Shirl Sazynski

The Far-Shining One Shirl Sazynski

Dæg. Sunne. Maponos. Saule. Lugh. Helios. Surya. Ra. Taiowa. Belenus. The Sun Goddess of Arinna. Without the Sun, life as we know it would not exist. An obvious statement, perhaps, but the profound, primal truth of it is reflected in the spiritual traditions and mythologies of people from around the world. In many, the Sun is the first Deity or one of the first generation who oversees the creation of the world. Sometimes the Sun is the keeper of time and order, an all-seeing guardian of justice. In many tales, the Sun warms the world of both the living and the dead, traveling to the underworld each night. And, ultimately, the loss of the Sun means the end of life, even the death of the whole world. This devotional is only the beginning, a small glance at a much larger subject. The poems, prayers, hymns, rites, essays, short stories, and artwork included here only hint at the vastness of the Deities and mythology of the Sun. It is our hope that this anthology - created by devotees of Solar Deities from all over the world - will inspire others to create their own celebratory works.