The symbolism of the Sun and our deep connection with it

Every morning when we get up start a new day. We open the windows and the light happily enters the rooms, we look outside and everything seems to be in its place. Then a shower washes 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 for our activities to take place.

Throughout existence there is a dynamism to which we must adapt, a “dance” to which we are invited. But what is the force What moves all these gears?

What would happen if the Sun stopped shining?

The answer is obvious but we don’t 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 ignited at the time 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.

Not something as important as The rainsince the water of the sea and of the earth rises thanks to the heat of the sun to cool down later and return to fall purified from the height, as if from a kind of solar breath it was treated

Even more, the same Earth and the rest of the planets have been formed by the Sun. And if the mineral supposes the condensation of that solar fire, without the light that emanates photosynthesis would not occur plant 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 which 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 less intensity and without having to stay too long.

also can energy is captured through the optic nervelooking directly at the sun at 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 humans from the remotest antiquity. All cultures have dedicated respect and gratitude to the star king.

In the cosmogonies and religions Solar symbolism –along with its lunar complement– is essential. And not necessarily in the form of a cult of sun as divinity in itself, but as representation or sensitive image of the divine.

Indeed, the sun gives life (creative power) and keeps it, it’s fair (“goes out to everyone”) and reaches to the last corner (omnipresence).

rule the 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).

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.

Summing up its attributes in two essential polarities: the sun is fire and light, heat and radiance, love and intelligence, one might 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 becoming while the supreme sun shines still in the eternal present.

The role of the sun in every religion and culture

For the Egyptians the god Rain the form of a solar disk and on a boat, traveled the sky from dawn to sunset.

In India, the sun represents Atma., the 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 within the human being. Identical symbolism we find in the Amida Buddha (“Infinite Light”)of which the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, is an earthly manifestation.

In it japanese shintothe goddess of the sun, Amaterasuoccupies an important 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, Celts they had it as representation of godWhile in the Islam it 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 on themselves while moving around the teacher who remains motionless in the center, just as the planets do with respect to the Sun.

Neither the Christianity could be oblivious to this symbolism. Jesus Christ is called “Sun of the world”.

in medieval churches the entrance door is oriented towards the west, place of death (sunset), while the altar is facing east, where the sun rises (resurrection). The central nave thus resembles a boat with the bow towards the rising sun. The rose windows filter the outside light, turning it into a soft musical polychromy.

In the Canticle of the creatures by Francisco de Asís, we read: “Praised be, my Lord; with all your creatures, especially the Lord brother Sun, who is day and by whom you shine on us. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor : From you, Most High, it 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 Spiritunity, while the circle is creation, the manifestation or multiplicity. Sun unites both aspects as it is a central focus from which light rays come out and spread 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.

In a poetic and symbolic way, 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 theory of “signatures”He too amber would have solar characteristics; and among the plants rosemary or saffron. For his part, the lion or the eagle they would be animals governed by the sun.

in our body, The solar organ par excellence is the heart.. For just as the Sun is located at the center of the planetary system and distributes its light and heat, the heart spread the blood (carrying oxygen and nutrients) throughout the body as well from a central position.

The fact that the heart is located more to 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 foci of the ellipse.

Let us remember that the Chinese traditional medicine consider the noon as the highlight of the circulation energy of the meridian of the heart, just when the sun falls vertically. In this sense, it would be inadvisable for a person with heart problems practice sports at those hours of the day (and even worse in summer, new solar exaltation).

Significantly, the homeopathic remedy gold (Aurum metallicum) 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. One more step would be to take into account their qualities of lightness and centrality.

Visualizations to connect with the sun and the 4 elements

One day on the beach by the sea 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 can also be agitated. We value and assimilate your fluency.Air. It has a transparent nature, although it may present clouds. It can be calm or windy. We value and assimilate its diaphanous mobility.Sun. It corresponds to the fire, radiates from above and generously illuminates everything. We value and assimilate its vitality.

We can also view these at any time and place, not only on the beach. same elements but from the interior space or psychic. For example:

Land. It corresponds to physical body and vegetative functions. We value and want you to be in balanced and free from blockages.Water. Corresponds to emotions. We value and desire they are not agitatedbut that they be like clean and calm water.Air. corresponds to the mind and thoughts. We value and want these to be calm and fair, without confusion.Fire. It corresponds to sun or spirit level. We value and want your luminous warmth.

You can also perform 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 radiant sphere of soft golden light in the center of the body and how it fills it with its luminosity. Either that is displayed sphere on the head and how its light go down little by little from head to toe. We remain Calm in that feeling of fullness a few minutes, then we take a deep breath and open our eyes.

Learning to love the light

It is on the “periphery” of our being that there is more trouble, turmoil and suffering, while in the central part dominates serenity and joy.

light and heat equivalent in psychological terms to the understanding and love. The sun teaches us both things: the importance of looking for the inner center and not staying only on the outside; Also to identify with the light.

People say that our soul is modulated by what we see, feel and love. When someone concentrates and meditates on some object or symbol, he tends to internally acquire the qualities of that image on which attention stops.

If we meditate or simply think about the outer Sun, somehow our inner sun appreciates that subtle communication, that harmony.

It is an easy exercise 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, could it not be said that the light itself has created an organ appropriate to its nature? For only like knows like. Surely We love light because our nature…