Sunshine

There’s a balance between all things in nature. Sunlight is needed so prominently for growth, death, construction, destruction. Plants wouldn’t survive without the sun for photosynthesis, and yet last summer’s heatwave killed many gardens, crops, and vegetation. Humans need vitamin D (from some natural sources as well as vitamins) to maintain health, but too much time in the sun can cause sunburn, heatstroke, and in extreme cases, skin cancer.

I’m a bit intimidated by the sun. We depend on it so much for so many areas in life – heat, energy production (solar and thermal energy), growth – that if it simply upped and left, we would die. Granted, that hopefully won’t happen for a while.

The sun is a powerful entity. Like the moon and other planets, it’s widely recognized in spirituality and religions worldwide as a significant inventor and creator of life. Looking into (or away from) its bright beams brings a sense of smallness in a vast universe. Sitting in spring sunshine after a long, cold winter feels rejuvenating and cleansing. Our lives are largely dominated by this magnificent star.

Winter, especially in BC, can have a smothering, suffocating effect. Clouds trail their edges along mountains and roads, and white fog sets in anywhere it fits. Many people live with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD, also called the “winter blues”) and feel like they’re being blanketed in relentless, persistent cloud. But when the sun burns through the webs of winter and presents its light on our faces, it’s a reminder that spring is coming, and there always must be a balance of cold and warmth, sun and cloud, light and dark. We are in perfect synchronicity.

I hope this blog brings some sunshine into your day.