International Day of Light

16th May

‘Pointing to another world will never stop vice among us; shedding light over this world can alone help us.’

Walt Whitman

Where there is darkness, there is also light waiting to be found. Without light; culture, art, science, medicine, technology, education and sustainability cannot be appreciated or developed on a global level.

Celebrate all that can be accomplished with the aid of light but remember to conserve energy. Switch off for nature. Turn off unused technology and light switches when they are not needed. Our impact on the planet should be responsible and resourceful. Discover solar alternatives to electric light. Children in developing countries who often work the land during the day are now able to read at night thanks to solar kits. Have fun with this creative energy. All bright ideas start with light. Imagine your world in darkness? All the beauty of the world needs light to flourish and be seen. Perspective is enhanced by light. Your torch, lit up screen and keyboard, lighthouse out at sea, fog light, hazard light and car lights all seem necessary. If this energy was to run out, do you have candles to hand?

Get outside and soak in Vitamin D; natural daylight, sunshine and fresh air. Boost your mental health and physical wellbeing by reconnecting with nature. Depression is a form of darkness as is negativity. Not everyone lights up at the thought of happiness or socialising. To be in darkness, one must know what the Other is. Hamlet, Ophelia, Darth Vader or Saruman; they all accepted or denied the opposing element. We are controlled by binary opposition. Our lives are elements colliding with change and challenge. Light opens up new paths and warns us of danger. How we use or abuse light is a matter of personal integrity.

The International Day of Light celebrates the appreciation and impact of light on humans worldwide. A lightsaber can defend or destroy you.