Solar Energy

Dec 7, 2011 by HHNSTAFF

By: Pam Fox

Since long before the invention of the modern combustion engine, before the steam engine, before man harnessed the power of the wind with a sail and eons before oil and coal even existed on the planet, the energy of the star we call Sun has blown across the solar winds of time and space warming our blue planet, turning it green, engendering and feeding every living thing that grows, burrows, climbs, flies, swims, walks or breathes.

Before the idea of being a sun worshipper conjured images of teenagers on spring break lying blanket to blanket on a beach in Cancun, heavily oiled and “soaking up some rays”, cultures all over the world literally worshipped the sun as a deity. And no one out worshipped the Aztecs. They believed that without human sacrifice the Sun God, Tonatiuh , would stop moving through the sky, and some say they sacrificed up to 20,000 of their people a year to keep Tonatiuh happy. One wonders why they couldn’t give it a day or two to test their theory.

But, superstition aside, the energy of the sun has more to offer us than a tan, and neither human sacrifice nor deification and adoration can come close to paying tribute to the awesome power and largess of the Sun.

Scientists say that we could power the entire United States with just 100 miles squared of solar panels. According to Wikipedia: “The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year. In 2002, this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year. Photosynthesis captures approximately 3,000 EJ per year in biomass. The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast that in one year it is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined.”

And we call it an alternative fuel source.

On December 23^rd, we celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of winter. On December 24^th the days begin to lengthen again and we move with hope and anticipation towards the rebirth and renewal of spring. But in these cool winter months, let us pause to reflect with gratitude on the power of what the Romans called Sol Invictus…the Unconquered Sun. It seems the ancients understood better than we do what a gift we are being offered in solar energy.

Every day we are showered with “star dust” from our own personal star. It is, on a human scale, an eternal and infinite source of clean, life giving energy. In this age of technology, when we finally have the ability to unwrap and open this star studded gift, why do we allow ourselves to be blinded by the fools’ gold of petroleum and coal? We are the stuff of stars. Shouldn’t our energy source be the same?

The Roman’s called the Sun by the name Sol Invictus. For a time, the Roman Empire had one religion, and Sol Invictus was its deity. They celebrated the Sun God with a great feast and celebration on December 25^th, a date that Christians would later claim as the birth date of Jesus. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, on December 25^th give a thought or two to the gifts we all enjoy under the loving gaze of the Sun.

About Pam:

Pam is one of only a handful of certified Lipsologists in the world and is located in Scottsdale, AZ. For more information, or to schedule a reading, you can find Pam Fox at www.LipStory.com. Email her at pam@lipstory.com.