The Moon — A Voyage Beyond Wallets and Wishes

The Moon — A Voyage Beyond Wallets and Wishes

How much would I pay to go to the Moon?
That’s not a question of currency, but of consciousness. Having spent my life amidst classrooms, laboratories, and corridors of thought, I’ve learnt that the worth of a journey lies not in its cost but in its cause. To me, the Moon is not merely a destination — it is an emotion, a reflection of humanity’s endless yearning to rise above itself.

The educator in me recalls how every chapter of scientific discovery has been guided by wonder. From the days of Galileo’s lens to the marvel of Neil Armstrong’s leap, the Moon has stood as a symbol of human curiosity. I remember narrating to my students how that one small step united the world — not through technology alone, but through hope. It wasn’t just a triumph of physics; it was the victory of faith in the human spirit.

If I could, I would go not to explore its craters but to listen to its silence — to feel the pulse of time etched on its ancient dust. The Moon, after all, has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth of philosophies, and the evolution of love itself. Its silver glow has comforted lonely poets and inspired mighty kings. In Indian culture, it is Chandra Dev, the cool mind that soothes the fiery soul — while in Western lore, it is Selene, the radiant goddess who commands the night. Across centuries, it has been both myth and muse — a symbol of renewal and rhythm, of calmness amidst chaos.

Would I pay a fortune to set foot on it? Perhaps not in money, but in memory. I would pay with my gratitude to every teacher, thinker, and dreamer who dared to believe in the impossible. I would pay with the humility of realising that even from such a distance, Earth looks like one — without borders, without hate, without greed.

Standing there, I would not see myself as a traveller, but as a pilgrim — seeking meaning in the infinite silence. The Moon would remind me that while science takes us outward, philosophy draws us inward. That the true journey is not about reaching another world, but rediscovering our own.

The Moon’s heritage, both cultural and cosmic, ties us together. From Kalidasa’s verses describing her as “the cool light on the brow of night,” to Shakespeare’s musings on her fickle beauty, she continues to weave her magic across time and tongues. Even as technology dreams of colonies on her surface, poets still dream of her in verses of love. That, perhaps, is the true balance between progress and poetry — the mind that reaches out and the heart that reflects within.

So, how much would I pay to go to the Moon? Everything — except my sense of wonder. Because wonder, not wealth, is what fuels our greatest journeys.

O Moon, the silent face of dreams,
Where time dissolves in silver streams,
I’d pay with thought, not gold nor gain,
To walk thy peace, away from pain.

You’ve watched our wars, our tears, our art,
You’ve known the rhythm of the heart,
If I could reach your tranquil shore,
I’d seek not more — but meaning more.

For when I gaze upon your glow,
I find how small our egos grow,
And whisper soft, in cosmic tune —
The soul of man still seeks the Moon.