Honoring the Sun during Fall and Winter
During these six months the sun is not gone obliviously but the days are shorter and not as present in these seasons but we can still honor the sun and be grateful and thankful that we shouldn’t take things for granted, the Sun is one of them. It’s all about balance, there is a thing called seasonal depression where people just don’t want to do much due to lack of energy, colder, etc. the lack of sunlight can effect this disorder. Everyone goes through of it, yes these seasons we probably are focusing on Kthonic and earthly aspects, also resting and being more solitary these seasons than in the spring and summertime.
Yes going out into sunlight is very healthy sunlight gives life and vitamins and sustenance not to us but nature and things around us. But it gives us warmth and happiness yes there is at times the sun will be violent. Many see the fall and winter seasons as the death of the sun so honoring the lack of sunshine we be making each month without it a lot more better bringing that solar energy into our homes and around us may help with bad times, giving life, that warmth back into our lives that is lacking.
Setting up an altar to the sun
Now if you worship a Sun God this is great as well and if you’re looking into worshipping a deity of the sun also a great start. Altar can be small, big or whatever you feel comfortable with. First start with colors associated with the sun, gold, yellow, white, orange, and white these are primarily colors secondary can be blues, greens, purples, and pinks any vibrant colors you may see during the summer like flowers and pastels even. These colors can be for candles, altar cloths, even altars themselves, herbs and flowers especially if associated with the sun. Artworks and such as well.
Sun imagery, this can be simple as a Sun tarot card, a drawing of the sun, or if you have a statue of a sun deity or picture or something to represents them that’s a great way. Also animals that is associated with the sun like Lions, Phoenix, Salamanders, Horses, Deer, Wolves, etc these are just a list from mythological associations with the sun. For me I have a wall shelf thats is suppose to be used for candles but used that as a small altar the wall shelf is a lion face and I have a Helios plague of his face with the areole. Simple and great representation and accessible.
Herbs and plants associated with the sun and solar fire. One of the common and easily to obtain is bay laurel associated with Helios, Apollo, Sol, etc fiery and great for protection and purification also strength and healing. Within doubt this a great herb to use if others aren’t accessible. Here is a list of common herbs associated with the Sun that are common and easy available:
Frankincense: Protection, Excorism, Spirituality
Lime: Healing, Love, Protection
Sunflowers (do I have to say anymore lol): Health Wisdom and Fertility
Orange: Love, divination, luck, money
Olive: Healing, peace, potency, fertility, protection
Rosemary: Protection, Mental powers, healing, sleep, purification, love
I tried to list the herbs and flowers that you may find during the fall and winter since everything is barren but you can find these things at your local grocery store, sunflower seeds, olive oil and olives themselves, grocery stores have a variety of herbs and spices and fruits. Witch Hazel is commonly used for self-care products. Frankincense is a common incense. Bay leaves is a cooking spice. But you can also use herbs associated with fire like hot pepper, basil, Dragon’s blood, celery, etc. and other herbs associated with healing and purification.
Also you can have a hearth which is a fireplace or stove or cooking place but not everyone has access to it or not feel right to use it in their practice which is fine and certainly a option as well. If you do have a fireplace you can set an altar if you can and that is suitable for you. Having a stronger connection with sun and fire. Which as you can have fire deities to pair with the sun like Vesta, Hestia, Brigid, Vulcan, etc.
🌞 Other things you can add to your altar
Essentially if you can burn incense fire and smoke is instrumental to the sun. Even a small cauldron or fire proof dish to lit safely into. Also smoke bundles works well too.
No brainer really you can have candles that colors are related to the sun as I mentioned above, even scented candles that smell like bay laurel, sunflowers, oranges, etc. it’s another good option if you can’t burn incense or loose incense. Also fake LED candles are just as effective.
To help with bringing solar energy around and amplify that energy, Strength, The Sun, Emperor, The Wand Suits any sun symbols in the deck as well like the fool for instance. It will help connect more with the sun and prayer and spells. The cards can be like altar cards
Just like moon water you leave a jar of water out right before or after sunrise (it’s okay if it’s cloudy the sun is still there) and take it off the window still before it sets. It’s also a great substitute if you can’t have any type of open flames, water is a powerful element just like fire bringing that balance is really good.
Altars are good but optional and you don’t need to go all out there. A simple clear space with a white candle and the Sun card is really all you need at times. Whether it be a permanent or temporary space it’s up to you how you want to conduct your practice.
Fire is a important component to sun worship but not always a requirement heck even a picture of a candle can work at times.
🌞 Deities associated with the sun or fire, if you want to include deities in your practice. This is certainly an option, just having the sun is just as valid and effective.
Apollo (Greek): Healing, Sunlight, Prophecy, Plagues, Health, Archery, Purification
Helios (Greek): Literally the Sun, Sight, Seeing, Healing, Purification, Seasons, Oaths
Sunna (Norse): Goddess of the Sun and is chased by a wolf named Sköll, carries her shield to protect from the sun’s heat, fire and light.
Usil (Etruscan/Roman): Sun mixed between Apollo and Helios but has Kthonic aspects, the underworld, light, darkness, volcanic fire and infernal fire.
Saule (Baltic): Sun, Warmth, Life, and Fertility
Sulis (Celtic): Sun, Prophecy, and Healing
Lugh (Celtic): Light, Fire, Craftsmanship, Justice, Oaths, and War
Belenus (Celtic): Sun, Light, Fire, Healing, and Farming
Ra/Re (Egyptian): Creator God of The Sun, King of the Gods, Sky, Order, Kingship, Earth, and all living beings.
Dažbog (Slavic): Sun, Giving, Abundance, and a Cultural hero
Svarog (Slavic): Light, Fire, and Blacksmithing, creating the sun.
Vesta/Hestia (Geek and Roman): Hearth, Fire, Family, and Household
Brigid (Irish Celtic): Hearth, Craftsmanship, Wisdom, Healing, Fire, and Prophecy.
Vulcan/Hephaestus (Greco-Roman): Fire, Blacksmithing, and Volcanos
Amaterasu (Shinto Buddhism): Sun and Queen of Heaven
Shamash (Mesopotamian): Sun, Justice, Light, and Divine Judgement.
Shapash (Phoenician); Sun Goddess counterpart of Baal
Baal (Phoenician): Sun, Thunder, Fertility, Sun, Cycles of Life and Death.
Baldr (Norse): Light, Sun, and Peace
Freyr (Norse): Fertility, Sunlight, Abundance, Harvest, Life, Peace, Nature.
Many more solar deities and fire deities out there but hopefully this lists can give you a step in the right direction.
What inspired me to make this blog is what many people have been I think missing out, we have celebrations where the sun is dying or the sun is longer the major focus and I believe that’s why people stop paying attention to the sun during these months which is perfectly fine but during these times I feel missing the sun and I equate the sun with happiness, goodness, and positivity of course the earth can provide that but the sun helps melt that stagnation and feeling of depression especially during these months cozying up at home having little to no interaction with other people. The cold makes us not want to do things outside I realize how much we take for granted without the sun it effects more than just nature it’s our minds and bodies mentally and physically. When we focus so much on death and darkness it gets overwhelming at times so having the Sun there during these times is important.
So this is an example and feel free to change up the prayer to your liking and ritual. Many of the deities I have listed has prayers for them like Apollo, Helios, Vesta/Hestia, etc. in Orphic hymns.
- Sun imagery a tarot card of the sun is all you need or picture of the sun or heck if the sun is out right now set up near the window or even outside if you can.
Take a few breaths and center yourself ignite your candle and incense raise your hands above your head or front of you if that’s comfortable and begin your prayer
Prayers doesn’t have to be a elaborate thing you can say “Thank you Sun for giving us life and light, provider of abundance, bless us this fall and winter.”
“May the Sun protect me from the harsh cold of winter.”
“I allow the Sun to fill me with me warmth and joy that I lack in this moment, I am grateful for life you give me.”
For those who likes longer prayers this is an example and definitely optional.
Here is the Orphic hymn to The Sun (Helios)
Hear golden Titan, whose eternal eye with broad survey, illumines all the sky.
Self-born, unwearied in diffusing light, and to all eyes the mirrour of delight:
Lord of the seasons, with thy fiery car and leaping coursers, beaming light from far:
With thy right hand the source of morning light, and with thy left the father of the night.
Agile and vig'rous, venerable Sun, fiery and bright around the heav'ns you run.
Foe to the wicked, but the good man's guide, o'er all his steps propitious you preside:
With various founding, golden lyre, 'tis mine to fill the world with harmony divine.
Father of ages, guide of prosp'rous deeds, the world's commander, borne by lucid steeds,
Immortal Jove [Zeus], all-searching, bearing light, source of existence, pure and fiery bright
Bearer of fruit, almighty lord of years, agil and warm, whom ev'ry pow'r reveres.
Great eye of Nature and the starry skies, doom'd with immortal flames to set and rise
Dispensing justice, lover of the stream, the world's great despot, and o'er all supreme.
Faithful defender, and the eye of right, of steeds the ruler, and of life the light:
With founding whip four fiery steeds you guide, when in the car of day you glorious ride.
Propitious on these mystic labours shine, and bless thy suppliants with a life divine.
If that’s too specific and long you can always make your own and many more out there that you can use and be inspired by. The Sun encourages creativity and imagination.
