The mission was something the world's population have been needing, to remind us of how deeply we've become engrossed in our petty systemic bickering and violence toward one another, and how much we've forgotten who we really are on what Carl Sagan called, "a pale blue dot".
Out here in the vast universe, our existence is something to behold. We can choose to live in awe or we can bury our heads in the sand of chaos and never look up until our last breath, when we may find ourselves wondering what we missed.
When stress is part of our everyday lives we may not look up at the sky for days, weeks or even months until some spectacular sunrise or sunset catches our eye, or we find ourselves outside under a star-filled sky on some wonderful summer's evening and are reminded of what Victor Glover described as this "oasis" called Earth, floating out in space.
Mindfulness practices help us come back to just what is happening right this minute. The heartbeat, sounds, the feel of the temperature, the taste of things, the smell of things, and what the glorious human eye is seeing. Even if it sees darkness.
The difference between humans that are going through this one precious life asleep and those going through it awake, is that those who are awake, are aware. It's the difference between being on this planet and functioning, and being on this planet and functioning while fully "aware" that one is on this planet and functioning.
The crew of Artemis II were probably four of the most aware human beings on and off the planet recently. Literally thrust into awareness by the strike of the universal Zen Master's stick, who called them to the full attention of reality. On return they expressed their awe and heightened view of the oneness of who we all are. Reminding us that our imaginary borders are in the way of our attempts to wake up, and they can't be seen from the vastness of space.
Does that mean that our everyday battles and hardships are not real? No, but it does mean that waking up is important. Staying mindful matters. Not getting lost in this chaotic world so much that you forget who you are and what you are a part of.
Mindfulness practices are not just a fad. They are a practice and a discovery that can benefit you and your relationships, as well as your community, country and the planet. It's about the hope that as many people as possible, on this pale blue dot, will be both awake and aware. In this way the Earth and the living things that make it what it is, will be a system of self-care and not one of self-destruction.
"It's a special thing to be a human and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth." Reid Wiseman (Artemis II Mission Commander).
Thanks to NASA for the great image from the Orion spacecraft 2026
