The Lighthouse
In this article, we will explore the multifaceted nature of the lighthouse. We’ll delve into its history, function, and purpose, but also into its symbolic meaning and how it relates to us as human beings. As we reflect, we may even become the lighthouse ourselves, finding inspiration and understanding from these towering objects of light standing tall across the world.
Since I was a child, lighthouses intrigued me. Their appearance, the stories surrounding them, and their role in guiding lost boats fascinated me. There was always something mystical about them, though I never paid close attention to that allure. Coming from a small Mediterranean country without lighthouses, they seemed even more exotic to me. The first one I saw was in southern England, in my twenties, standing distantly in misty, grey weather. I remember feeling a pull toward it. Was it just curiosity, or do lighthouses magnetically draw people in?
Over the years, I encountered a few more lighthouses, and every time, I wanted to get closer. However, it was a recent experience that sparked a deep connection and contemplation about these man-made marvels.
It was a sunny summer day on a broad white beach on the west coast of Northern Denmark. After stretching, I decided to run to a distant lighthouse perched on a cliff. I had no water, I was shirtless, and wearing barefoot shoes. It wasn’t going to be easy, but I decided to put mindfulness into practice. I reminded myself of some core mindfulness principles: letting go of control, embracing the unknown, and trusting the process. I knew I would need to ask people for water along the way due to the heat, but I also trusted in human kindness.
I am not much of a runner, but I am in good physical shape and felt the challenge would push both my body and mind. As I ran, I realized that lighthouses truly seem closer than they are. After half an hour, the lighthouse appeared no nearer. It struck me that, while I could see the lighthouse, I still had a long way to go. That moment brought clarity: I see the lighthouse, I will reach the lighthouse, I am the lighthouse.
We can take this idea as a metaphor for life. Just as I aimed to reach the lighthouse through deciding of being the lighthouse itself at the very moment, we, too, can now become the lighthouse. To finish my story, after running beach, climbing steep high stairs upto cliff, and navigating few kilometer through sand dunes, I finally reached the lighthouse. I rested in its shade, received water and sunscreen from kind strangers, and reflected on the journey that had brought me there.
Lighthouses were built worldwide to serve as orientation points for sailors lost at sea, to prevent them from crashing into coastal rocks, and to mark land with the shining light they project into the darkness. A lighthouse selflessly serves, turning in all directions, deeply rooted in the ground while majestically reaching toward the heavens. In many ways, these qualities can inspire us as human beings, symbolizing how we can stand firm in our purpose while illuminating the path for others.
Early lighthouses used oil lamps called Argand lamps as their light source. Even though today’s lighthouses use electrical lamps, the principle of using mirrors and lenses to amplify light remains the same. The Fresnel lens system, introduced in 1823, increased lighthouse luminosity significantly. Prior to its invention, the best mirrors produced around 20,000 candlepower, while Fresnel’s system elevated this to 80,000 candlepower. This amplification of light provides a striking metaphor for our own lives. Just as the right mirrors and lenses amplify light, so too do our thoughts, emotions, and actions amplify the energy we emit into the world.
The principle of reflection is simple: the angle at which light hits a surface determines the strength of the reflection. A steep angle results in a weak reflection, while a shallow angle produces a strong one. This can serve as a reminder for us to cultivate thoughts, emotions, and experiences that align with the light within us, guiding our own beam outward toward others. The lighthouse cuts through the darkness, concentrating its energy on the light, but also acknowledges the shadows cast by that light. As the wise saying goes, “The more light you shine, the more shadows you cast.”
It’s important to be aware of these shadows but not to let them define us. Our attention should always be on the light, for where attention goes, energy flows. Light and dark coexist, one cannot exist without the other. However, it is in times of darkness that the lighthouse serves its highest purpose.
In times of peace and light, the lighthouse may seem like any other building—perhaps a viewpoint from which to see the horizon. But it is its essence and tireless, selfless work during dark times that makes it so appealing and inspiring. Similarly, those who serve as beacons of light—guiding, helping, and caring for others—may not always be recognized or needed in times of calm, but their importance becomes undeniable in times of hardship.
We find ourselves in a world where darkness is increasing in many forms—wars, global warming, ecological disasters, and fear-based manipulation. Yet, in order to truly appreciate the light, we must first experience the dark. This is where the lighthouse becomes a powerful symbol for our potential to be sources of light for others, guiding them out of darkness and into safety.
We are capable of becoming lighthouses in our own lives and the lives of others, just as there are many lightworkers in the world today—people selflessly helping others and the planet, not for fame or money, but from a place of kindness and collective awareness. We can free ourselves from the attitudes that keep us in darkness by recognizing the light within us and amplifying it through mindfulness, compassion, kindness and self-awareness.
Quantum physics and neuroscience confirm much of what ancient teachings, such as Daoism and Buddhism, have known, studied, and practiced for millennia. The concept of balance, illustrated by the symbol of Yin and Yang, is central to understanding the interplay of light and dark and the role we play in that balance. Quantum entanglement, for example, demonstrates how particles of light can become intertwined, influencing each other even across great distances. This idea echoes the interconnectedness of all beings and how our actions, thoughts, and light can affect others, regardless of the distance between us.
While many people recognize the symbol of Yin and Yang, few know that it derives from ancient Chinese Taoist teachings and cosmology, which have been developed and practiced for millennia. This fundamental symbol dates back approximately 3,500 years and has been linked to the concept of quantum photon entanglement (particles of light). The University of Ottawa and Sapienza University of Rome have visualized the wave function of entangled photons, and this first-ever depiction of quantum entanglement mirrors the symbol of Yin and Yang.
Ancient Daoist practices speak of three aspects of our being: the physical body (Jing), the energetic body (Qi), and the spiritual body (Shen). Just like a lighthouse needs the proper arrangement of mirrors to focus its beam, we need to align these three aspects to cultivate and amplify our own light. When we care for our bodies, minds, and spirits, we can shine brightly and guide others through the darkness. In the ancient Daoism it is the Shen (spirit and mind) that is recognized as the louminous part of our being. We can either be bright, or not simply said and dependent on the other two.
It’s not an abstract concept—it’s a reality. The parallels between the lighthouse and human life become clear when we examine them closely. The right mirrors, the right angles, the right care—all of these help concentrate and project the light within us. The methods and tools for this transformation are available to all of us. It’s just about beginning the journey.
Be the lighthouse, the lightworker, the good human. Fulfill your potential, and let your light shine!
