Whether it be the sunrise that epitomises the start of the day, promises of good things to come, a spectrum of light and hope, as the burning sphere begins to dominate the skies. The glowing globe that shows its fiercely rich colours as it sinks over the horizon to bring the end of the day, there is just something magical about sunrises and sunsets. I can honestly say I don’t think I will ever tire of witnessing such a pure representation of the beauty of nature in an such an epic proportion & the power it has to literally sop me in my tracks and stare.
It is almost the silence that accompanies it that astounds me, like such a dominant action should feature
its own sound.
It is almost the silence that accompanies it that astounds me, like such a dominant action should feature
its own sound.
I have been privilege enough to witness some incredible sunsets and sunrises from various locations over the years and each has had its very own unique affect. Whether witnessed from mountaintops as I wake, poke my head out of my bivvi bag & see the pure splendour over the expanse as golden hues outline the start of a new day, or the spectrum of colour that spreads across the sky as I sit by the coast and watch the final part of the day disappear behind the horizon. Seen from golden beaches, rocky cliff tops, over snow covered fields or just from wherever you are stood there is something mesmerising and primal about them.
I often think about how early man reacted to these natural happenings and what it must be like to witness them for the first time without truly understanding what was happening.
Also, how cultures and religions have devised their own interpretation about how and why this natural act occurs whether it be the symbolic meaning or links to Gods. The sun has always been held sacred with symbolic links to light, re birth and fertility, but it is the Aztecs response that really fascinates me as I read recently that they believed that the sun was eaten by a God each night, and recreated each morning. To ensure the God was pleased and allowed the sun to shine upon the Earth again, they made sacrifices to appease the God. They, therefore saw the sun rising each morning as a new birth, and the sun setting as its death. It also symbolizes good (light) and evil (darkness); knowledge (light) and ignorance (darkness); creation (light) and destruction (darkness); a beginning (light) and the end (darkness).
These days, it could be said, that these beautiful natural happenings are often taken for granted as we are too busy going about our lives to take some time out each day to watch as the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening. I implore you to take the time to witness it properly if you have not already, to stand and watch in absolute awe and amazement.
Be warned though as to chase sunsets and surmises may be your
folly, as so often with nature it will not show it’s true self on demand but rather wait you least expect it. A slight turn of the head, a moment’s look behind, a stance of silence, then absolute clarity.
It is there, it is real and it is spectacular. If you haven’t yet experienced the absolute beauty of a sunrise or sunset, I don’t believe you have really lived.
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