“God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night. And the stars.” Genesis 1:16

We’ve been exploring myth and symbol in relation to each of the planets, I’m delighted to share three images that caught my interest as I worked with the archetypal energy of the sun, the center of our solar system. I hope these personal reflections will spark your own unique and creative process of exploration as you relate to the royal, fiery light of the Spirit manifest.

I’m first drawn to the image of Helios – Titan god of the Sun. He drives his golden chariot each morning across the sky drawn by four fire-breathing, winged, white horses. Our ancestors didn’t yet know that we were the ones moving on a rotating earth orbiting the sun once every 365 days at a speed of 67,000 miles per hour. The sun moves, too, but very slowly as part of a rotation of the entire Milky Way galaxy once every 225 million years! Helios the Sun, “puts on his diadem of myriad rays.” His voice says within me says, “I wear a crown of sunbeams” (we bear some of God’s light.)

It’s interesting that the sun, so symbolic of vitality and power, has also been associated with healing and freedom from disease. Helios carries a healing salve. In ages past, nurses would wheel their patients out into the sunlight to get well. I’m reminded of being a wounded healer. In the Hebrew Scriptures we read, ” But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice will arise with healing in its wings; and you will go out leaping like calves from the stall”. Malachi 3:20. This image has been considered allegorical and applied to Christ. I spent some quiet time with a prayer from the Divine Office: ” … Let the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ, shine forever in our hearts and draw us to that light where you live in radiant glory.”

Just as the sun rejuvenates us with its light, may your heart radiate love to everyone.

Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun also has a chariot with seven white horses (representing the seven days of the week. It may not seem like it but the sun is out every day.) The sun salutation pose in yoga comes from worship of Surya. My back isn’t supple enough to do the bends, but I can do the upward salute with the arms. Surya carries symbols of solar energy – a wheel, conch shell, and lotus. In Buddhism, conch shells that are right-spiraling signify the celestial motion of the sun and planets across our heavens. In Egyptology the lotus, emerging from the water each day to bloom anew, symbolizes the sun and creation. The wheel – ah! a most ancient solar symbol.

How do you carry solar energy each day? Are you shining bright and bold?

I was fascinated to read of Amaterasu, the Japanese Shinto Goddess of the Sun.

Her name means “the great goddess who shines in the heavens.” She is an archer and a weaver. In Japanese myth, when frustrated by the rampages of her brother who killed one of her attendants, she hid in a heavenly rock cave. Suddenly, the gods had no light! The world became dark. They conferred and in an attempt to entice her out again, began a raucous party outside the cave. Uzume even did a striptease dance. The music played wildly. The gods placed a large mirror at the cave’s entrance. Hearing the music and laughter, out of curiosity, Amaterasu looked outside. She was so fascinated by her own shining reflection that she came out. Light once more!

This is evocative of life and joy after dark times. I know it in my own story and in my heart as I contemplate Christ, the Light of the World, entombed… and then the stone rolled back! Consider ancient people banging drums against the evil spirits who would take away the earth’s light at the time of an eclipse. The sun becomes stronger and warmer after the winter solstice. Everything in the dark will be known in the light.

Amaterasu is said to bless everyone indiscriminately with serene light. She brought great harmony to heaven and earth. She was also seen as goddess of the universe. I say to myself, “May I, O God, Beautiful and Wise, bring some little harmony to the earth on which I dwell. May I know joy in the serenity of your peace.”

I ponder what’s entombed within me in the dark womb of some growth to come. With the sun’s light there’s always a shadow. Am I conscious of times of pride, arrogance or boasting in place of a royal, confident spirit? What needs to come out into the light? Your prayers are like the music that enticed Amaterasu. They encourage me forward to shine a little brighter.

How can I not share a quote from Rumi? I want your sun to reach my raindrops, so your heat can raise my soul up like a cloud.

The Emperor of Japan was said to be Amaterasu’s direct descendant. Her sacred mirror represents truth, wisdom and honesty. There are three relics of it in different Shinto shrines as part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. Here is an image of priests before a relic of the mirror.

Sacred Shinto dance is said to have begun when Amaterasu came out of the cave. I found a three-minute You Tube Video – a Shinto performance of Ama-No-Iwato-Kagura – that encapsulates in a few movements the story of Amaterasu. Notice there is no Hollywood fanfare or blinding light when she emerges from the cave. I was touched to see her walk so humbly, serene in her human form. Humility that I pray will deepen in my own life. 

May the love of God illumine our hearts in our deepest selves.

“For a sun and shield is the Lord God, bestowing all grace and glory.” Psalm 84:12

Signing off for now with love, wishing you radiant peace.

Mary Catherine