Turning Toward the Light: Lessons from Sunflowers, an Old Ship, and Letting Go
- Karen Armstrong
- Aug 25
- 2 min read
“Life shapes us in seasons, but it is what we choose to carry forward that becomes our art.” - Karen Armstrong
Turning Toward the Light
This August, I’ve been reflecting on lessons gathered from both travel and home. Like sunflowers bending toward the sun, an old ship weathering the surf, and the quiet work of letting go - each offers its own reminder of how to move forward with lightness.
Lessons from the Sunflowers
On a recent trip to the Northwest, I drove past rolling hills covered with fields of sunflowers. Most were still bowed in green-budded rest, but here and there a few early blooms had already lifted their faces to the sky.
Their instinct to follow the sun is deeply uplifting. I notice how their golden petals shine against blue skies, while their dark centers draw the eye inward. I’ve returned to them again and again in my art - reminders to seek what is life-giving, and to keep turning toward the light.
Weathered Yet Enduring
Later, while visiting Monterey Bay, I returned to Sea Cliff Beach, a place I once called home. Offshore, the remains of the old Cement Ship still rise above the surf. Storms and time have softened its edges, reshaping it into something weathered but still standing.
In its brokenness I see beauty, resilience, and quiet transformation. The marks of time remind me that endurance itself can be a kind of grace.
Lightening the Load
Back home, my husband and I have been slowly working through the process of clearing the possessions left after seasons of loss. One drawer at a time, we’ve been releasing what no longer serves - Inspired and guided by the book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.
Letting go is not only about endings, but about living with freedom. Like editing a painting, it’s the removal that allows the essentials to breathe. Each season invites us to set something down so our hands and hearts are open to what comes next.
Holding What Matters
Sunflowers, a weathered ship, and a lighter home - each carries the same quiet truth: change is inevitable. Some changes bring bright beginnings. Others ask us to grieve or release. All of them invite us to keep turning toward what matters most.
This month, I’m asking myself: What am I turning toward? I’d love to hear your reflections too.
A Gift for You
To support your own journey of renewal, I’ve created Making Room for Change - a gentle guide available in my Seasonal Library. It’s a small offering to help you create space for new possibilities.
Thank you for reading. Here’s to turning toward the light, together.
With heart,
Karen
Karen Armstrong Studio For the seasonally inspired heart
I have a mug I got at the Goodwill store that has your name as the artist . It’s a black cat that looks just like my Sammy who passed sitting next to a potted plant of lavender looking out over a green valley. So beautiful!