Here is a chat I had with co-hosts Jennifer Jurkofsky and Tanys Coughlan on Twillow Talk, a show all about spirituality, personal transformation, and holistic healing.
We spoke about my work (together with Mark) on rediscovering and restoring the ancient Religion of the Sun. I explain how it was practiced by many cultures who worshiped the sun, and discuss why they saw the sun as spiritually important. We delved into the seasonal celebrations of the solstices and equinoxes, and how the annual journey of the sun through them was used in ancient mystery schools to represent the journey of the soul. We then talked about how this ancient knowledge can be used for spiritual practice today, through ritual, ceremony, meditation, and reflection.
I had such a nice time with Jennifer and Tanys; it was so lovely to share views, understanding, and experiences together. I had previously spoken to Jennifer on her podcast For the Love of Mystics, so it was great to be back with her again. I wish them all the best with their endeavors to bring more light and healing to the world.
I like that this information about the Spiritual Sun is being reiterated over and over again because it is important that it penetrates in every cell of our world, our minds and souls as it’s the only thing that will make profound change to our existence.
Sometime before equinox I did those practices with the Spiritual Sun and another thing that I’ve experienced was the presence of the Sun in every human being, in every animal, plant and in all that exists. We know that is the case but to feel it, it deepened that understanding. So from what you said, Lara about us being indoors and disconnected from the Sun it made me feel how by not connecting to this part within ourselves we struggle to connect to the Sun.
So, I feel if we continue with practices, which are designed for us to reconnect with that part within us we will be more inclined to connect to the Sun and nature. And if we are to go outside and do what we can to connect with the Sun we could perhaps strengthen our other practices as we strengthen that connection to the self through the Sun.
I really loved this interview. Lara, your explanations had a real depth that I found very inspiring.
PS: Speaking of the obelisks used to mark sunrise (if I didn’t get it wrong), I’m reminded of a few tubes made of stainless steel on the rooftop of a building right outside my window, which happen to light up during sunrise and sunset. Because of the direction my room is facing, I could see sunrise and sunset from my window rather well. I have just found that watching sunrise from my window as one of the first things that I do after getting up from my bed is easier than trying to get a glimpse of the sun when I’m out and about because of my schedule. When trying to do this I noticed that those tubes seem to be good reflectors of sunlight at sunrise, and in my head I sorta marked the appearance of light on those tubes as one of the first signs of dawn. I don’t know much about ancient Egypt and I don’t feel as much of a strong personal connection to it since it is a culture that is different from my own, but it’s interesting that I stumbled upon a similar idea as people who lived centuries ago did😃
You did! One day I hope there will be Temples of the Sun set up where there are obelisks to signal the approach of the sun, just like there were in ancient times.
This information about obelisks serving as a structures marking the sunrise is a really interesting and new one for me, haven’t come across it anywhere! I guess they may have had multiple purposes, but this may have been one of them… In the mountains where I live, we can see the mountains opposite us light up with pink light before the sunrise is observable from our place. But that takes some time, I guess having an obelisk is closer to the actual time of sunrise.
Thank you for sharing with us this amazing interview Lara! It’s nice to see Jennifer again, and Tanys looks like an interesting person you could talk to as well! It’s always nice to hear you talk about the Religion of the Sun during interviews, it looks like more people are becoming interested in the Religion of the Sun, its revival is gradual, but it is definitely happening. I didn’t know about that particular legend about the Egyptian sun god Ra and its meaning, but I will share an experience I had not so long ago. So I had a dream about the three-legged crow that was often used by people in East Asia to represent the sun, and as I saw it flew across the sky from east to west nothing bizarre seemed to happen, but when it reached the west it fell from the sky. The next thing I saw was that the crow was in the realm of Yomi apparently, facing various monsters or Yokais that were trying to tear it apart. And there was a lady who was guiding the crow which represented the sun. I don’t know who that lady was and I don’t have a very clear memory of her appearance, so I am unable to tell what ethnicity or culture she was from. But she was definitely guiding the three-legged crow in the underworld, so I thought that must have meant something. I tried to think what it could have meant but didn’t arrive at any conclusion, after seeing this I guess that could be a reminder of the meaning of the fall equinox for me! As the seasons are changing I could feel the heat of summer dissipating fast and being replaced by the chills of the night, on the equinox I did a very simple ceremony and spent time reflecting on its profound meaning, but for some reason I didn’t think of that dream as being the reminder of fall equinox. I had that dream after equinox day so maybe that’s why I didn’t think of it as such? Anyway thank you again Lara for sharing this interview and I wish everyone continue to find light on their spiritual journey!
What a cool dream! It’s amazing how the same meaning can be conveyed through so many diverse symbols.
Yeah, how amazing you would be shown this Asian version of the Sun myth Emily! It also reminded me of the “Queen Mother of the West” of the Chinese mythology and made me wonder if perhaps her connection to the West as the direction of where the Sun/Son sets (and descends to the underworld afterwards) has something to do with her name. Wikipedia says that the first historical mention of her traces back to the Shang dynasty Oracle bones inscription, where it mentions her as the “Western Mother”, together with the “Eastern Mother”. I wonder if the “Eastern Mother” could then possibly be the version of the Divine Mother that gives birth to the Spiritual Sun/Son as it victoriously emerges on the East at the sunrise of the spring equinox? In Egyptian art, the sun is depicted as being swallowed by the mother (I suppose on the west), passing through her body and being born by her (I guess on the east). So this Shang inscription that says “Crack-making on day IX (9th day), we divined. If we make offering to the eastern mother and the western mother, there will be approval.” could possibly be somehow related to this. Even the “9-th day” mentioned would have a symbolic meaning.
So clear, accurate and concise in explanation Lara, really quite impressed by this. Well done 🙏🏻
I got many little bits from it here and there as well as a general refreshing reminder. Makes you want to get to doing the activities spoken about.
It’s interesting what was raised about people ‘living inside’ more etc. or limiting ourselves. It made me wonder, how much have we already lost over time, in ability to feel.
Great to see another interview out there and the ladies’ keen interest paired with Lara’s knowledge. Thank you.
Wowww, what a lovely, heartfelt interview! I loved how it gradually evolved into a more practical guide on how to connect to the sacred sun, it actually inspired me to do more in this regard too. For quite some time now, I have been feeling a weight of materiality upon me, and it always makes me slightly depressed, and like I would do anything to get out of it. I have been thinking how to be connected to the Divine ALL THE TIME if possible, and while I have some approaches that help with that, these little ceremonies/prayers at different times of the day really inspired me, will see what I can do about bringing this into practice in my own, personal way… Thank you Lara, Jennifer and Tanys for this lively and sincere interview! 🌞