The most beautiful and important star to us, the Sun, has been worshiped by people since they existed, in all corners of the globe. And, whether we are looking at rainbows, snow-bows, the glorious sunset or sunrise, our spirits never fail to be raised by these visions of beauty revealed by the sun.
The worlds oldest living culture, that of the Australian Aborigines, who have passed down their legends for more than 40,000 years, speaks of the Sun-woman. The Sun-woman awakes daily in the East, lights her fire, and prepares the bark for the torch she will carry across the sky. Before she begins her journey, she decorates herself with red ochre, which she spills, colouring the clouds red, and as she journeys, her torch warms the earth causing the plants to grow.
When she reaches the West, she re-applies her paint, again spilling reds and yellows into the sky, after which, the Sun-woman returns to her camp in the east, through an underground passage.
Over the centuries humans have told many beautiful stories in their attempts to explain the Sun in terms of their own view, and to teach the significance of the Sun as the prime controller of all life on Earth.
To the people of West Africa, Liza was the Sun go, as well as the god of heat, work and strength. His sister, Mawu, was the Moon.
In Greenland, the Inuit people tell of Malina, the Sun goddess. Her brother Anningan is the Moon.
Malina and her brother had lived together and once got into a terrible fight when Malina spread black grease all over her brother's face. In fear, she ran as far as she could into the sky and became the Sun. Anningan, chased after her and became the Moon.
Anningan forgets to eat, and as the days go by, becomes thinner and paler, so every month, for three days, the Moon disappears while Anningan eats. He then returns again to chase his sister. The eternal chase accounts for the Sun alternating with the Moon in the sky.
For the Greeks, Helios was the Sun, his sister Selene was the Moon, and his sister Eos was Dawn.
Helios, accompanied by Eos, drove a fiery chariot pulled by four horses across the sky. Every day, a huge golden cup brought him back to his palace on the East river, Oceanus. After his return, Selene drove her own chariot across the sky and rays from her crown lit up the night sky.
Apollo, was not the Sun, but the sun god to the Greeks, and many cultures had gods and goddesses of the Sun.
The Egyptians believed that the Sun god Re sailed a boat across the sky. The Eskimos believed the Sun itself, took a boat trip at night beyond the horizon and caused the waves of the aurora borealis, or northern lights.
Travellers of the world and its oceans throughout history have been guided by the Sun for time and direction, and many monuments, such as Stonehenge, have been built to track the motions of the Sun. Today, the Sun is just as important for navigation.
At the end of every day, you may notice how the birds still, as they always have done, position themselves to face the Sun and bid her farewell during sunset, before flying off to their night shelters. This is particularly noticeable in summer when so many Swallows can be seen, perched on telegraph wires, facing West!
Holding our very existence in her energy, and making our world the colourful place it is, it's no wonder we all love, and feel good when the Sun comes out.