Summer Fire ~ Sun Worship, Fire Pits and Passion! by Rev. Sandra Bargman

When I think of summertime, two images pop to mind immediately…sun worshiping on my lounge chair and sitting around late-night bonfires singing, storytelling, and solving the mysteries of the world.. I wisely stopped the baby-oil-sun-baking many years ago, and, though I may be a bit too busy to indulge in late-night bonfires, the symbolism of these two images is not lost on me. Interestingly, both of these activities have a great deal to say about my (our) spiritual life and understanding.

Let’s start with sun worshiping. The Sun has long been worshiped by ancient and indigenous cultures. To the Egyptians, the sun god, Ra, represented light, warmth, and growth. It was believed that Ra was the supreme deity and ruled all of creation. The Sun is associated with masculine energy in astrology and astrotheology. What is the basic nature of the masculine energy? What are its beauties? The great aspect of the masculine is that it is outwardly creative. The feminine creates within, receiving guidance and vision. The masculine takes action on this information. It wishes to explore, discover and build outwardly something that is an extension of itself.

Everyone has both masculine and feminine energy. With SuperWomen, it could be said that their masculine energy is well developed. This is a vital element in the desire to accomplish. Developing this strong drive to succeed can come at a price, however, where the feminine energies of softness, rejuvenation and stillness can, in the extreme, be considered weakness.  In fact, it’s not uncommon for the feminine to be dismissed as ineffectual. Knowing that we need both of these energies for optimum health and accomplishment, we need to stop and ask: How the masculine and feminine energies can become balanced?

This brings me to my fire pit.

From ancient times through the present, fire is a symbol of the light, love and Spirit within. We light candles in religious institutions, on alters, during meditations, all in celebration of this deep connection. Fire also represents purification and renewal, out of the ashes comes rebirth from the old into the new.

Fire speaks of passion. We typically think of passion as the fire within, that which excites us. Passion is often spoken of in sexual terms. We are told to follow our passion, but then are “told” to do this passively, quietly, sedately – living a life not quite fulfilled and not quite unfulfilled.

Passion is the Fire for Life.  It is the Fire for the experience of life. It is the desire to know yourself deeply. Our deep longing for something more, is our longing to reconnect to this FIRE. Sit with this for a few moments and then ask yourself this question: How often do I truly experience passion?

Take some time this summer to explore anew how you can connect to that deep fire within. How can you harness the energies of love, as De Chardin reminds us, and rediscover that FIRE WITHIN?

1. Light a candle and set aside time for quiet reflection. (Note: Can be done while sun worshipping)
2. Remember that journaling is an excellent way to discover your thoughts, desires, and internal yearnings. (Note: Can be done while sun worshiping)
3. Engage in counseling to get honest with yourself about the ways you may be restraining yourself, restraining your fire within.

Finally, remember that passion rises around what is most treasured and dear to us, and it propels us outward into compassionate action. It is internal guidance moving into inspired action. This is the balance of feminine and masculine energy.

Passion, the Fire Within, is our deepest wisdom and an experience of the sacred.

Passion is living life, your life, in its fullest expression.


Rev. Sandra Bargman, Spiritual Counseling
Meditation & Guided Imagery
Oriens Community Leader