Night of the Moonbow

Cumberland Falls, rightfully called the Niagara of the South, is a waterfall on the Cumberland River in southeastern Kentucky - Measuring approximately 68 feet tall and 125 feet wide.

(I am lucky to live only 30-minutes away)

Cumberland Falls is one of the few places in the world that regularly produces a moonbow. The “moonbow,” also called a lunar rainbow appears as long as the sky is clear, on either end of a full moon.

Lunar rainbows — moonbows — occur less than 10 percent as often as normal rainbows. Moonbows need a few additional conditions to form, which is why they're so rare. Although well known, rainbows themselves are not common — most places see fewer than six in a year.

• Cumberland Falls

The Moonbow is a rare event, some people never even live to experience such an eccentric phenomenon. I couldn't wait to see Cumberland Falls at night. I was contemplating about how eerie and haunting that it would look illuminated solely by the full moon. I absolutely relished a good, spine-chilling ghost story and I had heard several regarding the falls. I was excited and aquiver to finally begin my adventure.

Honestly, I expected to find a crowd of spectators near the water that night. I assumed that more people would be excited about this rare moment when a fascinating, radiant rainbow materialized over the second largest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. - Instead, I found myself standing all alone, peering out over the dark water, pounding and bubbling over boulders and branches with such dynamic, vivacious force.

Plumes of sweet, dark water embraced by ancient cliffs. Scented with pine and peat, the crystal, cold water rushed across a mountain shelf with tremendous motion. I heard it roaring like a raging tide over the ghostly, grey rock - thundering downward and running wild, spraying sparkling silver diamonds out into the night air.

The foam created a rainbow as it crashed in a symbolic drum roll at the bottom. I watched in astonishment, awe and wonder as the mosaic tapestry reached it's ghostly fingers high into the somber, caliginous sky.

A rainbow at the stroke of midnight - so bewitching and mysterious - so alluring and stellar - so haunting and transcendent. I was exhaustively spellbound by the natural phenomena before me.

There was something supernatural and spiritual coiling through the air. I felt rousing, stimulating stitches racing down my arms as if imaginary devils were grazing and noshing on my flesh. I closed my eyes and breathed in the ions and particles that were supercharging the air around me, a continuous flow of energy and life. I felt a moan rise up from the depths of my soul as the inconspicuous wind delicately breathed its magic through my hair.

I instantly felt as if I had been summoned, requisitioned to exist in that very moment. The world had stopped turning, impeding reality to bestow the hypnotic, seductive moment upon only me.

With my eyes wide open I watched the haunting premonition unfold. I was powerless to stop it, restrained by phantom arms - shackled by invisible fiends, yet I was not afraid. I watched myself glide effortlessly over the dripping, bathing rocks. As I arrived at the edge I observed the deleterious fall. A descend into a certain, watery tomb, still I had no fear.

Water-saturated air swaddled and blanketed me as icy beads of moisturize formed on my face. I was possessed - commanded and controlled by lunar divinities. The creators of rainbows, the givers of splendor and brilliance. Suddenly I could see all of the world's beauty. Each small bubble acting as a looking glass into the lives of all who had passed through. I could feel their happiness and sorrow. I could hear their laughter and cries. So many visions and voices were accelerating throughout my body. I closed my eyes trying to make sense of it all. Each tiny diamond rising up from the precipitating, stormy water...defining a life. In wonderment, I reached out as the diamonds adjoined and gathered into the palm of my hand.

It's quite beautiful you know, the way that each life touches the Earth, leaving a print, a memory, a story....

No matter the color of your skin, preferences, statuses, hopes and dreams - in the end we're all the exact same - a memory, a story - a star in the universe.

We each possess a little bit of magic within. Although you're just one tiny little star....you can change the whole entire world.

YOU HOLD THAT MAGIC RIGHT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND!

The voice speaking to me was warm, well known and familiar, it was my very own voice.

I watched as each tiny diamond hovered for a moment longer, then one-by-one they glided back into the water - reforming the rainbow. Such a rare, revered event, when we all come together to form something so noble and beautiful.

Suddenly the premonition ended and I was once again standing on the ledge, looking down over the dark water. Tears filled my eyes as I reached into my pocket - The damp, wrinkled note that I had authored only hours ago.

I had planned it for weeks. I knew just how rare that the moonbow was, I had totally investigated, researched into detail, and thoroughly optimised the particular time and instance - so there was nothing more to do but throw myself over the waterfall....

Something extraordinary and abnormal took ahold of me. Something so supernatural and magical as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature.

I am but a small glimmer which makes up the wondrous rainbow of life...but I can change the world (and so can you).

If we listen closely we can hear the stories of those who touched this Earth long before us. Their stories ring out through the morning songs of a bird...the bubbling of a waterfall...even in a thundering storm. Allow them to caress you through the wind...let nature possess you!