In today’s world, it feels like we’re losing touch with nature, and it’s taking its toll on health and happiness. We’re on a mission to reaffirm the importance of connecting with nature’s elements to restore balance and harmony in our lives.  

We explore the science behind why nature is good for us, remind ourselves of the joy of the great outdoors, and discover how Breeze House can enhance the experience. Having journeyed through the elements of water and earth, let’s discover the transformative energy of fire. 

Great Ball of Fire

Ancient cultures around the world looked on the sun as a god. The great ball of fire in the sky was known as Ra in Egyptian mythology, Helios in Greek mythology, and Surya in Hinduism. To them, the sun symbolised creation, energy, and the cycle of life. 

Egyptians and Greeks imagined the sun travelling across the sky in a chariot or boat driven by a deity. These civilisations tracked the sun’s path for planting seasons, harvest times, and celestial occurrences like solstices and equinoxes. The sun influenced their daily routines, as well as being a source of wonder and spiritual connection with the cosmos. 

The Mayans built Chichen Itza so that during the equinoxes, the sun casts a shadow resembling the feathered serpent deity Kukulkan, appearing to slither down the pyramid steps to bless the earth. This architectural marvel illustrates the profound significance of the sun in Mayan spirituality and cultural traditions. 

Compare this reverence to modern times, where our lifestyles often deprive us of natural sunlight, leaving us fixed in the beam of blue light emitting from our screens. 

Kissed by the Sun

Feeling the sun on your skin offers more than just a warm glow—it provides essential physiological benefits. Sunlight stimulates the production of vitamin D, crucial for maintaining healthy bones and supporting immune function. Moreover, exposure to sunlight helps regulate blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart conditions. 

Beyond its physical benefits, sunlight plays a vital role in mental health by boosting serotonin levels in the brain. This neurotransmitter not only enhances mood but also increases energy levels, promoting a sense of vitality and well-being. Embracing sunlight is not just about soaking up its rays—it’s about nurturing our bodies and minds with the natural energy and warmth of the sun. 

Factors like longer working hours, artificial lighting and overheated homes are knocking our internal body clocks out of kilter and contributing to what we consider 21st century ailments, like obesity and sleep problems.  

Morning Light

Our circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. It is influenced by external cues like light and temperature and is driven by the body’s internal “biological clock.” For our body clocks to work optimally they need to be set to the real day and for that we need exposure to the light dark cycle, especially the morning light.  

Julia Bradbury, in her book, Walk Yourself Happy, writes:  

“Morning light is crucial because it readies our bodies for the twenty-four hours to come. Put simply, the light at sunrise is key, because this is when the sun starts to splay out its colours, and these early colours interact and go to work on the human brain. We soak up that light through our eyes…and there’s a newly discovered third photoreceptor that interacts with the ‘master clock’ in the brain – the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) – sending a message to every cell telling it to get ready for the tasks that lie ahead.”  

Julia Bradbury

The sun directs a rainbow of colours at us all day, along with infrared and ultraviolet light. Each colour benefits our bodies in different ways. Blue light, while excellent for illuminating a room or tech devices, only disrupts our circadian rhythm. 

Research conducted in June 2019 by a team of scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France examined the effects of prolonged circadian rhythm disruption due to shift work. Worryingly, the study concluded that disrupting sleep patterns is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”  

Step into the Light

Access to natural light was never a concern for our ancestors. They structured their lives around access to daylight. In contrast, a 2016 survey found 75% of children in the UK spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. 

Studies indicate that bathing in morning light between 8 am and midday is most beneficial for health. Even on cloudy days, it’s advised to step outside to catch your lux (the measurement of light).  

A Breeze House is the ideal indoor-outdoor refuge to maximise exposure to natural light, whatever the weather. This sheltered environment gets us absorbing daylight and away from devices. On hotter days, a Breeze House also offers shade from too much exposure to harmful UV rays and a place to linger on balmy summer evenings. 

Rays of Inspiration

A Breeze House makes the perfect spot to appreciate the beauty of different light and natural phenomena. The vibrant hues of a sunrise can fill the morning with promise, setting a hopeful tone for the day. As the morning unfolds, imagine the mesmerising sun glitter dancing on a nearby lake, creating a sparkling surface that shifts with the breeze. 

As the day progresses, the golden hour bathes everything in warm, honeyed tones, casting long, soft shadows that make the world seem more magical and serene. On rare occasions, you might be lucky enough to see sun dogs, those bright spots that appear on either side of the sun, adding a touch of wonder to the sky. 

The sun offers warmth, light, direction, and a sense of time. When night falls, it’s our signal to rest and recharge. Trees give us shelter, firewood, and timber. Animals are our companions, help with work, and provide food. Streams and rivers supply fresh water for drinking and washing – just a few reasons why nature is good for us.

Throughout the day, dappled light filters through the trees, creating playful patterns of light and shadow that alight on the smooth posts, upholstery and tabletop of a Breeze House. As the day winds down, the deep, rich colours of a sunset provide a perfect backdrop for reflection and relaxation. 

The ever-changing sky, from the first light of dawn to the soft twilight, offers an endless array of breathtaking sights. Every moment is a reminder of the awe-inspiring power of the great ball of fire in the sky.