Light of consciousness

Although Jung's predominate journey was exploring his inner world, he also did a fair amount of traveling in the outer world. Again, from Memories, Dreams, and Reflections, in the chapter entitled, "Travels", Jung recounts two experiences with the myths of light and the sun. In America he visited a Pueblo Indian tribe and talked to a member of this tribe about their spirituality. The man who believed the sun was God said, "We are a people who live on the roof of the world, we are the sons of Father Sun, and with our religion we daily help our father go across the sky. We do this not only for ourselves, but for the whole world." He said that if they didn't perform this daily ritual, eventually, the sun would no longer rise.  Later, in his travels in Africa, Jung came to know members of a tribe who performed a ritual to "the sun at the moment of rising" because "the moment that light comes is God. That moment brings redemption, release." It was not the sun that was God, but the moment it appeared that was God. Jung was impressed with both of these rituals because he believed that "the longing for light is the longing for consciousness." Focusing on what's "in the light" with my photography helps me to connect to my natural environment, and  remembering my dreams helps me to connect with my inner world, bringing my unconscious to consciouness. In these rituals I find a meaning and purpose that keeps me in "the moment."