Weekly Free Association : The Sun

by Paulo Coelho on July 19, 2008

Symbols are doors that enable us to enter other universes. They are based in associations and from this week onwards I want to invite you to make a list of free associations based in a symbol that I will post here in the blog.

This week we will talk about the Sun.
As you know there have been sun deities throughout history.
In Ancient Greece as well as in Egypt, the Sun was portrayed as a masculine God : Apollo, Ra.
Yet, in other cultures, such as Japanese and Nordic cultures, the Sun is portrayed as a Goddess. For instance, in Japan, Amaterasu was the sun goddess who was born from the left eye of the primeval being Izanagi. The ruler of the Plain of Heaven, she was the oldest daughter of Izanagi. She hid in a cave until Uzume lured her out, at which time a beam of light, the dawn, escaped.
Now, you take the floor : what do you associate with the Sun?

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{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }

Dances With Crayons October 31, 2009 at 9:51 am

The sun …

Associate the sun as a source vital to life; the father, light, warmth, strength and even sunshine. When very small, saw my dad as Sun, because, the sun rose and set on him.

When my daughter was born, the name we felt strongly about was Re’ and named her, Re’Anne. Her favorite song as a baby, was ‘You Are My Sunshine’, and still sing it to her sometimes.

Then in later years, read a little bit about Ra and this was exciting!!

Thank you Paulo, Much Love to All, Jane : ) xo

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Joël May 25, 2009 at 7:36 am

A new birth

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Shaheema Robbani September 8, 2008 at 6:55 am

The Sun is divine.

Would make the plants dehydrated or could feed em with nutritions neccessary for their survival.
Would make the animals freeze to death or could comfort ‘em with its warmth.
To humans it’s importance is yet to be reallized. The world is closing in to Global Warming (WAKE UPPPP)

A layman like me just think its great enough to have it aroun’ to comfort and ease the pain of a gloomy day.

Shaheema R.

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Seri Suryani July 26, 2008 at 8:44 am

The gift of life I’ve been privileged to receive from my parents – my name. It has taken me years of search to appreciate its meaning and to love it with full gratitude.

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Tania Alvarez "la cubana" July 20, 2008 at 8:52 pm

Sun…..

Its rays of light
shows us the colours of Life

From the orange chest of the robin,
That visits me in the morning.
To the deep blue of the sea,
that lies in front of me.
Where the white clouds pass by
showing us the heavens of the Sun.

Its an instrument of God and a companion to us.

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J.S.H. July 20, 2008 at 10:44 am

O sol é a energia que nos dá a vida.
Quando amanhece e vejo os primeiros raios do sol, me lembro daquela música do Cat Stevens:

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken,like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing, fresh from the world

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall,on the first grass
Praise for the sweetneess of the wet garden
Springing in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one ligth, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day.

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megan July 20, 2008 at 10:15 am

pain and joy.
my favourite image of the sun is how a boy in my primary school would draw it – with long yellow rays. I saw it as a far – away, slightly malevolent thing, but he made it touch the earth and show its loving side.
It’s burnt me many times, but I still love a glowing, sunny day.

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Matthew Elliot Boucher July 20, 2008 at 2:46 am

The Sun. Solace. Bright Blessings for the Right Hand Path, lighting the Red Road.

Gliding in a boat from East to West, I shine upon the World, the Light.

Morning Star, Noonday Demon, Setting Skylark, the Sun walks a road standing still, and will exist after the Earth is gone…

A small star.

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Joël July 19, 2008 at 9:20 pm

Joy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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tata pontimayor July 19, 2008 at 8:31 pm

The Sun symbolize my love of my children.

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Milou July 19, 2008 at 1:38 am

The mighty Sun, the creating force the keeper of life and hope, lightens and warmly embraces and sustains all living things in the world.
The Illuminator of our senses and manifester of our desires, the gate keeper from the forces of darkness the energy of the world.
Saravá ♡
Milou

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Amanda July 19, 2008 at 12:20 am

Dear Paulo,

as I come from a tropical land (because of my study, I live in germany now –> not much sun). Sun is for just like the welcoming arms of a mother, something comfortable like home.

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marmara July 18, 2008 at 6:11 pm

Vida, masculino, energia

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Eleonor July 18, 2008 at 5:55 pm

Dear Paulo,
I associate the Sun with freedom. The possibility to travel wherever I want and follow my own dreams with no regrets. The sun reaches places I would like to go to and it keeps me warm.
Love Eleonor

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érico pierotto filho July 18, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Este ser tão grandioso, é muito mais do que nossa singela inteligencia possa imaginar. Estrela para os cientistas, força criadora para a humanidade. Responsável pela vida e por tudo mais que isto possa significar.

A forma fisica de Deus!

namaste amigos.

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Fulya July 18, 2008 at 2:09 pm

suns: the street-lamps of the universe:)

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Josephine i Brussel July 18, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Spiritually and somehow linked in a scientifical way too -
I think we all carry a part of the light from the sun within us.
I can deeply understand that the sun in many cultures is worshipped as a God (masculine and feminine).

Still among Hopi it is the task of the men of the tribe to go out before the dawn and sing so that the sun will rise.

I ofthen think of the sunlight likely to the love of God because the sun shines over us all – good and bad, weak and strong, wealthy and poor…

To solely think of the sun as a physical thing feels like you would take away a part of the soul from the world…

*smile*
Josephine < romantic

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austere July 18, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Energy. Life. The beginning of the beginning.
As in the Rigveda.

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Katerina July 18, 2008 at 10:43 am

Huge and intense desire. The one that vitalizes, invigorates and fortifies but also is daunting and awesome, cannot be looked straight in the eyes and can always make a pile of smoking ashes out of you…

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V. Meeus - Belgium July 18, 2008 at 10:30 am

I see every soul as a child of the sun

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Vanessa Meeus - Belgium July 18, 2008 at 10:24 am

Me, as in my soul, i see my soul as a child of the sun

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Osbaldo Gutierrez -Los Angeles July 18, 2008 at 3:53 am

God

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El Dormido July 18, 2008 at 12:52 am

a sun, a node of transformation emitting an indefinable particle/vibration in which I find myself swimming, the sea of light in which we are all resonating tunefully, aspects of the Godly which first set in motion all vibration, the Word… no separation but a unity motion, different frequencies, different habitations on the spectrum of life…

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gabriell July 18, 2008 at 12:25 am

beauty

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Pandora July 17, 2008 at 11:11 pm

The Beloved.

The Sun Rising

My friend wrote this track back in the eighties, and since then the Sun has always represented this to me.

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Thaddeus July 17, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Food, I associate the sun with food. The sun provides an abundant supply of food (energy) for every living being on Earth.

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Tony Karlstedt July 16, 2008 at 11:37 pm

Well… The Sun… is so defenitive. So crusial for life. So joy bringing with light of new birth (for us in the northern and sothern hemisphere). But deep down I also feel a certain fear of the sun. It’s like the sun stands a side of all belives (I don’t really don’t know how right now). Or above maybe… Without it we will not be here, at our school… Sometimes I’m torn between what I feel and what I read and hear from science (stars born, and stars die…etc) And it bring skin disease (malignt melanom) and kill when we are exposed to it too much (ex from The Valkyries) So… happieness and fear. No one without the other. Strange…

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MO'taz MOhamed July 16, 2008 at 11:31 pm

about the sun it’s kind of diffrent according to the sun condition where it’s sunrise or sunset … the sunrise kind of new spirit and kind of great hope , but sun set feel kind of mestariuos …
the actiant pharones made the pyramids at the west side of nile as the sun goes down which means the end ….
i do belive it’s according to ur mental and physical state the sun would be a sample to u :)

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nikamarie July 16, 2008 at 7:14 pm

There is nothing new under the sun!

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ritatir July 16, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Life and a healing power to depressions.

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Ana Paula July 16, 2008 at 3:48 pm

O Sol deveria ser um objetivo para todos.

Brilhar nosso espírito com uma luz iluminadora e aquecedora em todos os lugares que passarmos e a todas pessoas que encontrarmos.

Ser como o sol, é ser uma fonte de luz divina!

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Cynthia M Le BLanc July 16, 2008 at 3:14 pm

Francis of Assisi refers to the Sun & Moon, as “Brother Sun/ Sister Moon“…I think the Sun is our majestic, heavingly brother, always with us,influencing all life on the earth,sending energy and shining a spotlight,iiuminating, and making clear our paths on this daily walk we call Life.

Blessings to all this day!

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Feitty July 16, 2008 at 1:29 pm

light, hope, and mortality.

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chieko July 16, 2008 at 11:57 am

agape. or unconditional love. because the sun gives light for everyone. as much as you want. there is no bias.

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Ruth July 16, 2008 at 11:36 am

On contemplating his life in a moment of deep fear, the father of my children sent me this yesterday.

“I know one thing I’ve come to Anger is the route of all our troubles. Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful day that god has given us. The sun is a cure in it’s self.”

The sun is a cure…….What a perfect description.

xxxx Ruth xxxx

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malin July 16, 2008 at 10:46 am

POWER AND STRENGTH!!!!!!! :)

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Surya July 16, 2008 at 10:35 am

thanks Hildegarde, for the beautiful story

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Emelyn Rozas July 16, 2008 at 7:28 am

Like my ancesters, the Incas, the sun is like God to me. Not god from the bible but instead the great energy that its impact has to the world. The sun is like a great vitamin in the lives of all living creature, without sun we would be like vampires.

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yvonne July 16, 2008 at 6:01 am

sun is strength and beginnings :D

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Sibila Maria India July 16, 2008 at 3:23 am

The impulse of life
Our Divine nature
The heart of our Universe

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Cecilia Portillo July 16, 2008 at 2:34 am

Yo asocio al sol, con el brillo el calor la energía, una poderosa fuente de energía, que domina el día, ante la luz del sol, las cosas son verdaderas, ante la energía del sol, nuestro organismo demanda y genera mayor actividad, amo al hermano sol, a mi Inti constructor.
Saludos desde los andes americanos.
Cecilia

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Nia Wind July 16, 2008 at 2:16 am

Dear Agnieszka,

yes, it heals and refreshes the soul, but there are not many who can look in her light…
maybe the are not able to heal their souls alone…

Nia

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Love July 16, 2008 at 12:00 am

Dear Hidegarde,

… Beautiful :).

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Annie July 15, 2008 at 11:34 pm

Con que asocio el sol… con el principio… con la vida, con la verdad. El sol ha sido bien asociado con los dioses creadores como Apollo y Ra puesto que este es aquel padre que da y da sin pedir nada a cambio (por el momento) El sol envía a diario 4,000 veces más la cantidad de personas que vamos a utilizar en la tierra. Padre y Madre creo que son las mejores palabras que he podido buscar para asociar como el sol.

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Lisa July 15, 2008 at 10:41 pm

nascente…meio de dia…e por de sol…..em nome do pai do filho espirito santo amen….as above,so below

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German Fafian July 15, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Energy and life even thought I like the moon and night better :)

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Kostantinos July 15, 2008 at 9:38 pm

George Harrison!!! (here comes the sun…)

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maria July 15, 2008 at 9:35 pm

SOL…
True Love, energy, rebirth, contentment, inoscence, a male attribute in a God or in a Goddess,
Equality, strength, generous and nurturing light, TRANSFORMATION

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KaZenDim July 15, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Or maybe the Sun makes me simply think about this warm light that enligths our path and Warms our hearts.
Love
Damien

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KaZenDim July 15, 2008 at 7:24 pm

then Moon makes me think about Mother then about Earth then Sea then Water then Life then Creation then Sexuality then Sounds then Music then Love then Fertility then Birth then again Love then Woman then Gone then Sun again then Sky then Planets then Cosmos then Interstellar Space Arkestra then Music of the Sphere then Monk then Communication then Communion then One then God then Dog then Dark side then Night then Shadows then Trees then Ground then Wind then Silence then Mountain then Meditation then Illumination then Awakening with the sunrise then welcome to the Dawn.
Love
Damien

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