Toward the Sun: Harnessing Nature’s Nurturing Powers

We are nature incarnate. Born from the human spirit, we will one day turn into soil, while heavily relying on natural resources for sustenance in the meantime. We begin with the life force running through our veins and compelling the heart to take its first beat. We carry on eating, drinking, and breathing nature. Then, in the end, we become the essence that builds the ecosystem and everything it breeds. Connected to Mother Nature, we’re connected to life itself.

“The atoms of your body are traceable not only to the Big Bang origin of the Universe itself, but especially to stars which manufactured those elements and later exploded scattering their enrichment across gas clouds so their next generation of stars would have planets, and at least on one of those planets, life. So, we are not just figuratively, we are literally stardust”, says Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and author.

“All humans share chemistry and biology with all other life on Earth. There is one Genesis on this Earth, we have DNA in common with a banana.” He adds, “You’re alive in this universe, but there is another way to look at it: the universe is alive within you. You have a kinship with the cosmos.” We are one with the world and one with one another.

So how can we use this complex connection to better our lives if they are so intertwined with our natural environment? Let’s start with one very big celestial object that quite literally charges our batteries so we can enjoy ourselves in all of this mysticism.

Sun therapy

The Sun is the central star of our Solar System. It is by far the most important source of energy for life on Earth and each equinox is a reminder of its irreplaceable presence. It enables the human body to produce vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function. It reduces blood pressure and generally lowers all-cause mortality. It’s time to get more heliotropic as those golden beams can be healing indeed. Provided that we use them wisely and strategically.

Sunshine regulates our circadian rhythm. Since the actual length of it can sometimes extend beyond 24 hours, we need cues from our environment to keep it in sync. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman recommends viewing morning light shortly after waking to induce a cortisol spike which positively influences the immune system, metabolism, and focus. It will wake you up and help you stay awake. By lowering the AM level of melatonin (the sleep hormone), sunlight will also prepare your body for rest later in the evening.

Get outside for at least 5-10 minutes first thing in the morning and increase that time to 15-20 minutes on cloudy days. If, for some reason, you’re unable to leave the house, open the window and bask in the sun that way, or flip on bright indoor lights and get outside as soon as you can. The afternoon sun is also helpful as it communicates to the brain that it’s time to transition into sleep soon. All light matters, just in different ways.

“Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.”

― Maori proverb

Viewing morning light improves mood and increases energy and dopamine levels. In contrast, artificial light exposure too late at night decreases dopamine and negatively impacts depression and anxiety. Hence, even if the sun fails to transform you into a ray of sunshine, it will still light your path out of the darkness, literally and figuratively.

Nature, Nurture

Nature’s arms are always open. She lovingly embraces your doubts, your aches, your needs, she’s here to nurture your well-being. Look, the sun is setting, dripping its golden rays to help us unwind for the day. The magic hour is here. Let’s watch the spectacle together and, in the meantime, we’ll tell you more about other ways nature―and sun―can nurture.

1. ain’t no mountain high enough

All kinds of free gym-like opportunities for physical movement are available for you outdoors. Arguably, one of the greatest challenges is climbing a mountain. Anyone who ever conquered one knows how much resilience and tenacity it takes to reach the top. When your body aches, your step count exceeds expectations, the conditions are rough, and it’s all just constantly uphill―it’s a test like no other.

But then you accomplish the mission. You firmly plant your feet on even ground. And then you feel it: endorphins erupting into your system, immense satisfaction in your heart, and somehow new strands of strength animate your limbs. And that breathtaking view, a reminder of how unbelievably stunning life can be. Struggle can be meditative.

Wander to wonder. Start with a smaller hill, and with each step, you will be walking out of your head and into the present moment. Clear your mind in motion. Add a little bit of mountain-conquering effort and your true nature will be revealed. Go up to grow up.

2. forest = for rest

You might have heard about the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, otherwise known as ‘forest bathing’. According to research, the woods lower our cortisol levels, pulse rate, and blood pressure, and regulate our nerve activity. When you bathe in greenery, your body and mind relax, recalibrate, and refortify. It’s natural therapy.

Immerse yourself in the forest, melt into it, breathe it in. Rewild yourself for the duration of your stay. Let your hair down, step out of your shoes barefoot on the ground, close your eyes, and listen. Knowing the research behind what’s good for you is one thing, but living according to those principles is another. Test the studies yourself.

There is a 2500-year-old olive tree on the Greek island of Zakynthos. And the Bodhi Tree in India, where the Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment. Right now there are saplings around the world that will grow into another generation of wisdom keepers. Nature is a cathedral with ancient wisdom lingering in every touch of moss. Put your faith in it to restore your peace.

3. river running wild

Water springing from beneath the ground to form a river, the river flowing into a sea, the sea expanding into an ocean―everything in nature is connected. There’s purpose in each grain of sand that composes a beach where we like to sit and contemplate life. Have you ever rested on the grainy surface of the shore, gazing toward the vastness of the sea, allowing the mesmerizing murmur of waves to untangle the knots in your mind?

Water sounds have been proven to alleviate stress. So, drift into a meditative state, let the ocean wash away various kinds of tension inside you. Also, drink more water, both for good health (e.g., to improve kidney and cardiovascular function) and to simply let nature flow through you. Here’s another hint: a yoga flow will flow very differently near the ocean and its waves than in a stuffy classroom. Dive in.

Storm therapy

Nature is not to be played with. It can be temperamental at times, unpredictable, it demands respect. Still, every cloud has a silver lining, and a storm is needed to clear the air, both in weather and within us. So if you find yourself in the eye of the hurricane, be patient. There’s the calm before the storm, but also stillness afterwards.

Look out for rainbows of hope, for the sun―the light―hidden behind the stormy countenance of the sky. You will bask in the warmth of the golden rays again, you will be starstruck by the night firmament again. Even when angry, Mother Nature holds lessons in disguise. The ability to heal yourself is one of them.