Who doesn’t love to watch the sunset, a daily spectacle that captivates hearts worldwide? Sunsets are caused by one simple thing: the scattering of light. As the sun dips below the horizon, light must travel through more of Earth’s atmosphere, which leads to a fascinating play of colours.
Rayleigh scattering is a key player in creating the colours we adore at sunset. When light enters molecules and small particles in the atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) scatter more than longer wavelengths. So as the sun’s light takes a longer parth at sunset, the short wavelengths are out of sigh, leaving reds, oranges and pinks to paint the sky.
Humidity also plays a part, as unfortunately can dust and pollution. Dusty cities are not good, but often lead to bright red fiery sunsets.
The Psychological Effects of Sunsets
Watching the sun set is a wonderful way to spend an evening, we can find peace looking out to the closing day, just like animals in the wild. Many artists, poets and writers find their creativity enhanced by watching the sunset.
Is a Red Sky at Night A Good Sign?
And what about the oft-quoted rhyme that ‘red sky at night, shepherd’s delight, red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning’. Is there truth in it? Yes, there is! A pure red sunset means the air in the west is clear, and that usually bodes well for farmers (and everyone else) for the following morning. Red sky the next morning however means low-pressure weather is coming (stormy weather!)
One quote that is not so true is that cows are lying down, because they think it’s going to rain. The Met Office says there is no truth to this one at all – it’s likely that the cows are just having a rest!
Where are England’s most Beautiful Sunsets?
Likely the tourist guides have not reached all the hidden beautiful sunsets. But some of the most dramatic places to see beautiful sunsets are Sandbanks (Dorset – where all the millionaires live), Seven Sisters (cliffs in East Sussex) and Ness Point (the first place to see the sun rise – in Suffolk).
Never waste any amount of time doing anything important, when there is a sunset outside that you could be sitting under. C JoyBell C
You want proof there’s a God? Look outside, watch a sunset. Frank E Peretti
Twilight Meditations (for Peaceful Evenings)
Sunset Gratitude is a beautifully written and illustrated book, packed with peaceful meditations to get through the end of each stressful day. Looking to the natural world for inspiration, just open up the date and read and absorb each large paragraph, before you go to sleep.
Find peace at the end of the day with words of encouragement and compassion. Find hope and gratitude, rather than let life’s worries get the best of you. Focusing on the transition from day to night, these meditations can also be read at dusk or sunset, the times when you may need a glimpse of hope the most.
This is a peaceful book (no ‘toxic positivity’ asking you to shout at yourself that you’re happy when you’re not!). Instead, try to practice each meditation with real empathy. Drawing on universal themes in nature, these meditations connect you to the setting sun.
When a tree falls, it offers nourishment to the forest floor. There is a richness within the tree as it provides sustenance and shelter to the understory of the forest. The same can be true, when we fall. Failure doesn’t mean we are not valuable. It is a redirection to the path we are meant to be on. Embracing the cycles of growth, decay and rebirth can help us move forward, during times of breakdown. Your life is full of value.
Living in a space that feels in between is difficult, especially if it feels like it’s lasting forever. If you’re in that space, focus on the goodness that is happening right now. Surrender all the desires that keep your heart from being present. What is meant for you will happen. Sometimes letting go is what needs to happen, so we can receive what’s on the way.
Emily Silva spent years working for corporations, until she took the leap to pursue her dreams. After training others in the banking and wine industries, she trained as a life and spiritual coach, and believes everyone has the power to create lives they dream of.
Wild Light: A Printmaker’s Day and Night
Wild Light: A Printmaker’s Day & Night is a unique book of over 70 original illustrations to invite you to look at how light changes the world around us, and how that changes us in turn.
Find inspiration from how the light changes in the mornings, evenings and at midday:
The bouncing light of a cloud-filled storm sky can change a seascape through a palette of blues, greys and turquoises.
The cool summer moonlight across a back garden shed sends long shadows that change the mood of the garden.
The low light of an English February afternoon or the bright sharp mid-morning light of the Cornish seaside, can affect our moods.
Angela Harding is a print artist, who trained in Fine Art and went onto study printmaker, and now lives in the small county of Rutland, where she works in a studio at the bottom of her garden.
