Let's Keep Things in Perspective!

Perspective. We can use this word when we talk about art. “Picasso often painted three dimensional objects and people using a two dimensional perspective”. We use the word when voicing an opinion. “I see the situation from a different perspective than you”. Another use is to give an accurate rating of what is important and what is not. “Let's keep things in perspective!”. It is this third use of the word that I have been thinking about lately. Recently, my husband and I bought a second hand off-road camper trailer and headed north. Our travels took us through Carnarvon, the Kennedy Ranges, Mt Augustus and places in-between.

We have often driven through Carnarvon on our way elsewhere. Carnarvon was for refuelling. This time we camped there for two nights and got to know the place better. There were two extraordinary high points to our visit.

We had always noticed the giant satellite dish just before reaching Carnarvon. It is a part of Australian as well as world history and now is part of the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. This time we visited it and WOW!!! It had been recommended to us and I pass this recommendation on to all who read this. Here is a link to their website which has a virtual walk through. https://www.carnarvonmuseum.org.au/

We arrived at the museum when they opened the doors. Our first adventure was to enter a mock up of the Apollo capsule where we became the astronauts in a simulation experience. We were on our backs with legs up (viparita karani - a lovely yoga pose for those who know it!). The simulation took us through take-off, separations of the rocket burners and finally into space. We could see the earth through the little windows.

All perspective changed, both literally and mentally for me. The earth was not beneath us as is sometimes described; it was a part of vast space and we were as well. Everything was connected through the space between. Nothing was more important than anything else. Everything was part of a limitless whole.

It was a gift to realise how my personal perspective of the ego is so irrelevant. It wasn't that I felt small or insignificant. It was instead beautiful to be an equal part of something so vast and wonderful.

The simulation returned us to earth through the shudder of re-entry. I came out of the capsule with tears in my eyes. That was only the first experience in the museum. The next two hours took us back in time in rooms set up as if we were in the 1960s. We could really understand what an achievement it was to actually get to the moon and back with the technology they had then.

The second extraordinary high point of our Carnarvon stay was to visit the blow holes. They in themselves are worth the visit, but it is the beach there that amazed me. They call it the Aquarium. I didn't realise there was such good snorkelling near Carnarvon. The coral itself may not be as extensive as Coral Bay or Ningaloo, but the sea life is wonderfully colourful. Iridescent fish were everywhere. I loved the schools of glimmering little blue ones the best. We were surrounded by them at times.

Again, perspective changed for me both physically and mentally. The medium between everything was ocean this time and not the nothingness of space. Yet, the feeling of being part of a bigger whole prevailed. Maybe I felt it so strongly because of the museum visit and my thoughts of the previous day. This time it wasn't a simulation, but totally immersive in the senses. It was another WOW!!! moment.

I'd like to end with repeating the third definition of perspective given earlier. Perspective can be used to give an accurate rating of what is important and what is not. So when we see some of the things happening in the world at the moment we could pass on these words, "Please, please, let's keep things in perspective!"

How they tracked the Apollo missions from Carnarvon. The satellite is showing its age, but its significance remains astounding.