The phrase "Long Time Sun" comes from a folk blessing popularized by the Scottish folk band The Incredible String Band (ISB) in their 1968 song, but it's often used as a yogic closing mantra, blending ISB's music with ancient spiritual traditions, especially Kundalini Yoga, turning it into a universal wish for divine light and love to guide you.
Origin & Popularization The Incredible String Band (ISB): Mike Heron of ISB wrote and performed the original song "A Very Cellular Song," which features the lyrics: "May the long time sun shine upon you / All love surround you / And the pure light within you / Guide your way on".
Yoga & Meditation: Yogi Bhajan introduced this verse to the West in the late 1960s, and it became a beloved closing chant in Kundalini Yoga and meditation circles, evolving into a powerful blessing for community and spiritual well-being.
"May the Longtime Sun Shine upon you All Love surround you and the Pure Light within you Guide your way on.
Sat Nam."
Meaning & Significance:
Universal Blessing:
The phrase isn't a specific word but a poetic blessing, asking for enduring light, love, and guidance from within.
Spiritual Roots:
It draws from various spiritual traditions, sometimes mistakenly called Irish or Sikh, but its widespread adoption in yoga cemented its meaning as a universal wish for inner radiance and divine presence. In essence, "Long Time Sun" is a beautiful, adaptable blessing that found its voice through folk music and blossomed into a cherished spiritual affirmation.
