There is likely a point in your life when you were alone under the night sky, and you felt its pull. You were on a roof, in a pool of water, or simply looking out a window. Regardless, you can put yourself back there because that was a moment you felt…something. That underlying buzz. Personally, I was always a window-watcher, but when the weather was right, I’d go out and bounce on the trampoline in the moonlight. As an adult, it’s harder to find time to get to that reflective place where my mind spins out into the twinkling darkness. If I can find the time to stargaze, I listen to music. Atmospheric songs like “Bulletproof” by Radiohead ignite my memories and take me back to age thirteen when my brain was more plastic and forming its own thoughts about the complexity of everything.
I’m curious–where you or are you still a stargazer? How do you get back to that place–with music? If so, what are you listening to? Does it help to inspire your writing?
Michelle Joyce Bond
michellejoycebond.com 
This is such a dreamy post. 😀
I’m forever a stargazer. I don’t think that bit of me ever left. Part of me always remains curious about this planet we live on & all that surrounds it. Guess it’s the dreamer in me.
Have you ever taken astronomy? That curiosity was so strong in me that I wound up taking two semesters of it in college, and now, I love reading nonfiction books on the subject aloud with my class. Kids eat it up. 🙂
I didn’t get to sadly but my middle school had a planetarium & that was pretty neat. Going there for science class was sort of like pre-astronomy. I miss those days.
Hey, my middle school had a planetarium, too! The instructor, who was close to retirement, was a amazing and used to like to tell us about the time she met Einstein as a girl. Ah, memories. 🙂
I was always amazed at how the stars are so much more visible in northern Michigan as opposed to southern. It’s like you can reach out and grab them. See them, be still, be humble.
That sounds beautiful–much nicer than our light polluted skies her in New Jersey. Though I can say, some of the technicolor sunsets make up for it. 🙂
P.S. That drawing is adorable.
Thank you! 🙂
I love gazing at the stars. And more than a few of my stories take place there. I love the drawing as well.
It might sound silly, but I find them endlessly inspiring. You can set a story there or one in which your characters feel small under that great expanse. It’s kind of like…a reflecting pool. 🙂
I had my first telescope when I was six. I don’t get out these days to do any viewing, but I love keeping up with what’s happening in space, and learning about the strange things we’re finding there.
I too love watching the stars – it’s that wonderful feeling of being such a small part in the universe. I have to say, though, that I’ve not been as keen as I probably should be on accompanying my husband on his recent attempts to photograph the night sky… far too much standing around in the cold while he fiddles with aperture settings. Hoping the new hobby lasts until the summer months!
Me, too because I’m sure he’ll have some wonderful results! I always liked the summer sky best. 🙂
Music is definitely a time machine for me. Nothing takes me back more quickly than a song–back to my teens, back to college, back to when my kids were babies. Our own personal Tardis. 🙂
Ha–exactly! And much like Doctor Who, we are at once the same and different than that “me” of old. 🙂
How true. I often think how intriguing it would be to go back and chat with my 17-year-old self. I guess that’s what journals are for. Too bad I never kept any. 🙂
I was six years old when I awoke in the middle of the night. My family was sound asleep. I walked outside and saw this incredible view of the night sky…all brilliant. I even saw a shooting star. And the moonlight was silver. It was a perfect moment in time. I love to stargaze still. And my music? Lately I’ve been listening to Billie Holiday. What I’m writing has nothing to do with Billie. It just puts my brain in the zone.
Beautiful! It’s cool that you can pinpoint that exact moment! Billie Holiday sounds like fun. I know I’ve heard some of her songs in the past. I’ll be looking her up. 🙂
there’s a reason I remember. About a year later major myopia hit. I couldn’t see the broadside of a barn. That night stands out as a time I saw stars as pinpoints of light…and then…wham…eyeglasses.
That stinks! I had a stigmatism since early childhood and always had huge glasses. Luckily one eye is very strong, so I can still see okay without them…but I don’t like to go too long.
I always remember you whenever i read any book and sleep with that book…!
Imaginative post as always…!
Most of my muse revolves around music in isolation and where I can roam. I’m a pacer (I creep people out if I do it in public). I’d say the rest comes from night-time driving or while showering, neither of which can safely support a laptop and both draw (unfortunately) on limited resources.
My family still thinks I’m crazy for timing 5-hour road trips down I-40 from like 10pm to 4am, but it’s serenity to me.
If ever I get a trampoline though, I’m going to try that. That sounds like a nice way to blend Creativity and Awesome in a Creatively Awesome way.
I never thought of timing night driving like that, but it sounds like a blast! I’d definitely crank up the spacey music. Must look for an opportunity to do this! 🙂
I stargazed for a while at night after everyone went to sleep, on my back in the courtyard of an orphanage I helped expand in Tijuana, Mexico in 2005. I can’t get back to that place, though I wish I could lol
That sounds like it must have been amazing! Whenever I get out of New Jersey, I try to get in a lot a sky. I’ve got stargazing in an incredibly remote are (Australian outback?) on my bucket list. 🙂
That’s some drawing.
Ha–thanks! The one big galaxy actually bothers me, but I have to save my crazy perfectionism for my writing. 🙂
I love looking at the stars, but don’t find much time to do it now. You inspire me to find the time though! Great post 🙂
Awesome–some of these clear winter nights are just amazing. 🙂
I would say I am still am a stargazer, metaphorically, if not literally.
In general, finding “that place” requires stimulus that grounds me in the present. As I get older, achieving such grounding is increasingly difficult as responsibilities and other distractions are everpresent.
Maybe it’s partially due to my hearing and tinnitus getting worse, but I need something stronger than music listening these days (it’s too passive). The most effective strategies for me appear to be running, playing music, or coding (once I can get the flow started).
It’s interesting to hear this because I notice a difference even now from when I was younger, and I’m in my late twenties. I’m sure I’ll need a combo of exercise and music ad I get older. Hmmmm…makes me think I should get back to yoga. 🙂
I listened to smooth jazz while writing my first book. It’s the only music I could listen to while writing. But in November a friend and I discovered a quaint Tibetan shop while touring the art galleries in Santa Fe. The atmosphere was so tranquil – the earthy smell, the trickling sound of water and the Tibetan healing music that played over the speakers – I thought, I want my home to feel exactly like this. So, back at home, I pulled up Tibetan music on Pandora and have listened to nothing else since. It’s heaven. 😉
Wonderful post. I love stargazing too 😀
Huh–I’m definitely trying the Tibetan music! I used to love all kinds of yoga music–great for relaxation and inspiration. 🙂