MondaySchool: The Sun and Us
Week of June 23, 2025: Recognizing and integrating the symbolic sun to become more ourselves.
MondaySchool is a weekly offering to help us building relationship with Divine Wisdom in our everyday life, art, and work.
I. Word / Image / Idea
grow something good
Anything is possible when you’re sowing the seeds of love.
From “Sowing the Seeds of Love” by Tears for Fears. This beautiful video exemplifies why I love this band so much.
he painted them from memory
goodness gracious
The experience of the Sun, at least for me, cannot be separated from the experience of life and love, the kind of love that infuses one with joy and gratitude for the simple beatitude of being. Sometimes it feels like a big locomotive light in the middle of one’s chest.
I often wonder at the punning in the worlds light, life, love, laughter. They all begin for us with the sound “el,” and of course el means Lord in Hebrew. And B-aal, etymologically, means the Son (sun) of the Lord and is cognate with our word ball. A ball is a perfect sphere or three-dimensional circle. The Sun is associated, astrologically, with fire, heat, light, and life, and in the body with the heart.
Sun : solar system = heart : body
You can see how the symbolism of the glyph (☉) hints at the essence and totality of “being,” the very process of fire.
What is so unique about this element of fire? Why is it present on the altars of so many religions?
It defies gravity, reaching to its source.
It consumes.
It is hot, both comforting and terrifying.
Most significantly, unlike the other three elements of earth, air, and water, it can be shared without being diminished. Like love, the more you give away, the more there is. This can be demonstrated. You can prove that one candle can light an infinite number of candle flames, providing they in turn light others. Similarly, one seed can generate an indefinite number of others, providing the new ones go on generating more.
From “From glyph to image,” Jungian Symbolism in Astrology, by Alice O. Howell (Wheaton: Quest Books, 1987).
II. Reflection / Prompts / Prayer
I know sometimes it may seem impossible, but here is something I recognize about people today: we have forgotten how to be symbolic. That is, we have become so literal-minded and material-oriented that we have diminished our capacity to perceive quiet, sacred, beautiful truths about how to be a real person in a real life.
(Bummer.)
The sun is on my mind at this time of year. Tomorrow, June 24th, is St. John’s Day (the birth of St. John the Baptist). I will never forget the experience of traveling with my husband, Richard, in Aix-en-Provence back in 2014 when we stumbled upon a big bonfire in the middle of the city in honor of this festival. I recall the unexpected hot fire on such a hot day, and witnessing the glee of the people who were celebrating. Part of me wanted to understand the historical significance this was all happening, and part of me wanted to dance half-dressed around the pyre with them.
I just took it all in, and made a mental snapshot of that moment, especially the blazing heat from both the intense summer sunlight of southern France and that crazy, massive bonfire in the middle of everything. I remember the giddy crowd chaos and sweat and traffic and being on an adventure and the symbolism of it all, even if I could not consciously understand.
The real trick of symbolic experience is, I think, not to overthink it. We must inwardly recall simply how to be with it, and then to remember your Self in the midst of it. In my experience, it is in these humble moments of recognition that we are changed the most. Because we remember what we are intimately connected to: Love in all her fascinating guises.
Prompts for contemplation
Take a quiet moment to contemplate the following questions:
What is Love asking me to remember?
How do I experience my inner sun?
How do I experience my symbolic fire?
Is that important or meaningful to you?
If yes, how is Love asking you to grow this light?
If no, how is Love asking you to consider this light?
In any case, how might you share your light-life-love-laughter in the world?
A prayer for the sun
Beloved Wisdom:
Help us to perceive the fire blooming in our chest. Help us to sense more deeply and firmly the mysterious ways in which you guide and gird us through the trials and joys of life. Help us to know you, mind you, and sense you in our comings and goings. Help us to recognize your language of the heart, and be delight in your laughter of the mind. Help us understand the ways that Love works in our lives, so we can get on board with your plan, instead of insisting upon our own.
Help us to listen, receive your guidance, and respond rightly.
Amen.
III. Tarot Reading for the Week Ahead
Question for this week:
How may we integrate our inner fire in life(a), art(b), and work(c)?
a) LIFE
Page of Pentacles
The material and the symbolic are two sides of the same coin. Take time to perceive how they play off of one another. Observe the simplest things in your life to understand, and enjoy. Inner fire is not a concept; it is a feeling, knowing, and allowing. This holding of the symbolic is what moves us into our next level of experience.
b) ART
Justice (XI)
Balance the inner and the outer in all things related to your creative exploration. Input/Output, perceiving/connecting, collecting/creating. The fire is that which motivates your eye and your hand. Love is at the fulcrum. Trust her to move you in the right direction.
c) WORK
Devil (XV)
Haha, see that fire he is using to prod you? Naughty Devil, don’t be such a jerk. Fire is a punishment if you are always being stoked by someone or something from the outside. Rather, *inner* fire is a true blessing. Flip that devil’s flaming scepter upside-down, and you get a torch to light the way.
Hope you have a beautiful week. Keep the faith. 💗
Love,
Allison
Thank you for reading.
My writing explores the (tricky!) process of realizing the true outlet for your creative Self in the world—what I call The Pathway of Creative Individuation. This includes developing your Creative Intelligence (CQ), building a bridge between inner and outer worlds, and crafting intentional life, art, and work.
I love to help brilliant, thoughtful, and courageous people realize the creative vocation they are seeking (but don’t yet know where to look). Learn more at allisonmondel.com
Allison this is *chef’s kiss* !❤️ love this: Help us understand the ways that Love works in our lives, so we can get on board with your plan, instead of insisting upon our own.
Help us to listen, receive your guidance, and respond rightly. … amen! Can’t wait for this Monday’s post !!