The Sun is our father in heaven.
Our father, who art in heaven;
our mother, the earth:
we are your children...
All life in our biosphere begins as energy from the Sun, a monstrous seething mass of fusion blasting the earth, yet coddling the planet within her embrace as she barrels through space. In comparison the earth is like a marble that is trapped close within the Sun's influence following the sun in her endless journey through time and space. The planet resists the angry buffeting of the Sun's blast furnace with our magnetic field and atmosphere. Approximately 100 watts per square foot of energy bathes the planet's surface. At the equator in midday that can rise to 1100 watts. Enough energy reaches us in one day to supply all human needs for a year. (And if humanity is so clever how come we cannot drink life directly from the sun?)
Essentially there is two kinds of life on earth. First, the green things which use chlorophyll and carbon dioxide to capture and convert sunlight into (food) carbon chains of sugars. Secondly, all other life is akin to parasites that consume the green things, or the animals that eat those that consume the green things, or those that eat the leftovers. So the quickening that stirs life comes directly from the sun, either by soaking it up directly, or by eating life. There is nothing else. And this is the first thing you need to comprehend if you are to comprehend god.
(Of course that is over-simplified. There is rare life that derives chemical energy from deep sea vents, but we could also argue that, since the planet is a leftover from the creation of the sun, and that the earth's core is molten because of its proximity to and interaction with the sun, thus deep sea life indirectly derives from the sun.)
So to review, plants convert the Sun's energy into food from which all other life forms draw their life energy:
--a bug eats plant material; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
--beetle eats that poop; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
--worm eats that poop; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
--bird eats worm; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
--cat eats that bird; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
--bacteria eats that poop; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
--worm eats that poop; absorbs a little energy and poops the rest out.
And on and on it goes, the same energy is constantly recycled throughout the system. A little of the Sun's energy is released at each step as heat and life. The greater is defecated and feeds life down the chain. The leftovers are buried in time and become crude oil, or stored sunlight and carbon
So this is our first great understanding: that all life's energy comes from the Sun. We are completely surrounded by the life-energy of the sun. Now further: energy gives rise to life and sustains it; energy is necessary for life; can energy be life, or the wellspring of life? Can we not see this immense overwhelming mass of energy as the source of life on this planet? Can the Sun be the father of this creation?
The Sun is our father in heaven and the earth is our mother. Life exists because of this relationship. The giver of life on this planet is the Sun, with the kind of life that exists governed by this relationship. You may have theories about the origins of life, but until you incorporate this god-sized energy source that blasts and buffets the earth with god-sized amounts of energy into your theory, you are failing to see the forest for the trees. The Sun is not incidental.
After all, quantum physics reveals that we are not so much made from matter, as we are of energy. And if consciousness is the defining element of human life, then can not we see the sun as not only the source of the energy that gives us life, but possibly the source of consciousness? Can the sun be a god, the father of this creation? Mystics and prophets describe god and her angels as beings of light and fire; of being so bright that one cannot look at them; of pillars of fire and burning bushes; and of returning to the source of light upon death. Near-death 'Hell' experiences are often described as being isolated from the light and being cast out into the void of deep space.
If we can understand life provided by the Sun then it would follow that, like illustrated in a Dr. Who episode, the sun is alive; that life and consciousness may flow from the sun. If we are to allow our scientific knowledge of the universe to intrude into our spirituality, then this may be the first lesson in understanding god with our twenty first century minds
If there are any gods that we can point to, as in saying that god is over there or here, or if there is a nearby physically manifested god that can be held responsible for this creation, that should be the Sun. Sure, one can speak of many imaginary gods, or gods that exist because of your faith, but in this twenty first century scientific world we need a god that measures our understanding rather than insulting our knowledge with obsolete Bronze Age fantasizes.
Discuss
Jeff Delano on March 21, 2008, 5:54 PM
Of course a woman has to make this negative and make it seem like we are bashing on women. Hah, I am just kidding, but Coyote mentioned the Earth being our mother which means that it cares for us humans. I’m guessing he dietizes the sun moreso than Earth because we have such a close bond with Earth that we feel that it is ourselves as well, and the sun is the distant father which he discovered to be God. So therefore he isn’t very familiar with the Sun so he puts more importance on the sun because we all know the Earth (our mother) so well.
Besides that, yes the Sun, our logos, is a sub-creator of humans. Just like the sun was created by the sub-creator of supernovas and the galaxy before that. There is a long line of sub-creators and one original creator. That line is infinite, so therefore it is best to aknowledge all creators as co-creators. Soon we humans will be co-creators as well.
Mary Coyote on March 21, 2008, 6:16 PM
Lostinspace:
I usually interpret the sexual dichotomy of male/female to describe the Sun as the male principle: furious penetrating all-powerful. The Earth is then female: she protects and nourishes. But when speaking of gods/goddesses, sex is actually irrelevant. They are able to give birth out of themselves and/or they are able to exhibit both sexes. Sex is a property of physical life as experienced on this planet, but probably is not useful in attempting to accurately describe things beyond this physical plane. What are angels? Male or female? Why does it matter?
For example, historically Coyote is most often described as the male principle by the respective hierarchical cultures, but my understanding is that Coyote is able create life with her body, thus I prefer the female principle. I often use the female principle to describe ‘gods’ when they are described as creators, thus goddesses, but will interchange the terms.
I am most pleased that you sensed that I had found a goddess, but not The Goddess. For that is indeed the spiritual process I advance. Start with a physical goddess that walks among us
Coyotethen raise our eyes to the brilliant goddess that gives us life. Next contemplate the 2012 date when our Sun aligns with the central plane of our galaxy and meditate on the line that runs from your spirit to the center of the Sun, to the center of our Milky Way galaxy, to the center of the universe from whence it all sprang. Where will we find THE GODDESS?Now we return to creation. I am not referring to the creation of the universe; that is a much larger problem to be solved, but the creation of life as we know it on this planet. First we need to remember that this is a human experience. We are looking at the development of life here on the planet in this era where humanity has spread across and subdued the planet since the ice ages ended 10,000 years ago.
Who created this latest world for us? Coyote. She is our mother and the creator of the Human Song.
Mary Coyote on March 21, 2008, 7:11 PM
JeffDelano:
I appreciate your arguments and would like to borrow and explore your idea of an infinite line of sub-creators or co-creators.
Indeed we nestle too comfortably within the lap of Mother Earth and suckle life from her teats. But it is when we raise our eyes up from the mud and comprehension slowly dawns where the life in our mothers’ breasts originated.
I do respect and honor the female principle and often refer the Sun as ‘her’ and ‘she’ but want to remind us that this a human dichotomy. Mythology informs us that the first human was created as a creature that was like the gods: both male and female at the same time. Our creator cleaved us into separate sexes even as most of life on this planet is.
Mary Coyote on March 22, 2008, 4:07 PM
Lostinspace:
I want to point your attention to two things I posted:
—‘in this twenty first century scientific world we need a god that MEASURES OUR UNDERSTANDING rather than insulting our knowledge with obsolete Bronze Age fantasizes.’
—‘meditate on the line that runs from your spirit to the center of the Sun, to the center of our Milky Way galaxy, to the center of the universe from whence it all sprang. Where will we find The Goddess?’
.
First, be clear that my spiritual arguments are based upon our understanding of how the universe works. Of course our scientific knowledge is limited, but it is the only ruler we have with which to measure god. And in the 21’st century we don’t need mumbo-jumbo; we need a faith that will spur us to escape these ‘Progress Traps’ (Ronald Wright) that we have created for ourselves: Energy Scarcity and Climate Change. Bronze Age nor New Age beliefs don’t fit within these parameters.
Second, if we follow your argument and apply our scientific understanding to it, then The Goddess (‘not a god, but The God’) that you seek is at the center of our Galaxy, the Milky Way. At the center is a black hole, ‘condensing, gathering, moving (everything) to the centre.’ Thus destructive or consuming ‘Female energy.’
It follows then that the Sun, like other stars are ‘Male energy,’ in that their essence is ‘expanding, separating, moving away from the centre.’
Thirdly I want to repeat that sex a human-centric dichotomy. When speaking of gods/goddesses, sex is irrelevant. Sex is a property of physical life as experienced on this planet, but probably is not useful in attempting to accurately describe things beyond this physical plane.
I understand the desire to break down the universe into a duality, or mirror images that comprise the whole (such as male/female, up/down, right/wrong, negative/positive), but I think that these are phenomena of this physical plane and are useless tools with which to explore the spiritual.
Mary Coyote on March 22, 2008, 4:31 PM
Lostinspace posted:
Male energy: expanding, separating, moving away from the centre.
Female energy: condensing, gathering, moving to the centre.
.
So we are in agreement then.
Using the measurement tool of your belief system, we find that the Sun indeed is the male creator god: ‘expanding, separating, moving away from the centre.’ Remember that the Sun is a monstrous blast furnace expanding its energy and influence far into space.
The earth then is the Sun’s daughter: created from the Sun’s leftovers; gathering and storing the Sun’s energy within her biosphere, and eventually gathering all leftovers into her bosom as the process of life and geological action buries what-was, deep within her secret realms.
So then my illustrations jibe with your philosophy and there was no reason for you to create a seeming disagreement with my prayer:
Our father, who art in heaven;
our mother, the earth:
we are your children…
dennis ilic on March 23, 2008, 10:56 PM
I’ve responded to your questions on “What is your definition of God? 100 words or less”.
Mary Coyote on March 24, 2008, 9:50 PM
healingzero:
Thanks, I will try to find it. This site is difficult to navigate. I suggest posting the URL to make it easier
pokój! on May 1, 2008, 2:05 PM
Hi Coyote… Here is something you might find interesting from C.S.Lewis’ essay: “The Weight of Glory” (sorry its long, but I try to include as much of him as I can when quoting him…)
"And this brings me to the other sense of glory – glory as brightness, splendour, luminosity. We are to shine as the sun, we are to be given the Morning Star. I think I begin to see what it means. In one way, of course, God has given us the Morning Star already: you can go and enjoy the gift on many fine mornings if you get up early enough. What more, you may ask, do we want? Ah but we want so much more – something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and the mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to SEE beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words – to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it. That is why we have peopled air and earth and water with gods and goddesses and nymphs and elves – that, though we cannot, yet these projections can enjoy in themselves that beauty, grace, and power of which Nature is the image. That is why the poets tell us such lovely falsehoods. They talk as if the west wind could really sweep into a human soul; but it can’t. They tell us that “beauty born of murmuring sound” will pass into a human face; but it won’t. Or not yet. For if we take the imagery of Scripture seriously, if we believe that God will one day GIVE us the Morning Star and cause us to PUT ON the splendour of the sun, then we may surmise that both the ancient myths and the modern poetry, so false as history, may be very near the truth as prophecy. At present we are one the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get IN. When human souls have become as perfect in voluntary obedience as the inanimate creation is in lifeless obedience, then they will put on its glory, or rather the greater glory of which Nature is only the first sketch. For you must not think that I am putting forward any heathen fancy of being absorbed into Nature. Nature is mortal; we shall outlive her. When all the suns and nebulae have passed away, each one of you will still be alive. Nature is only the image, the symbol; but it is the symbol Scripture invites me to use. We are summoned to pass in through Nature, beyond her, into that splendour which she fitfully reflects.
And in there, in beyond Nature, we shall eat of the tree of life. At present, if we are reborn in Christ, the spirit in us lives directly on God; but the mind and, still more, the body receives life from Him at a thousand removes – through our ancestors, through our food, through the elements. The faint, far-off results of those energies which God’s creative rapture implanted in matter when He made the worlds are what we now call physical pleasures; and even thus filtered, they are too much for our present management. What would it be to taste at the fountainhead that stream of which even these lower reaches prove so intoxicating? Yet that, I believe, is what lies before us. The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy."
I can’t describe the chills I get when I read this…
pokój! on May 1, 2008, 2:05 PM
Hi Coyote… Here is something you might find interesting from C.S.Lewis’ essay: “The Weight of Glory” (sorry its long, but I try to include as much of him as I can when quoting him…)
"And this brings me to the other sense of glory – glory as brightness, splendour, luminosity. We are to shine as the sun, we are to be given the Morning Star. I think I begin to see what it means. In one way, of course, God has given us the Morning Star already: you can go and enjoy the gift on many fine mornings if you get up early enough. What more, you may ask, do we want? Ah but we want so much more – something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and the mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to SEE beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words – to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it. That is why we have peopled air and earth and water with gods and goddesses and nymphs and elves – that, though we cannot, yet these projections can enjoy in themselves that beauty, grace, and power of which Nature is the image. That is why the poets tell us such lovely falsehoods. They talk as if the west wind could really sweep into a human soul; but it can’t. They tell us that “beauty born of murmuring sound” will pass into a human face; but it won’t. Or not yet. For if we take the imagery of Scripture seriously, if we believe that God will one day GIVE us the Morning Star and cause us to PUT ON the splendour of the sun, then we may surmise that both the ancient myths and the modern poetry, so false as history, may be very near the truth as prophecy. At present we are one the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get IN. When human souls have become as perfect in voluntary obedience as the inanimate creation is in lifeless obedience, then they will put on its glory, or rather the greater glory of which Nature is only the first sketch. For you must not think that I am putting forward any heathen fancy of being absorbed into Nature. Nature is mortal; we shall outlive her. When all the suns and nebulae have passed away, each one of you will still be alive. Nature is only the image, the symbol; but it is the symbol Scripture invites me to use. We are summoned to pass in through Nature, beyond her, into that splendour which she fitfully reflects.
And in there, in beyond Nature, we shall eat of the tree of life. At present, if we are reborn in Christ, the spirit in us lives directly on God; but the mind and, still more, the body receives life from Him at a thousand removes – through our ancestors, through our food, through the elements. The faint, far-off results of those energies which God’s creative rapture implanted in matter when He made the worlds are what we now call physical pleasures; and even thus filtered, they are too much for our present management. What would it be to taste at the fountainhead that stream of which even these lower reaches prove so intoxicating? Yet that, I believe, is what lies before us. The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy."
I can’t describe the chills I get when I read this…
pokój! on May 1, 2008, 2:06 PM
sorry for the duplicate
Mary Coyote on December 21, 2008, 5:44 PM
Sorry, I do not share your enthusiasm.
Lewis is arguing that god exists solely in the quantum world, or in the Big Bang that originated this universe rather than in the real here and now. Perhaps god is the Logos or the recipe or code that generated the Big Bang. This places god %u201Cat a thousand removes%u201D from our current experience. And we will not again see god until the universe contracts back into the space it exploded from.
Of course Lewis is speaking of the personal experiences of individuals, so a condensed version of his argument may be: %u201Ccreation begins and ends within the consciousness of the individual experiencing it,%u201D as taught in Wellness Centers.
And if are allowed to so contract Lewis’ poetry (despite his claims that individual consciousnesses outlive the universe) then it becomes obvious that it is the experience of the individual that defines creation.
If we apply a little quantum science at this juncture, we discover that indeed the individual (the observer in quantum language) creates the universe when they decide what is to be even before they turn around to see. That the universe can not exist without a conscious observer.
And then we throw in some Higgs interaction theory and it becomes obvious that Matter is not what is real, but is merely the reaction of particles (which are made up of mostly nothing) moving rapidly through space. That matter is %u201Ccreated%u201D the same way friction is created by a reaction rather than being the first cause of reactions.
Yet immense masses of these particles (which are made up of mostly nothing) clump together to create our star, the Sun and the planet we walk upon and our bodies and the bodies we eat for energy and everything that surrounds us. This clumping together of quantum particles that behave in a manner so strange as to be described as %u201Cmagic%u201D or god-like, moving at massive speeds though space, magically create Matter as a secondary reaction, or as if an afterthought.
Yet, paradoxically, Matter seems to require the individual consciousnesses that dwell within this clumping of particles to exist.
So does god dwell in the particles that drive the existence of the universe, or within the consciousness of the observers? Or both? Or is god merely the logos, or the rule that allows this magical universe to exist? Or all three?
This being much too complex for me, I shift my gaze to the relationship of the Sun and the Earth, for it is that intense relationship that allows life and consciousness to exist in this part of the universe. And in that I find our father and our mother and god.
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