The Heavenly Canvas

Many say, the world is a stage, and we are all actors. We play a definite role assigned to us for a particular period. Then we will have to leave the stage. Sure, the world is a stage. What about the sky? The sky is a canvas, especially at night. What we call as sky is an optical illusion. There is no
such thing. We just feel it’s presence. The air particles, scatter light to create an image, that we call sky.

This sky has fascinated scientists and poets. The night sky is a beautiful thing, especially on a starry night. Thousands of stars lit up the sky. Millions of light years away, the stars that beautify our sky may be the energy source of some planets. Our own moon and the stars create a celestial spectacle,
that fills our minds with eternal joy.

The stars are not only celestial beauty spots, but were once navigational aids. In the past, when sun was the datum for time measurement, stars were used to estimate time at night. This was especially useful for navigators. In the sea, stars showed them the right direction. It may be for this purpose, that our ancestors named stars and identified patterns of stars called constellations. Whether in sea, or in desert, sky helped them travel at night. Moon provided light and stars showed the direction and time.

Many stars can be grouped together to form a fictitious pattern on the sky. Such groups are called ‘constellations’. There are several constellations. Some famous and prominent ones are: The Big Bear, The Hunter, Virgo, Scorpion, Pisces etc. The star signs are adapted from these astronomical
miracles. Take a closer look at these star clusters. You can make out definite shapes from them. One classical example is the Hunter constellation. The brain that drew the shape of a hunter from a group of stars deserves special applause. The belt and the knife that hangs from it are simply marvelous piece of imagination. Kudos to you, unknown astronomer.

But, are these images formed by chance? Or, are they some messages that need to be deciphered? Like in the movie ‘Signs’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan, are these some heavenly signs? From the beginning of mankind, these signs were above us. We have spend many sleepless nights trying
to figure out what they are and their behavior. We have succeeded to some extend in exploring their behavior and making use of them to help better our lives. But we still have to analyze them in this perspective. Are they showing us something? Are they trying to give us some divine message? Or
eternal knowledge? Thinkers have tried to decipher them for centuries. Science have tried to find the anatomy of stars, rather than analyzing their miraculous pattern.

Sky is the canvas that has showed us direction and time through the millennia. We are yet to explore the underlying pattern in the sky. It may hold the key for a happy, peaceful life, not only for human beings, but also for our fellow beings as well. As I’ve stated earlier, the world is a stage and
we are all mere actors. Maybe, the screenplays of our lives are written in the heavenly canvas that lies above us.