Sun-Gazing and Grounding Benefits for Mind, Body, and Energy
A Spark from the Sun
In the 2000s, stories of Hira Ratan Manek, an Indian engineer who claimed to live for over 400 days on sunlight and water, sparked curiosity and disbelief in equal measure.
Whether myth or metaphor, his devotion to the sun mirrors something ancient — a truth woven into every cell of our bodies.
We are, quite literally, beings of light.
Not in a poetic sense alone, but in the biological sense: photons — packets of solar energy — shape our hormones, our circadian rhythms, our mood, and even our mitochondria’s ability to produce energy.
Perhaps we don’t need to live on sunlight to be nourished by it.
But we do need to live with sunlight — and the Earth beneath our feet.
The Forgotten Language of Light
Sunlight is more than brightness. It’s information.
When morning light enters the eyes, it stimulates specialised photoreceptors that send signals to the suprachiasmatic nucleus — the brain’s master clock. This synchronises cortisol, melatonin, body temperature, and metabolism in a rhythm as old as time itself.
Research shows that early light exposure improves alertness, mood, and sleep quality by aligning our circadian rhythms with the solar day (Cajochen et al., 2011, Frontiers in Physiology). Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman emphasises that stepping into natural light within an hour of waking not only boosts wakefulness but also supports dopamine pathways that influence motivation and wellbeing (Huberman Lab Podcast, 2021).
Later in the day, red and near-infrared wavelengths penetrate the skin, stimulating mitochondria — our cells’ powerhouses — in a process called photobiomodulation. These wavelengths have been linked to enhanced cellular repair, improved circulation, and reduced inflammation (Hamblin, 2017, BBA Clinical).
In essence: light is not just seen; it is felt and translated into biological vitality.
Feet on the Earth: Remembering Our Roots
Just as the sun feeds us light, the Earth feeds us electrons.
The simple act of walking barefoot on natural ground — known as earthing or grounding — allows for an electrical connection between the body and the planet. The Earth’s surface carries a negative charge, and when we make skin contact, electrons flow into the body, neutralising free radicals and reducing inflammation.
Studies by Chevalier et al. (2012) in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health found that grounding can improve sleep, modulate cortisol levels, and even reduce blood viscosity — a key marker in cardiovascular health. Another pilot study showed that grounded subjects experienced faster wound healing and reduced pain (Chevalier, Melvin, & Barsotti, 2015).
Beyond physiology, grounding reawakens a sensory intimacy with life.
Each step on grass or sand is a reminder that healing is not always found in technology, but in contact — with soil, sun, and stillness.
Between Myth and Science
Manek’s story sits at the border of belief and biology.
While science does not confirm that humans can photosynthesise energy like plants, his devotion to the sun offers a potent symbol: that nourishment extends beyond food.
In a world obsessed with consumption — of calories, media, and noise — perhaps his “solar diet” was less about sustenance and more about stillness.
It reminds us that energy isn’t only measured in kilojoules, but in coherence — the harmony between body, mind, and environment.
Modern Malnutrition: The Starved Nervous System
Many of us now live in chronic separation from natural light and ground.
We rise under artificial blue light, spend the day indoors, and scroll under LED moons at night. The nervous system becomes over-stimulated yet under-nourished, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disruption.
This mismatch between biology and environment is what neuroscientists call circadian desynchrony — a silent disruptor linked to metabolic dysfunction, mood disorders, and immune imbalance (Walker, 2017, Why We Sleep).
We are designed for sunrise, sunset, and soil — not perpetual screen glow.
Simple Rituals for Reconnection
🌅 Morning Light Practice
Step outside within 30–60 minutes of waking. Let sunlight reach your eyes (without sunglasses). Even two minutes begins the circadian reset.
👣 Barefoot Moments
Spend 10 minutes a day with bare feet on grass, soil, or sand. Feel the pulse of the Earth beneath you.
🧘 Sun-Stillness Meditation
At dawn or dusk, sit facing the sun with eyes closed. Breathe deeply, feel warmth on your skin, and imagine your cells remembering their natural rhythm.
🪶 Digital Sunset
After dark, dim lights and screens to mimic dusk, helping melatonin rise naturally for deeper sleep.
The Light We Carry
In every cell, photons dance.
In every breath, the memory of forests, oceans, and fire still hums.
We are not separate from sunlight and soil; we are extensions of it — biology wrapped in consciousness.
The man who lived on sunlight may remain a mystery, but his story invites us to rediscover our own luminous potential:
to feed not only on what we eat, but on what we allow ourselves to feel — warmth, rhythm, connection, and the living Earth itself.
🧠 References
- Cajochen, C., et al. (2011). Circadian and light effects on human alertness and cognitive performance. Frontiers in Physiology, 2, 70.
- Chevalier, G., Melvin, G., & Barsotti, T. (2015). One-hour contact with the Earth’s surface (grounding) improves inflammation and blood flow—A randomized, double-blind, pilot study. Health, 7, 1022-1059.
- Huberman, A. (2021). Using sunlight to optimize sleep, mood, and hormones. Huberman Lab Podcast Ep 3.
- Hamblin, M. R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. BBA Clinical, 6, 113–124.
- Chevalier, G., et al. (2012). Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 291541.
- Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. Scribner.