Sun: 7 Spiritual Meanings: Superstitions & Symbolism

Ellie McKenzie's avatarBy Ellie McKenzie
Sun: 7 Spiritual Meanings: Superstitions & Symbolism

Are you interested in learning about the spiritual meaning of the sun? If yes, then don’t stop until you’ve read through. 

The sun is seen obviously to represent the beauty of nature. It has both spiritual, physical, and scientific meaning. 

In this article, you will learn about the spiritual meaning of the sun as it applies to several cultures and beliefs throughout history.

What does the sun symbolize?

All through history, the sun has had many meanings attached to it. In various cultures and religions, sun symbolism is often related to the spiritual. 

The sun is a very powerful element, and it is outside the influence of anyone. The intensity of the sun is usually interpreted to mean energy and power in some cultures. 

In ancient cultures, the sun is a symbol of life and represents their connection to survival. There is no talking about life without talking about the sun. It is a requirement for our daily survival. 

In some cultures such as the Egyptian culture, the sun symbolizes the healing power of their sun god Ra.

The Meaning of the Sun

The Meaning of the Sun

The sun is an element in the solar system. It can be explained scientifically its roles in the solar system. But beyond its role in the solar system, the sun has several other meanings that cut across this physical realm and the spiritual realm. 

Some of these meanings are mentioned below: 

1) Strength and influence

The sun’s authority and influence are supreme over all life. There is absolutely nothing one can do to influence the sun, yet, the sun commands its influence and exercises control over everyone. 

The sun represents the influence of the divine overall life. It has nothing to do with your beliefs, neither has it anything to do with whether you are good or bad. its influence is over all that lives. 

The power source of all life is the sun, and all life is sustained by it.

2) Life and Renewal

Just imagine what it would be like if the sun ceases to exist. I believe that if that happens, that would be the end of all life. This is to say that the sun represents life. It is the reason why the life of people has meaning. 

Therefore, we would not be wrong to say that all life revolves around the sun.

There would be no dawning of a new day if there was no sunset. 

The dawn of a new day represents renewal and an opportunity to become a better person. 

The sun is a symbol of hope and opportunity to do new things. 

3) Clarity

You can only just imagine the level of chaos and confusion there would be without the sun. If the sky was all clouds and fog without the sun to give clarity, life would have been very unpleasant. 

Just as the sun gives clarity and helps to remove darkness, the sunrise represents clarity in the presence of obstacles. 

Clarity is needed in every aspect of our lives, especially in making decisions. 

The quality of decisions you make in life depends on the level of clarity you have. 

4) Power and Leadership

The sun is a powerful force of nature that is outside the control of anyone. 

It is an element that has been used all through history to represent the power of kings and the gods in many cultures and beliefs.

In ancient times and until now,  the symbol of the sun has inspired leadership and power in people.

The effect the sun’s rays have on lives is not a thing to negotiate. This inspires people to seize power and act in certain ways as they please. 

The ability of the sun to govern all life on earth by determining day and night represents our ability to lead. 

5) Direction

The sun serves as a guiding light that helps people maintain a particular direction they are going in life. It would be very easy to miss our direction if there was no sun to give guidance. 

In Islam, one of the ways to know the direction of qiblah during prayer is the sun. This guidance is given by paying attention to the direction from which the sun rises and sets. 

Literally, the sun gives direction to people as they walk and travel. If the world was all darkness, it would be very difficult to find direction. 

6) Positivity

The sun represents positivity against all odds of cloudiness and darkness. Sunset brings brightness to the earth, which is the complete opposite of what the clouds and fog do. 

This is an inspiration to always see in you the best, and to always speak it. The things that surround you might not always represent positivity, but you owe it a responsibility to yourself to stay positive just like it is the wisdom of the sun.

Whenever there is sunshine, it means that there is a reason to be happy. 

Living with this mindset every day of your life helps you to stay positive.

7) Divine Intervention

The sun is a gift from divinity to the earth. It represents divine intervention in the affairs of humankind. The earthly realm would have been inhabitable without the sun. 

In some cultures and beliefs, the sun connotes that the god that created everything still watches over all.

Human beings are not sufficient in themselves. 

All lives depend on the provision from the divine to thrive on the face of the earth. 

The sunshine is a constant reminder of this reality.

It is also interesting to read: 11 Biblical Meanings of Flickering Lights: Is it Bad Luck?

Significance in Different Cultures

Significance in Different Cultures

The significance of the sun varies from one culture to another. One thing every culture holds in common is their value for the sun. Generally, the sun signifies healing, wealth, newness, and prosperity in many cultures of the world. 

In Ancient Greece

In ancient Greek culture, the sun represents deities. Helios is the titan sun god, worshipped and reverence for his power and abilities to protect and provide for the people. 

The Greeks believe that Helios is responsible for their various seasons, and since he is the sun god, he is responsible for bringing light down to the earth.

In Japan

This sun is very important in the Japanese traditional religion. The Japanese goddess of the sun is Amaterasu. She is worshipped and revered by the Japanese. Amaterasu is called the Queen of Creation. She has protective powers that keep warriors unharmed in battles.    

In Hindu Culture

The Hindus worship several gods which are represented by various elements of nature. The Hindu sun god is called Surya. 

In Hindu culture, the sun signifies enlightenment and spiritual awareness. 

In Native American Culture

In native American culture, the sun signifies, peace, harvest, prosperity, and healing. The native Americans worship the sun because they believe it is the reason for the existence of all life. They consider the sun as the reason why they thrive in every aspect of life.

Superstitions In Different Cultures

Superstitions In Different Cultures

The sun is highly valued by every culture all over the world. Every culture has its own superstition of the sun. The superstitions of the sun in these cultures serve as a source of inspiration to them. 

According to Christianity

Angels are known to be being created with light of very high intensity. The higher the rank of the angels, the higher the intensity of their light. 

The archangel Michael who is the chief of angels is said to reside in the sun. This is the reason for the high intensity of the sun.

In the bible, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Light of the world. Therefore, he is also associated and identified with the sun.

In Greek Mythology

Related to the god Zeus is Helios, the handsome god of ancient Greeks. This sun god was honored and worshipped by the early Greeks.

Helios is said to have a brother whose name is Eos and a sister whose name is Selene.

In Egyptian mythology

Like in many other cultures, and even much more, the role of the sun in ancient Egypt is very important. 

Ancient Egyptians explained the sunset and sunrise to be the effect of the sun god traveling.

The sun god, Ra had the power of creation. It was responsible for the creation of life and plants. Ultimately, The sun god was said the have created heaven and earth. 

Native Americans

In native Americans, a festival was held to celebrate the sun through dancing known as the sun dance.

In the native Americans, it is believed that the sun is a representation of God and has a connection to all things. 

He can decide to turn the sun black and the whole world into darkness as a punishment for everyone if wickedness increases way too much.

Spiritual Meaning of the Sun or Sunshine

When we consider the energy of the sun, its incredible power, and its round shape, a lot comes to mind. It mostly points to the sovereignty of God. 

God is believed in many religions to be an Infinite Being. He has no beginning and has no ending. The very round shape of the sun signifies the infinite nature of God. 

The energy of the sun connotes spiritual awareness. The sun does not draw its energy from any other source. It is the energy within. 

Focus on your inside, the core of your being. Focusing on your inside leads to self-discovery It is then you will realize who you really are and your innate ability. 

Seeing the Sun Dream Meaning

Have you ever had a sun dream and wondered what it meant? It is very important that you have an understanding that seeing a sun in your dream could mean many things depending on its appearance and the nature of the dream. 

Seeing a black soon in your dream could mean that you are in a state of depression and despair.

Dreaming of sunrise and sunset means different things. 

If you have been experiencing difficulties and challenges in your life, dreaming of sunrise would mean that you are about to experience a new life. 

Good or Bad?

I don’t know if you have seen a group of people or a culture that has anything bad to say about the existence of the sun. But mostly, people have uncountable reasons to appreciate the existence of the sun even in the midst of the few reasons others would have not to.

You can spend time talking about how scorching the sun is, but preferably, you can choose to consider the many advantages of the sun. 

This is an exercise that I will encourage you to engage with; take some time to think or write out what the positive and negative implications would be if there was no sun. When you are done with this exercise, you will have your perfect answer. 

What is the spirituality of the sun?

In Christianism, the sun represents God’s glory. Glory is often associated with a light of high intensity like that of the sun. 

The sun shining over us means that we are under the influence of a divinity. The influence of divinity births energy, confidence, wisdom, and creativity within us. 

As the sun shines from heaven to earth, we are constantly being reminded of the connection between the spiritual realm and this material earth realm.

Human beings and everything else on the face of the earth only exist because of their connection to the spiritual. This is because spiritual realms control the physical realms. 

What does the sun mean in the Bible?

In one of the books of the bible, the sun is used to describe God. “For the Lord God is a shield…” (Psalm 84:11). It represents the glory of God. 

Just as the sun is unapproachable, the bible says that God dwells in unapproachable light. 

We know that the sun is the light of the world in the natural. In another book of the Bible, Jesus declared himself the light of the world, likening himself to the sun. 

Jesus said to the people, I am the light of the world…” (John 18:12)

Before you leave, also read: When I Close My Eyes I See Blue Light: 9 Spiritual Meaning

Final Words

The sun has remained significantly important throughout history. Its influence over all lives will not cease at any point. 

If you are ever looking for one thing that many cultures and beliefs have in common, it would be the sun. 

The sun is associated with deities in several cultures. These deities represent divine power, healing, abundance, vitality, etc.