhythm is thrown the ultimate curve ball. But it’s a hanging curveball. And you’re suddenly connected to the universe like never before.
Melatonin, the Hormone of Darkness, has access to every cell in your body. So it’s an experience you feel in every cell of your body.
It’s almost more of an inner space experience. You could call it “spiritual” and even Neil Degrasse Tyson would agree.
When it’s over you may say some bad words. Because there are none.
If this all sounds like an oversell, here’s the sound of the people reacting to the moment of totality. And my epic F-bomb.
Sometimes you need to go to Maine for Melatonin. The hormone of darkness.
Get on board.