I feel forever blessed after my meeting with the oceans. The existence has proofed that I am carried and part of it as well. In this article, I will share some of my most beautiful meetings with the light seen from a circumnavigation — a period of seven years in total. I will also share the wisdom and the many possibilities I picked up from being out there in the pure existence.
Wave by Wave
Our motto for the sailing adventure has been wave by wave. It has served us so well to be present to the moment, to take decisions and to find the next step. On the oceans we see the horizons all around us, and the sky vault above us — they show us the huge context.
As fear is about what can happen in the future, presence to the next wave is excellent medicine to stay grounded.
In waves one is always moving. What is alive is moving. That means I have to be alert all the time as I can’t look at every wave. Some will come and surprise me when I am inside. Since I know that I act carefully, and as yatchies says — always keep onto to something with one hand. So it is in life as well, we can’t foresee everything — but how do we take care about ourselves? The health statistics are a depressing read. At the ocean we must, otherwise we risk the life.
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” — Buddha
Light Is Essential
The Sun is the centre of the galaxy we exist in. It’s the light that gives life. Without light, nothing would grow or live. Light is the most essential for all of us. We wouldn’t exist without it.
The Sun is far away, very far away. It will take me around 170 years (days and nights) in a speed of 100 kilometres to come there. For a light ray, it takes eight minutes to reach me. That’s very quick, around 300 millions meter/second.
No wonder so many artists, we all, are intrigued. And no wonder there are many sun gods throughout history — Egypt’s Ra, the Greek Helios and Apollo, and more rarely goddesses as Japan’s Amaterasu, and the Nordic Sól who rides across the sky every day.
Light Is Hope
The Light is forever a reminder of hope. Everything that grows starts small. So, even the smallest ray of light can keep us in touch with the hope of seeing something blossom. Like a new day. A new chance to start over.
The Joy
The light makes me feeling happy. The sun and its rays take their place — reaching out in a big warm hug. I feel the warmth directly. I can’t stop to wonder how that shift in temperature can be sensed so quickly.
I got obsessed with the intensity of the light when the sun rose. I stayed at my post until the whole morning ritual of rising was completed. That first small pea was like a toddlers eye, so intense, and then it grew and grew. I zoomed in, as there was a secret to find.
Letting Go
A big theme has been letting go. Still is. The let go of material belongings after a whole life in Sweden were the first and hardest part. After that, I found out how deep and profound this topic is.
Watching the clouds — both how easily they grew big — and how easily and quickly they could disappear when they just let go of the rain, was calming. They taught me to let go with ease when it gets too much. Just marvel and love the process.
The Darkness
Sometimes there is no other choice than sailing right into thunder. It is scary, I admit. What helps is to remember that this too will pass. Everything passes. No matter what is happening, in the right moment there will always come a sign of hope. We need the darkness to see the light.
Sun Is Always Coming After Rain
I love this quote. It’s true. I am still checking every time after the rain.
Sometimes it is very welcome, as on the picture below. We were on day seven of ten from Reunion to Richards Bay in South Africa. Maybe the toughest passage of them all, with a very varied weather pattern. We were south of Madagascar and about to cross the Agulhas current, running north to south. You have to do that when the wind blows in the same direction, otherwise you can be drowned in a monster wave.
We had got warned that the wind were about to change, and the suggestion was to go back, or head north. But we thought that we had a problem with the motor, and were unsure how much we could use it. Between two bad choices, we chose to continue. As warned, the wind changed, and we had to tack. Luckily, it all went well. I was very relieved when we entered the quarantine doc — my very first time at the continent Africa.
The Cracks
The phenom on the sky vault that moves me the most are when the sun rays break through a dark sky.
Scientifically, in meteorology, they are called crepuscular rays. Others refer to the connection with heaven and call them God’s rays. In Japan, they call them the angels ladders. The Buddhist see this type of light as a symbol of wisdom.
I take it from Leonard Cohen’s famous line in Anthem: “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light comes in.” He puts the finger on how crucial that small opening is. Especially when it is as darkest.
I remember vividly when we were swaying in a storm on the Great Barrier Island, off Auckland, New Zealand. It rained and blew for days on end, but for a moment the light broke through, even then. As a reminder that something else also exists.
It’s a matter of remembering that the light is there. Always. Somewhere. Maybe not visual for us at the moment, but it will come. Often after the darkest time. To all of us.
Stay alert. Look for signs.
Stay Open
The scene below almost took my breath away. It was like God opened up the heart to show me how beautiful it is. Like so many other times, this was a short moment. Those moments are around us all the time, when we are open to see them. Slowness helps.
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you” — Rumi
The Magic
It doesn’t have to be big and bold to be magic. The presence is there, and that is what counts. The dark and the light highlight each other, and I witness.
Or maybe it is the other way around — the Sun is the witness.
The Magnificence
Witnessing the nature out at the oceans teach me to think bigger. Nothing is either or in nature. Crescendos are natural and part of the rhythm.
Nothing stops you to be fully out. There is space to be and to use all shades and expressions. Everything is allowed to grow and express itself on the same stage. No one needs to wait for their turn or be afraid.
Be great, take your place and express yourself is the message.
Everything co-exist. Everything can be its true nature at the same time.
“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are infinitely powerful. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.” – Nelson Mandela
The Simplicity
The Oceans have shown me the path to simplicity. To what really matters. Pure and simple. Freedom.
The Whole Palette of Colours
No less, then the whole palette with shades, more than 50. Even gold. That’s who we all are. When we remember. When we trust.
Creativity
The creativity is endless. The sky is like a playground. Wild experiments and tests are carried out here. The variations are endless, grand and magnificent. Everything exists simultaneously. The photos below has only five minutes in between.
It spills over on me. I started to write my first book on the Pacific Ocean, the sixth one on the Coral Sea, the seventh on the Indian Ocean and the eight one, Wave by Wave on the Atlantic. The flow continues — now I have moved ashore at Gran Canaria.
Say Yes
I feel tremendously grateful for the gifts I got from the oceans. I have learnt to embrace change and my own light and beauty. I know that new is as important as the end.
Say yes to the light. There is no doubt it’s there. Look for the light. It’s a choice.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Follow me on Medium. I write randomly about what comes to my soul. I wish you a wonderful day!
Anna Eriksson
Independent coach and author
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About the Author
Anna Eriksson is an executive coach from Stockholm, Sweden, who sold everything to sail and live on board with her husband.
She runs the company Avalona for CEO’s that are ready to raise their energy.
Read Anna’s Book – Wave by Wave: From City Stress to Oceanic Freedom published in 2025
Follow Anna and Arthur’s adventures at: wavebywave.se
Avalona – Executive and Team Coaching
Other Articles by Anna on Noonsite:
- South Atlantic Reflections Part 1 – From Cape Town to St. Helena
- Atlantic Reflections Part 2: St. Helena to Barbados
- South Africa: Checking out of Cape Town (January 2024)
- INSIGHTS: Cruising with the Moon (April 2021)
- INSIGHTS: Pacific Reflections (October 2020)
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