Sunset at Jan Juc Beach, courtesy of a friend here
How odd it is to be between two worlds - after spending over three months in England's bright sunshine in the hottest Spring on record, I am returning to an Australian winter in Victoria, in the southernmost parts of the country where, contrary to popular belief, it does get quite cold.
Yet in this limbo land of quarantine, I missed any fire rituals or sun gazing that would connect me to this fiery planet and the earth rituals that would connect me to the vital forces that are operating out there, in the elements. There was confusion, too - still warm from the northern hemisphere sunshine, I felt a deep cellular need to say hello to the sun, affirming my connections to tribal others as lockdown eases, feeling that sense of renewal and expansion as the sun's warmth encourages the trees to unfold in the peak of their growth, just as my own soul does the same. In the bright sun on the longest day of the year, the northern sun is at it's strongest and so too are we, powerful and connected to all that is. A sun ceremony would have acknowledged the fertility and potential within all of us much needed during this time, and, like for centuries, people would be gathering together. I felt a deep need to feel a part of that, even in a small symbolic way. So on the morning of the shortest day of the year here, I tuned into the longest day, watching the solstice sunset at Stonehenge - a bleak affair with static stones standing witness to the absence of druids and warlocks, travellers and pagans, sun worshippers and people there to party. Sunrise was no different - a mournful affair, with two policeman in bright yellow vests standing guard, and a few people lonely on the fenceline. There were no tribal beats, only the morning chorus of birds and lorries along that ancient travellers route, the A303.
In fact, so dismal was the scene we were watching live that Jamie decided to shine his own light in absence of the sun. We hadn't seen any sun that morning on the rooftop yard in a grey Melbourne day. We laughed, of course - but in this dark room, our hearts have been heavy and we've struggled to get through our days, despite all the tools we've gathered in this time on Earth. We're not alone, of course - the world is going through some darkness right now, and we're all feeling the discomfort of it.
In midwinter Victoria, friends were lighting bonfires in small gatherings - increased restrictions mean bubbles of relationships are not parties, but small groups trying to find some light in the uneasiness of the times. The winter solstice was always my most loved time of the year. It was - and is - a time for introspection. As the light now comes into our lives in the coming months, we can focus on renewal and rebirth, regeneration and growth. It's that energy I need as much as I need community and tribe - both rituals are calling to me in this limbo land.
Wherever I was pulled, however, there was the sun - giver of life, energy, and vitality.
Where was that in this room?
Of course, without my community or the sky, a fire to tend or a candle to light, I need to ignite my own fire in a ritual of my own making.
In the afternoon, after the British sunrise, I found a live cast of a sunset in Hawaii. As small groups of people swum in the water, sat in small groups or walked on the beach, the sun spread it's fire across sky and screen, and I rolled out my yoga mat for sun salutations, and put on my headphones to play the Gayatri Mantra, mouthing the words both internally and externally as breath as I practiced.
The Gayatri mantra is the oldest mantra of them all, mentioned in the Rig Veda, an ancient Hindu text. It reminds us that there is a truth or light common to us all at the centre of everything. Also known as the Savitri mantra, named for the goddess or deity of the elments, it's cited in many vedic texts and the Bhagavid Gita too. It is a prayer to the internal sun - to 'savitur' or 'savita' - the divine within.
There are various translations - this one by Douglas Brooks:
The eternal, earth, air, heaven
That glory, that resplendence of the sun
May we contemplate the brilliance of that light
May the sun inspire our minds.
Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt
Here, there is no separation or dualism - the physical sun and our minds are the same thing. It's a mantra of gratitude - a thankyou to the presence of the sun for inspiring and nourishing us - as well as a mantra of grace, a mantra that is used to ask if we can continue to find the sun's strength to aspire to become illuminated or enlightened. It's a mantra of threes - of Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati in all of us, of praise, meditation and prayer, and of material (bhur, the earth, the body), life force (bhuvah - energy, vitality, vibration, middle world) and sustenance (swah - a constant awareness or radiation, the atma or self, the truth or divinity within that is constant to all beings, heaven).
Read more about the Gayatri here
As I moved through various permutations and variations of surya namaskar, I could feel both the physical heat of my body begin to build as well as the presence of my own grace, my own internal illuminated self. However we interpret this mantra, it is certainly powerful.
There are infinite versions of the Maya Gayatri - from bramin chanting to the beautiful Deva Pramal to this euphoric version here which I find wonderful for a more jubilant practice or mood. Of course, we don't need to move at all - we can just sit and sing, or sing through our chores. Combining asana practice and sound is a personal choice that suits me more often than not, though simply sitting and singing works too!
Singing and moving to the Gayatri - I am reminded of the spiritual sun within. I neither need Stonehenge or sunrises over southern oceans, just the divine joy of light within.
With Love,
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I love this quote... my daughter has had some anxiety over 'toxic' friends etc but only the other day I told her that when she was feeling overwhelmed by her feelings or anger, to never under-estimate the healing power of just standing in the sun's warmth for 15 mins, breathing some fresh air or digging your bare feet into the dirt - it's sounds weird but I had to remind her how much time they spend (and have spent growing up) inside compared to when I was her age.
Totally.... we spent all our time outside, surfing and horse riding and generally mucking about. Still had toxic mates, but psychologically easier to deal with when you can throw your angst to moon, sun, sky and earth!
!ENGAGE 25
ENGAGEtokens.Perhaps you sould have a late winter solstice celebration when you get home. Not long now until you can spread your wings again.
I hear it's bloody cold out there!
I can confirm, it is definitely bloody cold out there :P
Where do you live @alphacinno.art?
It's one of my favourite mantras. I think we don;t just have to be reminded of the Light and Sun within, but to be connected to it and for it to be REAL for us to such a degree that it is enough, even in the darkest place. Victor Frankl comes to mind.
Oh. Thats great ..... You know Gayathri mantra.
Yes, it's a beautiful mantra!!!! And one of most powerful. I often sing it! And I love hearing it when I travel in India or in Bali, where I always hear it everywhere!
A matter of few more days and you will be back to your nature and I am sure you will feel completely liberated. I too enjoy the Mantra and try to listen to it as much as possible. Lots of Love
Oh yes, I can see you singing it and listening to it! It's so beautiful. Our release is 6.30 am, so not long at all. Everyone keeps telling me how cold it is out there!
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Mind blowing view. . Really amazing photography. . Keep it up
beautiful view, gayatri mantra is the very good while meditation.
Curated for #naturalmedicine by @drrune.
The Gayatri Mantra (in the form of that very video you posted here) came to me last year through a wonderful friend who has been an essential part of my life for many years. I've sung it in meditation at home, and I've sung it while walking through the streets of my city, in the subway (which is the darkest and also the most lively place in town) and in many other moments. It's always brought me comfort and I've felt how it spreads like a resonance in all places, cleansing not only me, but also everything that surrounds me.
Perhaps the most powerful experience I had with it was during my last Ayahuasca ceremony in January. At the end of the ceremony, the Shaman performed a cleansing that lasted about 1.5 hours. Men are required to bear their torsos. I'd already been through such cleansings and I knew how cold they could be, so in order to remain focused and also warm, I chanted this mantra to myself the entire time. I have no idea how many times I repeated it, but I'm fairly sure it was over 108. It was beautiful.
Thank you for this post! And know that this time of darkness will merely enhance the Light that is coming!
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Thankyou @drrune for your lovely comment. Amazing how you felt so connected to this mantra you would sing it as a remedy in darkness - I totally use it as soothing natural medicine. Along with om gam ganapatye namaha, I find myself singing either as needed... sonic pills!!!
Sad to witness the absence of the tribal culture and community, but I love the wisdom you get from it all. Enjoying the mantra big time, thanks for sharing!!