Elements of the Sun Archetype:
- the Sun is the center of everything
- the creative force, source of light and energy
- the eye of God, brings blessings, salvation, fertility
- the hero, active and youthful, who uses his authority for potential good
- the universal father/ male figure and source of energy (as opposed to the moon’s universal mother/ female energy)
- a circle that represents the cycles, it is a sort of guiding light that controls the other cycles
The Sun as the Source
“If there is nothing new under the sun, at least the sun itself is always new, always re-creating itself out of its own inexhaustible fire.” Michael Sims, Apollo’s Fire
Symbolically, all energy comes from the sun. The Sun archetype is used to represent the source of energy, of life, authority, glory and all things good.
The Spiritual Sun
“If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god.” Naopleon Bonaparte
“The sun just touched the morning;
The morning, happy thing,
Supposed that he had come to swell,
And life would be all spring.” Emily Dickinson
Spiritually the sun archetype is used to suggest a renewal of life. The sun’s rising and setting at regular intervals represents a balance between the conscious and unconscious parts of ourselves. This cycle of day and night represents the physical and spiritual parts of ourselves. The sun coming out suggests overcoming an obstacle such as a physical limitation or the freedom from mental illness.
In Christian symbolism, the Sun represents Christ, and also heaven/paradise. Sunrise is used as a symbol of the resurrection, and sunset is used as a symbol of death.
A Sun God in some form is found in almost every culture in history. Often the sun god was the most powerful of the deities. So once again power comes from the sun.
The Artistic Sun
“They can be like the sun, words. They can do for the heart what light can do for a field.” San Juan de la Cruz, The Poems of the Cross
The Sun is a powerful symbol for artists. The cycles of day and night reflect the creative process. The great reach of the sun’s rays mirrors the impact your work can have on others. As the sun is self-powered and self-generating, creatives must look at how they are responsible for developing and shaping their own talents and using their gifts to the best advantage.
The Sun as a Personal Symbol
“Your thoughts are your message to the world. Just as the rays are the messages of the Sun.” Amit Ray, Meditation: Insights and Inspiration
The Sun is a giver of warmth, light and permits life to exist. How do you provide that light in the lives of others?
The Sun is powerful and you can think of the sun when you need to be reminded of your own strength. Sometimes the sun appears to be hidden behind clouds, or seems absent because of nighttime or a temporary eclipse. But the power of the sun never truly goes away.
In ancient Rome, the winter Solstice was a celebration of the sun, since it was considered to be the rebirth of the sun. Later Christianity replaced this celebration with one celebrating the birth of Christ. The December solstice is a good time to reflect on the energy and power in your life. How can you recharge and rebirth your power?