For as long as I can remember, I have always been amazed by the beauty of a sunrise, as well as a sunset. As a little boy, I would stand still for minutes contemplating the gradual shades and colors imprinted on this huge canvas, we call sky. At times, I would even cry of astonishment and over joy from seeing such memorable spectacles. It was amazing to feel my heart expanding, and just for a moment, forget about my surroundings and enjoy the present memorable spectacle.
Even though there is a scientific and logical explanation for why and how these visual effects manifest in our sky, I can’t stop considering them a divine gift and reminder of who we are and where we come from. They represent a constant opportunity to reconnect with our true essence and divine nature. They can be an easy way to meditate and reconnect; and a constant possibility to elevate our vibration.
Looking at the horizon, contemplating one of these manifestations, I would wonder, on and on, about different scenarios and visualizations. Sometimes I would imagine myself standing in different parts of the city, trying to define how different the view would be depending on which neighborhood I would be standing in… how much would the panoramic view change if seen from another angle and perspective? Other times, I would visualize all the people that could be connected in that specific time, all admiring the same sun and composition of the sky. . If we expand this idea beyond one community and move through an imaginary parallel line to the sunrise’s horizon – how many different and unique eye catching spectacles could we appreciate? We can move from a city, to a highway, to a desert or forest, or a small village… and we can keep going until we reach the ocean and at some point another piece of land. With this perspective, how many more of us can be interconnected by the same extended sunrise?
If we go on with this projection, on both sides of the horizon, we will end up reaching the higher and lower ends of the sunrise. Even though these spots may vary depending on the season, I believe there is always a place on Earth with an extended miracle in the sky, where sunrise blends with sunset and we can no longer define (which is which?). What kind of spectacle could that be? The closest I have been to this experience was some decades ago, when I went to visit Paula, a dear friend from Finland, and got to experience the midnight sauna tradition at her lovely cottage. It was during a Nordic summertime in Vaasa, way up north in the country, where days are very long and nights exist only for a couple of hours. It all started by being completely naked inside the sauna. Water was dropped on top of warm stones and vapor would fill the space, increasing the room’s temperature considerably. Breathing became a bit difficult, but it is said to be a healthy thing to do for your body and mind. When we couldn’t stand it anymore, we would open the door and start running towards the ocean. From the contrast in temperature, our bodies left traces of vapor along our paths until we finally dove into the water, which still had some ice floating on it. Unexpectedly, my eyes were captivated by a lavender and soft pink celestial vault, with a golden sun reflecting iridescent shades over the clouds. As if it was not enough, it was multiplied by the vast and endless ocean; its surface was so still that it mirrored the sky perfectly. Time seemed to have stopped while feeling contained and embraced by this surreal scenario. It was beyond breathtaking and unforgettable. No one could define if it was the sunset or the sunrise, we all floated still and quiet , grateful for experiencing such beauty… an undeniably marvelous gift.
Recently, I came across a very interesting book called “An Introduction to Visual Culture” written by Nicholas Mirzoeff. In its introduction, he talks about a famous photograph called THE BLUE MARBLE, shot in 1972 by NASA. This is considered to be the first photograph to portray a full image of our beautiful planet Earth. From the moment it was displayed all over the world, it caused quite an impact and sense of wonder. Just imagine yourself seeing this image for the first time, trying to understand what that small blue marble was all about. How much information can we perceive from that far off distance? Maybe our problems and issues would seem meaningless, hopefully it would make us reconsider our beliefs and limitations, like countries and religions; and maybe, just maybe, we could finally comprehend how we are all part of something bigger than just us and our personal stories. With this Blue Marble in our minds, let’s go back into our sunrise projection and stretch it all the way. Picture a full ring where the sunrise for some becomes the sunset for others, the same spectacle seen from two different perspectives.
People tend to see sunrises and sunsets in different ways. The main perspective is that one receives the day and the other one welcomes the night. A sunrise often symbolizes hope, new beginnings and endless possibilities; in contrast with sunsets, which tend to be related with endings, melancholic emotions and sadness. By visualizing this amazing ring that contains our planet, in a constant rotation, touching every single place in this world twice a day, many thoughts come to my mind. First of all, how amazing it is to consider the amount of hearts and souls that can be simultaneously connected through it. Second, it is important to understand that it is a never ending process, that makes no differentiation of nationality, social class, gender, ideology, age, etc… It is a given, granted gift available for everyone on this planet. And third, hopefully this projection can be a confirmation that everything in this life is in constant transformation, where a sunset can be seen as a promise of a forthcoming sunrise, just as any sunrise can forecast an upcoming sunset.
Beyond this understanding and all the different projections considered, I do have to admit that every time I get the opportunity to contemplate a sunrise or a sunset, I tend to feel as if heaven or the universe had orchestrated that amazing spectacle just for me. It makes me feel special, loved and embraced. Have you ever experienced a similar feeling?
May every sunrise and sunset be an excuse to take a pause in your life, so you can admire it, breathe deep, slow down and reconnect with your true essence. Hopefully, it will help you remember how special and unique you are, and embrace your interconnection with all humanity. Do you have a special memory related with a sunrise or a sunset you would like to share?
Reference: AN INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL CULTURE, by Nicholas Mirzoeff Editorial Routledge, 2000. ISBN-10 : 0415158761 ISBN-13 : 978-0415158763
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