Welcoming the rejuvenating power of the sun
Spring is a heart expanding wellness season! There’s the glorious cacophony of green from sprouting trees, bushes, and grasses. The return of colour in the patch of spring flowers pushing up from the sun-kissed earth. The melody of chirps from fair weather birds and the tinkle of wind chimes that have been hung back up after a long winter hiatus. Not to mention the longer sunlight hours and the gentle warming of Mother Earth.
My father once told me I’m solar powered and I, like many of you, find energy, purpose and joy soaking in the rays of the sun.
I recently returned from Peru where I was blessed to visit Machu Picchu; a 5th-century UNESCO world heritage site located on a 2,430-meter mountain ridge nestled between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin. Breathtaking does not even come close to the awe and wonder you feel when you first take in the view. The Incan people referred to themselves as “children of the sun” and there are many temples and observatories dedicated to Inti (the sun) where on the summer and winter equinoxes an other-worldly play of light and shadow honours the power of the sun. Many who visit Machu Picchu go for sunrise so they can witness the incredible dance of sunlight on mountain, stone, and structure.
The Incas and other Indigenous peoples knew they were dependent on the sun for survival. The sun was necessary for warmth, to grow food, but also to open and expand their hearts. It was believed that the sun was a reflection of Source or God, one’s true nature. Many ancient Incan ceremonies honoured the sun within and without. Think about how you feel when you stop, close your eyes and take a deep breath on a warm spring day. Do you notice your body relax? Do you feel a sense of joy, contentment? When you are outside in the garden with the sun warming your back, and your hands covered in dirt, do you feel a greater sense of connection? Do your thoughts slow? Are you more present? If you have felt any of these sensations then you are cultivating connection with your heart.
We live in a world that places great significance on our minds, our thoughts, our education, our achievements. We are conditioned to be “talking heads” disconnected from our hearts and bodies which can manifest as anxiety, addiction, or physical imbalances. In my life, ignoring the whispers of my heart lead me down a path of anxiety and addiction. It was my heart that helped me recover.
It has been said that the longest journey you will make in life is from your head to your heart. I couldn’t agree more. The language of the heart is subtle. Quiet. You need to be still and listen deeply within. Our culture isn’t really set up for quiet reflection but nature is ripe with opportunity for heart connection. Take a moment to breath deeply with the sun, or walk barefoot on the earth. Enjoy a quiet walk in the forest and notice how it changes you. These simple strategies repeated will forge a pathway to your heart and free your mind. The Incas built inspiring temples to honour the sun. We can walk outside, open our hearts and build a temple within.
I look forward to seeing you at the Community Healing Collective Wellness Day at Creemore Station on the Green from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, a no-cost event to connect our community in health.
Nicole Hambleton is a wellness coach, meditation, and energy medicine practitioner living in Mulmur. Follow her on Instagram@purpletentwellness.
