Yellow is more than just a primary color; it is an invitation. After the grey, dampened stretches of a coastal winter, the first flicker of yellow in the garden or across the horizon feels like a deep, collective exhale. It is the color of the “waking up” process—a vibrant, visual alarm clock that tells us life is resuming its rhythm.

The First Wave: A Buffet for Our Guests

The awakening begins at our feet. Before the flamboyant garden perennials make their appearance, there is the stately tulip and the humble dandelion. Often dismissed as a mere weed, the dandelion is a resilient bloom that was given its yellow quality for a reason: it was designed to be seen. For these lawn lions and tempting tulips the brilliance acts as a beacon for the first weary travelers of the season.

The Golden Prescription

For a long time, I lived in the shadows. There was a season of my life marked by the heavy fog of addiction, a time when I actively avoided the sun and the perceived “harshness” of bright yellows. I felt disconnected—not just from the light, but from the spiritual life I had been raised in.

Ironically, my path back to the light began in an unexpected place: a tanning salon. Working at Banana Tans became a doorway for me. What started as a job evolved into an education; I began to engage with the science of UV light, learning that balanced exposure is more than just a cosmetic choice—it is a foundational health requirement.

On a physical level, the results were undeniable—the balanced UV exposure virtually cured my eczema. Mentally, those controlled minutes of light provided a tangible mood lift, triggering a boost in serotonin that helped clear the internal fog. This experience served as a vital gateway, encouraging me to spend more time outdoors and embrace the natural sun. Eventually, this physical and mental “opening up” led to a serious reconsideration of my spiritual beliefs, helping me see that orb of light as a deliberate, healing gift.

The Golden Balance While UV exposure—whether from the sun or a controlled indoor environment—offers significant health benefits, it is not a “one size fits all” solution. The key to a successful life is balance in all things. If you are considering increasing your UV exposure for health reasons, it should be done thoughtfully and in consultation with your GP, a qualified health practitioner, or within a professional, monitored indoor tanning environment.

The Art of Forest Bathing

While a simple walk in the woods is undeniably beneficial, there is an entirely different level of healing found when you move beyond the path and truly immerse yourself in the environment. This is the heart of Shinrin-yoku, or Japanese forest bathing. It’s the difference between being a spectator and being a participant in the landscape.

For me, this often looks like napping on a moss-covered fallen tree, allowing the stillness to settle in. As I lay there, I watch the sunlight dapple and dance throughout the overhead canopy—a natural form of light therapy that feels more like a conversation than a treatment. These moments of deep immersion offer multi-level benefits that quiet the mind and prepare the spirit for the “golden prescriptions” of life.

The Breath of the Forest Trees are the guardians of the forest, and they are quite literal healers. They emit microscopic organic compounds called phytoncides—what my friend Robyn beautifully refers to as “tree breath.” When we breathe this in, it actually boosts our immune system. Combined with the rhythmic patterns of birdsong and the visual reminders of life’s cycles—fresh green sprouts against old, cracked bark—the forest offers a holistic restoration that a simple brisk walk only begins to touch.

Sunset Prescriptions: The Power of Stillness

While the morning sun brings growth, the evening sun brings a different kind of medicine: the power of stillness. During my years of recovery, living just a block away from Vancouver’s English Bay was a profound blessing. I took full advantage of the Stanley Park seawall, making it a daily ritual to walk until I reached the golden peach light of Third Beach.

There is a unique quality to the “Golden Hour” that re-taught me how to practice wonder and gratitude. If you watch closely, you’ll notice that even in the animal kingdom, there is a collective pause. Crows, seagulls, and squirrels seem to stop their frantic activity at the end of the day to simply soak in the final rays. They appear to be meditating, or perhaps just acknowledging the transition from doing to being. Taking that time to be still, to watch the light turn to a rich butterscotch hue over the water, became one of the most anticipated highlights of my journey back to myself.

The Industrial Primary

My fascination with yellow isn’t limited to the organic. Down at the Port of Vancouver, I often watch the massive tankers glide through the water. There is a specific, “Industrial Primary” yellow found in the machinery and the hulls of ships that contrasts so sharply against the deep blue of the Burrard Inlet. Even here, yellow serves as a signal of activity and purpose.

This industrial utility has an ancient ancestor in our collective memory. We all remember that primary school art class, where the palette was limited to tubes of pure, fundamental color: red, blue, and, most brightly, yellow. For many of us, that first encounter created an unconscious, enduring bond. As adults, when we encounter that specific, unadulterated primary yellow, it can trigger a mental return to our early learning days—a time when color was an anchor for discovery. This feeling is often mirrored in the simple, persistent visual of a painted schoolyard wall.

A Return to the Sun

As I reflect on this reclamation journey, it is clear that gardening and nature played a pivotal role in my steps through recovery. The tactile act of tending the earth and the quiet rhythms of the forest led me back to a refreshed and healthy sense of self—a return to my spiritual roots.

But to live in the light is not just about recovery; it is also about realization. I think of this photo I took of legendary Limbo artist, King Fish.

While the limbo itself is a dance of agility, it is his golden, sparkly shirt that captures the essence of this journey. It reminds those paying attention that the “Golden Prescription” includes expressions of joy, of dance, of energy and flow. To live in the light is a celebration of it. I now see that orb of yellow light as a gift—a reminder that the same sun that stimulates growth in the garden is waiting to do the same for us.

---

Explore more of my yellow images in the gallery below. Ask yourself, how does yellow make me feel?