Every morning when we wake up starts a new day. We open the windows and the light happily penetrates the roomswe look outside and everything seems to be in its place. Then a shower takes away the last shadows of the night and breakfast gives us strength to start the day.
This is how life goeslike a great clockwork mechanism that sets the conditions so that our activities can take place.
Throughout existence there is a dynamism to which we must adapta «dance» to which we are invited. But what is the strength What moves all these gears?
What would happen if the Sun stopped shining?
The answer is obvious but we do not always keep it in mind. Indeed, It is the sun that allows life and its constant transformations.
Each one of us is like a small flame lit in its moment by the great fire of the sun.
Without your presence nothing we see around would exist: neither our houses, nor water or food. There would be no days and nightsnecessary phases of activity and rest, nor the course of the seasons.
Nor something as important as the rainsince the water of the sea and the land rises thanks to the heat of the sun to then cool and fall again purified from above, as if from above. a kind of solar breathing would be treated.
Furthermore, The Earth itself and the rest of the planets have been formed by the Sun. And if the mineral represents the condensation of that solar fire, without the light that emanates photosynthesis would not occur vegetable that in turn allows the life of animals and ours.
If the sun stopped shining suddenly, almost in an instant the planet would freeze and everything would become a dark and cold desert.
The sun is a source of vital energy that should be taken advantage of. That’s why it’s good to sunbathe on the skin all year round, but better in the hours of lower intensity and without needing to stay too long.
You can also energy is captured through the optic nervelooking directly at the sun in the only times when it is possible to do so: when it is about to dawn or at twilight.
The symbolism of the Sun
The realization that life depends on the sun has not gone unnoticed by human beings since ancient times. All cultures have dedicated respect and gratitude to the king star.
In the cosmogonies and religions Solar symbolism – along with its lunar complement – is fundamental. And not necessarily in the form of a cult sun as divinity in itself, but as representation or sensitive image of the divine.
Indeed, the sun gives life (creative power) and maintains it, it’s fair («it goes out to everyone») and reaches to the last corner (omnipresence).
Rules time (without their movements with respect to the Earth there would be no clocks or calendars) and to a large extent the laws of nature (legislator).
The Sun offers warmth and mercy through its beneficent rays, but also rigor since it can burn sometimes.
Being the reflection in our world of what we could call «Cosmic intelligence»it is not strange that all religions have used his image.
Summarizing its attributes in two essential polarities: the sun is fire and light, heat and radiance, love and intelligence, one could say.
It could also be considered, following the spiritual traditions of humanity, that the physical sun is a reflection of a metaphysical sun or spiritual that transcends the cosmos. One is in the temporal future while the supreme sun shines motionless in the eternal present.
The role of the sun in each religion and culture
For the Egyptians the god Rain the shape of a solar disk and on a boat, traveled across the sky from dawn to dusk.
In India, the sun represents Atmathe universal spirit. In it Persian Zoroastrianism was emblem of Ahura Mazdathe god of light.
According to Buddhismthe sun symbolizes the light of the Dharmakaya that shines inside the human being. Identical symbolism is found in the Amida Buddha («Infinite Light»)of which the historical Buddha, Siddharta Gautama, is an earthly manifestation.
In it japanese shintoismthe goddess of the sun, Amaterasuoccupies a relevant place.
The figure of the sun is widely used by pre-columbian american cultures (Incas, Mayans, Aztecs…) or by the prairie indians («sun dance» of the Sioux).
In the Orphism of the ancient greecethe sun is the «Father of all». In addition, the celts they had it like representation of Godwhile in the Islam is named as «Eye of Allah.»
Let’s remember within Sufism the figure of Rumitheir dervishes still perform the sacred dance (Sama) today, in which the dancers spin ecstatically around themselves while moving around the teacher who remains motionless in the center, just as the planets do with respect to the Sun.
Neither does he Christianity could be foreign to this symbolism. Jesus Christ is called «Sun of the world.»
In medieval churches the entrance door is facing west, place of death (sunset), while The altar is facing east, where the sun rises (resurrection). The central nave thus resembles a boat with its bow towards the rising sun. The rose windows filter the outside light, turning it into soft musical polychrome.
In the Canticle of Creatures by Francis of Assisi, we read: «Praise be to you, my Lord; with all your creatures, especially the Lord Brother Sun, who is day and by whom you illuminate us. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor: From you, Most High, he carries significance.»
Solar analogies: the Sun as universal heart
But the oldest and most primordial symbol that represents both the sun and the divine is the ideogram formed by a circle with a center point. This figure, which still used in astrology to indicate the sun, it condenses a rich symbolism.
So, the center is the Spiritthe unit, while the circle is the Creationthe manifestation or multiplicity. the sun combines both aspects being a central focus from which light rays emerge that expand everywhere.
Although the solar quality is not only an attribute of the astronomical Sun, since can manifest itself on various levels. By analogy, it is considered that gold is a metal of solar nature since it has a golden color and is incorruptible.
Poetically and symbolically, the Incas believed that gold was «the sweat of the Sun (Inti)» and silver «the tears of the Moon», indicating their respective qualities (yang or yin in Taoist terminology).
According to the «signature» theoryalso the amber it would have solar characteristics; and, among the plants, rosemary or saffron. For its part, the lion or the eagle They would be animals ruled by the sun.
In our body, the solar organ par excellence is the heart. Well, just as the Sun is located in the center of the planetary system and distributes its light and heat, the heart distribute the blood (which carries oxygen and nutrients) throughout the body as well from a central position.
The fact that the heart is located more towards one side of the thorax would perhaps correspond to the detail that, in the elliptical orbit of the Earth, The Sun does not occupy the center but one of the two focuses of the ellipse.
Let us remember that the traditional chinese medicine consider the noon as the culminating point of circulation energy of the heart meridian, precisely when the sun hits vertically. In this sense, it would be inadvisable for a person with heart problems practice sports at those times of day (and even worse in summer, new solar exaltation).
Significantly, the homeopathic remedy gold (Aurum metallicum) is used against certain cardiovascular problems.
This journey around the sun and its meaning should not remain as something abstract, but as a possible experience.
In our society solar energy is claimed and Tanning is worshiped on the beaches. A further step would be to take into account its qualities of luminosity and centrality.
Visualizations to connect with the sun and the 4 elements
One day on the beach by the sea It could be a good opportunity to meditate on the sun and the elements of nature and their qualities:
- Sand. It corresponds to the earth element, the base on which we move or rest. We value and assimilate its solidity.
- Water. It refreshes and cleanses us. It moves, sometimes slowly, but it can also shake. We value and assimilate its fluidity.
- Air. It has a transparent nature, although it may present clouds. It may be calm or windy. We value and assimilate their clear mobility.
- Sun. It corresponds to fire, it radiates from above and generously illuminates everything. We value and assimilate its vitality.
We can also view these at any time and place, not just on the beach. same elements but from the interior space or psychic. For example:
- Land. Corresponds to physical body and vegetative functions. We value and hope that you are in balance and free of blockages.
- Water. It corresponds to the emotions. We value and wish that they are not agitatedbut may they be like clean and calm water.
- Air. It corresponds to the mind and thoughts. We value and hope that these are calm and fair, without confusion.
- Fire. Corresponds to sun or spiritual level. We value and wish your luminous warmth.
You can also do a simple practice of display to enter contact with the Inner Sun:
- With our eyes closed, we visualize that the light of that inner sun contains the qualities of all elements.
- You can imagine a radiating sphere of soft golden light in the center of the body and how it fills it with its luminosity. Or that is displayed sphere above head and how its light goes down little by little from head to toe.
- We remain calm in that feeling of fullness a few minutes, then we breathe deeply and open our eyes.
Learning to love the light
On the «periphery» of our being is where there is more problems, turmoil and suffering, while In the central part serenity and joy dominate.
The light and the heat are equivalent in psychological terms to the understanding and love. The sun teaches us both things: the importance of seeking the inner center and not staying only in the exterior; also to identify ourselves with the light.
It is said that our soul is modulated by what we see, feel and love. When someone concentrates and meditates on some object or symbol, they tend to internally acquire the qualities of that image on which their attention rests.
If we meditate or simply think about the outer Sun, somehow our inner sun appreciates that subtle communication, that attunement.
It is an easy exercise, because the solar presence is constantduring the day directly and at night reflecting on the Moon.
Goethe He wrote: «If the eye were not of a solar nature, how could we see light?» Since the eye can only capture light and not other types of energy, couldn’t it be said that the light itself has created an organ appropriate to…