The Medicine of Light

9pm Sunsets

Last summer I took circadian rhythm seriously for the first time. I was house/garden/dog sitting for my friend Emily on Cordova Bay, Vancouver Island for 6 weeks of the summer with one stipulation by her overbearing landlord: I couldn't have guests. I suppose this was a preview of life in quarantine, in a setting that was optimal for profoundly healing self-care.

I remember how I felt on day one at Emily's when the sun blasted me out of bed. The morning light on the water was intensely reflective; it hurt my eyes, I was groggy and felt confronted by the sun's rays. By the end of the summer I had become what Susan Sarandon refers to as a "sunrise addict." I rushed down to the beach in the mornings with Emily's dog Arrow, intent on getting down to the ocean while the tide was out, leaving us this expansive stretch of sandbar. (I was also intent on finishing our walk before the old lady morning squad made it out with their dogs whistles and chatterboxes!)

with Arrow (all summer) at Cordova Bay, BC

I became alert at dawn and tired at dusk, replacing caffeine with mango lassis and watermelon juice. Arrow and I hiked the forests in the afternoons, when the heat of the day was too hot for the beach. I became passionately dedicated to Em's vitamix, dehydrator, and lush oceanside garden that opened my heart to the wonders of growing food. I think this was the healthiest period of my life.

I invite you to consider how light is medicine to you, and become more educated about mitigating the negative effects of blue screens, junk lighting and schedules that push us beyond the natural rhythm of the sun.

link to my SUN WORSHIP playlist (this might be the best playlist I've made yet)
link to my Medicine of Light podcast episode with the Blind Biohacker