"What star is that?" An amateur stargazer's epiphany on a dream life.

(plus a vivid 10-year vision/desire board for Tomatokind)

This morning, with a thick sunbeam filtering through the netting and cob-webs of my attic’s east-facing (only) window - onto my lap - I picked up a book I have ignored for years.

I retrieve it from its place collecting dust at the foot of my spare mattress.

It is called “The Stars: A New Way to See Them,” authored by Hans Augusto (H.A.) Rey.*

(left) “The Stars: A New Way to See Them,” by H.A. Rey by my attic window; (right) Figures depicting the old way of identifying constellations (column 1) versus the new way of identifying constellations explained in this book (column 2).

A spur-of-the-moment purchase following an enchanting night of star-gazing atop the University of California, Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science Observatory summers ago, I have barely touched the work since.

As the name suggests, it is a book about constellations; it celebrates the eternal curiosity of humans to wonder at the skies - “to breathe deeply, and look up” - and ask the question that all generations (since the beginning of time) have asked: “What star is that?”

I, too, have asked this question many times. However, my conviction to acquire the knowledge of constellations (the what, where, and why) never seem to go beyond an initial (brief) awe:

a week of camping in the woods,

a night of lounging on the rooftop of a city apartment,

an evening hike,

a scramble to witness a rare celestial event,

a peek out the window during a weepy-eyed cry session missing a loved one…

Despite experiencing the night sky every day, I rarely notice it.

When I do, though, I am always in disbelief (both at the sky’s grandeur and beauty, and at myself for having zero appreciation for this constant, breathtaking companion).

I can’t be the only one.

As I reckon - yet again - with this realization, flipping through pages of curious illustrations and stellar explanations (pun definitely intended), I have an epiphany.

Paragraph after paragraph, H.A. Rey’s words about stars reflect back to me messages about life that are clearer than the Autumn sky.

“…Go Out and Look”

“…Finding North and the Pole Star”

“…Meet the Constellations”

I begin to recognize uncanny parallels between the practice of star-gazing and my journey of crafting a creative, fulfilling life - of intentionally developing a curiosity and prowess for seeing (truly seeing) my dream future realized.

Huh? Hear me out.

10-year dream/vision board of Tomatokind’s existence in the world. What does it all mean? Read on.

Here are 5 things that star-gazing has taught me about creating my dream life: