September sunlight's precious power

The September sun is rich and sweet, but plaintive somehow. As it angles further and further down the southern sky each passing day, its rays start pleading me to tramp once more the riverside path and absorb the fresh, clean, final warmth of summer.

We and all other complex life forms are utterly dependent on sunlight, either using it directly to produce food through photosynthesis, or consuming its products. No wonder, then, the shortening of days shakes life in extreme latitudes to its roots.

Rhythms of life

It is light levels, more than frost or changing weather, which trigger deciduous trees to discard their leaves and grow dormant. The southward movement of the sun also signals birds to gorge food in preparation for their long migration.

Photobiology studies the interaction of light with living things and how we can protect ourselves from any negative effects. Its impact on human society is profound.

Social and economic factors these days tend to disrupt the natural circadian rhythms our bodies require over the course of 24 hours. Light is a primary factor that influences psychological and physiological changes affecting our sleep, alertness and emotions.

Celebrating the seasons

Seasonal changes affect people profoundly, too. During September and October, as darkness begins to infringe on our normal activities, we notice the sun's withdrawal most acutely. This may alter or curtail our outdoor activities long before the weather does. The psychological impact on human society as a whole is profound. According to the Northern County Psychiatric Associates in Baltimore, MD:

Throughout the centuries, poets have described a sense of sadness, loss and lethargy which can accompany the shortening days of fall and winter. Many cultures and religions have winter festivals associated with candles or fire.

Harvest feasts fulfill a natural compulsion to store food in our bodies against the scarcity of winter, the same way bears store fat in preparation to hibernate. Almost everyone feels more tired at this time of year, as our bodies conserve energy. Yuletide and winter solstice celebrations attempt to brighten the darkest season and celebrate the sun's apparent backtracking toward our hemisphere.

Rhythm to an extreme

For some people this physiological process becomes extreme, leading to a form of depression that interferes with functional behaviour. Individuals may experience constant tiredness, food cravings and weight gain, difficulty performing normal tasks at work or home, anxiety, despair and social withdrawal. It may account for the high suicide rate associated with northern regions like Canada and Scandinavia.

This well-documented condition is called Seasonal

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