I feel gratitude for the Sun in so many ways. It makes so much possible, beginning with life on Earth itself. It enables life to exist and to grow; gives us warmth; provides us with light to see; and reminds us that we have a centre of light as the Earth orbits it. The sun also reminds us of our origins, for we and the Earth are stardust, created by a supernova that was once a sun itself, perhaps a star that someone long ago wished upon before it made us. When we treasure gold, we are really treasuring that supernova, because as a rare metal it was made in the very last few moments of a star going supernova, carrying the signature of intense light as the star’s light increased over a billion times. This is a cosmic creation story worth holding onto, for it is rich with the meaning and resonance of symbolism and metaphor. It’s amazing to be mindful that we are something bigger than our individual selves, and are in fact condensed lightâand just as we have the Sun as our outer centre of light, so too do we have our true self as our inner centre of light.
Honouring the Sun is about honouring life itself, and about honouring our true, authentic nature. Here are some interesting ways in which the sun supports your health and inspires your authenticity.
New Light on Vitamin D
When sunlight kisses your skin, its ultraviolet B rays (UVB) react with a compound in your skin to produce vitamin D3, which is then converted in the body to usable vitamin D. Why is this important? Well vitamin D has been known for a long time to support the integrity of bones by increasing calcium absorption and bone density. This relates to your sense of physical grounding or embodiment, and thus to your commitment to life. However, recent research, led by such people as Dr Michael Holick, has discovered a much wider range of health functions for Vitamin D, including immunity and the regulation of cell growth and integrityâin other words, cancer prevention.
Being intimate with the Sun, by exposing your skin to its rays, reflects and supports your commitment to life, wellness, and integrity. The self-destructiveness of a culture can therefore be reflected in the way that people spend most of their time indoors, in cars, and behind glass that filters out the necessary UVB radiation from the Sun. By isolating ourselves from the outside world, we are closing off our connection with natural lifeâthe extensions of our ecological and cosmic self.
When people do go out into the Sun, what happens? They cover up and use sun screen out of fear of skin cancer, because they have been told in a sweeping generalisation that ultraviolet radiation is dangerous. Ironically, preventing sunlight reaching the skin with sun screen may in fact make skin cancer more likely since the skin will not be producing enough Vitamin D from the Sun. Of course, being burnt by the Sun is not a good idea eitherâthis will degrade vitamin D and cause free radical damage that can lead to premature aging and cancer. Common sense is called for, which means listening to your body and being aware of its needs in the moment.
If you are in strong sunlight during summer, and are light-skinned, you may only need about 20 minutes of exposure to the Sun a day to produce the optimum levels of vitamin D. If you are dark-skinned, you may need anything up to an hour or two of Sun exposure. Being mindful of your skin’s response to the Sun is essential for judging the length of your exposure. The moment that your skin starts to get even slightly pink is an indicator that your exposure is enough.
The Sun and Mood
The Sun has long been associated with happiness. Children often draw the Sun with a smiley face. This is because the Sun connects us with life and gives us warmth and light. It is also because, when the Sun’s rays kiss our skin, they trigger the release of endorphins within usâthe feelgood hormones that are as powerful as morphine for pain relief. This shows our body’s natural instinct to be outdoors in nature and intimate with the Sun. Endorphins also regulate our immune system, binding onto immune cells and protecting our health and physical integrity.
The Winter Blues, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), occurs when we do not get enough sunlightâtypically in winter when sunlight is weaker and more scarce (especially for those far from the equator). This is because sunlight triggers the release of another feelgood hormone in our bodies called serotoninâan anti-depressant, and signals us to become awake and active by turning down the release of sleep-inducing melatonin. When we don’t get enough sunlight we become sad or depressed. Winter’s message, therefore, is for us to value our connection with the Sun. It is a time to honour our life force, particularly as we look around and see the loss of leaves and nature in a dormant state.
The Bigger Picture
All of the above highlight how the activity of the Sun upon us orchestrates many biological actions that connect us with nature and the cosmosâour greater self. The Sun acts like a tuning fork, inspiring us to be present and embodied, and connected with life. It inspires authentic living and is a great teacher, showing us the cost to our health and societies when we close ourselves off from the Sun behind walls, doors, and glass. When we shut ourselves off from intimacy with nature and the cosmos, our health suffers. Our health is therefore a great barometer of our authenticity.
When we embody our true self, and honour our connectedness with all things, we free ourselves from suffering and pave the way for healing and self-realisation. The Sun is a beacon for this enlightenment, literally and symbolically. With mindfulness, can we shine the light of awareness onto our unconscious patterns and make them conscious? The Sun also teaches us the way of warmth. Can our heart express the joy and love of life, and the compassion that wishes the same for others?
To learn more about integrating mindfulness and authenticity into your life, book a Guidance Call with me.
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