The sun is the center of and the largest object in our solar system. It contains more than 99% of the total mass of our solar system. It is 1,390,000 km in diameter and has a mass of 1.989e30 kg. The temperature of the sun is 5800K on the surface and 15,600,000K at the core. It is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium.
Solar Deities
To the Greeks, the Sun represented the God Helios. To the ancient Romans, the God Sol. In ancient Egypt, Ra. In Japan it is the Goddess Amaterasu and the Norse Goddess is Sunna or Sol. The Aztec Sun God is Tonatiuh. Many other deities have been closely associated with the Sun.
Other Associated Dieties
Aditi, Ah Kinchil, Apollo, Aten, Brighid, Dhatara, Frey, Itzamna, Lucifer, Mithra, Mystere, Nitten, Paiva, Savitar
Astrology
Astrologically the sun represents the Self or the ego and rules the life force. It is symbolized by the unbroken circle that is the soul with a dot in the center to represent the spark of life. The sun also involves creative enterprises that are a projection of the person, from art and business to having children and parenthood (especially fatherhood). In female charts the sun is often thought to represent the men in their lives, particularly husbands. It also rules the fun side of life from sport and recreation to holidays and social events. The poet Marcus Manilius in his epic, 8000-verse poem, Astronomica, described the Sun, or Sol, as benign and favorable.
The sun is the ruler of the 5th house and the planetary ruler of the zodiac sign Leo.
The Sun is associated with Sunday. Dante Alighieri associated the Sun with the liberal art of geometry.
According to ancient cosmology, the Sun (and other planets) traveled around the Earth. The portion of the sky (or arc) that the sun travels in every year, rising and setting in a slightly different place each day, is therefore in reality a reflection of the Earth's own orbit around the Sun. This arc is larger the further north or south from the equator the latitude is, giving a more extreme difference in day and night and in the seasons during the year. The sun travels through the twelve signs of the zodiac on its annual journey, spending about a month in each. The Sun's position on a person's birthday therefore determines what is usually called his or her "star" sign, this makes sense, because the sun itself is a star.
In Chinese astrology, the Sun represents Yang, the active, assertive masculine life principle. In Indian astrology, the Sun is called Surya and represents the soul, kingship, highly placed persons, father.
Sun Signs
The Sun is the most important "planet" in astrology when it comes to determining a person's inner makeup. The Sun represents the Self. As the sun appears to travel through the arc of the sky, it gives the appearance of moving through the 12 signs of the zodiac, spending about a month in each. The Sun's position on the date of someone's birth determines their Sun Sign, also called zodiac or star sign. This is believed to have a great bearing on the person's overall personality makeup.
Planetary Correspondences for the Sun
The planetary energy of the Sun is stimulating and warm. It encourages growth and expansion as well as general good feelings all around. It may be used for magick related to the growth of anything; career, family, public influence, wealth, the garden, friendships, love, general abundance, employment opportunities, business. Because the Sun shines down on the whole world, and thus sees everything that happens, the Sun's planetary energy is occasionally used to find objects as well as protecting us from deception or being "kept in the dark". Looking at the Sun's universality in a different way, this energy can be used to find a common thread (we're all warmed by the same Sun) to encourage new friendships and partnerships and reconciliation where existing ones are threatened.
Many things that correspond to the planetary energy of the Sun also correspond to the elemental energy of Fire.
Healing
The sun is associated with the heart, circulatory system, the spinal cord and the thymus gland.
Solar Minerals
Metal Gold
Crystals/Stones Yellow, red and particularly bright, shiny crystals and stones tend to correspond to the energy of the Sun. diamond, ruby, chrysolite, yellow topaz, citrine, red garnet, chrysoprase and amber- fossilized tree sap said to contain the energy of the Sun as metabolized by the tree. Corundum and yellow Tiger's Eye show sparkling designs that remind one of the sun and of course, there is sunstone.
Crystals and metals that correspond to the planetary energy of the Sun can be worn, carried or placed on the body to encourage healing or to draw planetary energies ruled by the sun, such as abundance to the individual. They may also be used to create a gem elixir and ingested, assuming they do not contain toxic materials. Crystals can be placed in a location to draw the desired energies to your home, place of business or vehicle as desired, placed on the altar, held, or gazed upon to enhance energies being raised during spellwork or other focusing and manifesting exercises.
Solar Plants and herbs
Plants that resemble the sun in shape or color, that open during the day and close at night, that follow the sun's movements during the day, and those plants that are traditionally associated with the winter solstice as well as those that provide winter nourishment when fresh plants are unavailable, such as grains and nuts. Physically, edible Sun plants tend to encourage a feeling of warm satisfaction and medicinal plants affect the heart. sunflower, calendula, marigold, daylily, orange, citron, saffron, pine, mistletoe, rosemary, buttercup, heliotrope, bay laurel, daisy, walnut, acorn, maize, wheat, hops, cloves, cinnamon
Herbs can be incorporated into magick by placing them on the altar in the form of fresh flowers or dried potpourri or incorporated into incense to enhance energies raised during spellwork and ritual of a solar nature. They can also be carried or worn in a pouch or placed in an area to attract these energies. An herbal floor wash will infuse an area with the desired energies, or this may be accomplished via fumigation. Edible plants can be consumed as part of a meal or as part of an elixir or other herbal preparation. Those herbs that are skin-safe can be added to massage oils or fragrance sprays and ritual baths. Whole herbs or essential oils may be used.
*Incense* cinnamon, clove, pine, citrus, Benzoin, Pine, Frankincense, Labdanum, Olibanum
Sun fragrances are generous and, to me, home sweet home types of smells, with the exception of a few, which have "special occasion" feels to me. The sorts of smells that fill a temple, or the house on a day when lots of company is coming. Over at http://www.alchemy-works.com/planets_sun.html this family of scents is described as "glorious" and it suits.
Days and Holidays
The Winter Solstice is the day most strongly associated with Solar Energy, though it peaks at the Summer Solstice, it declines thereafter.
Sunday is the Sun's day.
Zodiac Leo is ruled by the sun.
Other Solar Correspondences
Animals Lion, Sparrowhawk, Griffin, hawk
While animal parts are used for magick in many traditions, they can be difficult or impossible to obtain and some animals are endangered, though you may find using feathers and fur of local animals to be feasible, using important bits of animals that aren't already raised and slaughtered for food isn't within the reach or moral compass of most modern witches. Using live animals subjects animals to discomfort and fear and is also not recommended. However, images of animals have a long history of use in magic and images of animals are quite easy to obtain as 2D pictures and 3D sculptures. If you are artistic, the very act of creating these images can help you more closely attune to their energy.
Colors Orange, amber, gold, yellow, red
Many magic-users bring color into their working through their choice of colored candles, altar cloth and other items placed on the altar. If you wish to bring solar energy into your daily life, you may choose corresponding colors for your clothing or even chose paint, curtains and carpet colors to draw solar energy into your space.
Magick Prosperity, wealth, wealth, growth, confidence, clarity, commonality, abundance, truth, harmony, partnerships.
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