Thursday 1 November 2012

Gratitude Day 2 - Sun

Today I am grateful for the sun. As I was hanging out my washing and the warmth of the sun was caressing my skin and warming my very soul, I felt immense gratitude and love of all that is.

Gaia - mother earth is abundant and ripe with fertility of flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables because of the nurture they receive from the life force of the sun. Spring is such a happy time of year the sun itself smiles down on us.

The sun was shining through the Devils Marbles early this year when we visited.
"Plants cry their gratitude for the sun in green joy." - Terri Guillemets.
This is such a beautiful sentence and so true.

Participating in the dance of life with senses that perceive has been one of the best things in my growth over the years. Once I would have not noticed something so small at the time as sun on my shoulder and how that made me feel. However I now notices these things and they seem huge and important at this stage in my life - I think this change came about with the loss of life for a few friends whilst they were young and my gratitude to be able to have these experiences.  It is one of the things that we can feel with more than one of our senses we can see the joy of the sun, we can feel it upon our skin, depending on the amount of heat if it is really hot as it was on the day at the Devils Marbles (above) you can smell it in the air. Bringing all these senses to alert when we just stand still has been one of the many blessings I have received and nurture deeply.

Apollo rides his fiery chariot across the sky bring life giving light to the plant. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that Apollo was the god of medicine and healing as well as of sun and light, he could bring sickness as well as cure.

Looking at this more closely we know that the sun dispatches its warm glow of yellow light rays everyday, bringing health, vitality, light and warmth. Whilst avoiding the harsher elements of direct sunlight is not only wise but essential, avoiding it all together and not getting any sunlight is even more problematic.

My husband had a Stage 2 melanoma cut from his forearm two years ago so I am more than aware of the damage that sun exposure can do and the necessity to take steps to ensure that we do not get burnt or are exposed to the sun for too lengthier time frames.

The sun does benefit us in a number of ways.

Maintaining core body temperatures facilitate increased cell function and higher energy levels, this increases detoxification and purification systems function within the body. It also increases cortisol levels during the day which gives relaxation and deeper sleep during the night.

Apart from core temperature levels being maintained sunlight plays a significant role in nourishing and energising the body. Full nutritional value from the foods we eat can not be obtained without it.

It aids in the prevention of chronic ailments such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), mental depression, type 2 diabetes and cancers affecting the bladder, breasts. cervix. colon, ovaries, prostrate and the stomach.

As plants photosynthesise nutrients from the sun our bodies own photosynthetic activities to take place as well. Vitamin D is needed to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. By helping to absorb calcium it helps maintain strong bones and teeth. It also prevents rickets in children and osteoporosis and osteomalacia in adults. It also is important for healthy immune function, nervous function and general good health.

Overall  it has a magical power to make us feel better, improve our mood and prevent or lessen anxiety and depression. Just think if you go outside into the sunshine the day is smiling on you and you are not able to feel as unhappy as you were.

The vital factor to ensure healthy assistance from the sun and not suffer any ill effects is to limit your exposure to 20 minutes on arms, hands. face and legs this will produce about 400 IU of vitamin D.

So if you are feeling down the greatest gift you can give to yourself is to get up and go outside and enjoy the sunshine, I encourage everyone to do this daily but especially when life seems a little more of a struggle.

Today I am also grateful for the flowers and plants that thrive in the spring weather, as I glance out my window I am greeted by the first leaves on the frangipani tree, pink flowers on the geranium, the blooms on the lavender, white daisies and other purple flowers I do not know the name of. You don't have to be a great gardener to enjoy the luscious sights of the plants. Just take a real hard look and notice the different greens in only a couple of plants  the different surfaces of the leaves, the scents, the flowers. You could loose yourself completely if you have some time to spare.

Photo Source Path to Truths Photos








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