Light Figures

Apollo, you say? Ah yes — that charming fellow from Greek mythology, the one who couldn’t resist light, music, and poetry. I get it. A glowing symbol of knowledge and culture, perfectly placed in his element.

But light doesn’t always have to come from Greece. 

The Scandinavians created their own radiant characters. There’s Balder — the northern type who takes care of everything that shines: light, beauty, and goodness.

Those are the local luminaries of light.
On the global stage, other “light figures” hold their ground.
In Christianity, there’s Jesus, guiding people out of darkness through his teachings.
In Buddhism, the Enlightened One — Buddha — literally defines what it means to bring light into the world.

So, are all these light figures born from mythology?
Not quite. History offers us a few very real ones — made of flesh, blood, and an incredible mind — who also deserve a spotlight.

Two of them stand out, both masters of physics.
Albert Einstein published his theories on understanding the universe in a way that lit up science itself. His insights continue to shine, as new discoveries keep proving him right.
The other luminous spirit was Marie Curie, who worked with radioactive elements — a choice that cost her health but revolutionized both chemistry and physics.

Speaking of creation: art and literature have their own light figures, too.
They often embody hope, truth, and moral integrity — the very things we desperately need to reactivate today.
Take Goethe’s Faust — that angelic figure who brings light into darkness, symbolizing the search for knowledge and redemption.
Or Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night — a masterpiece painted with luminous stars and a bright moon, a hopeful gesture to a world lost in confusion.

All of these light figures left something extraordinary behind.
But they all share one small flaw: they’re no longer with us.

So where are today’s living, shining spirits?
Can anyone still carry the title of “light figure,” or is it something only granted posthumously?
And if so — by whom?

It’s a heavy, almost sacred title. Surely there are people who deserve it, but most of them don’t even realize it.
Wisdom and intelligence are never claimed in the first person — if they are, they vanish instantly.
True recognition always comes from others — if you’re lucky.

Still, a quick look around the world reveals remarkable, brilliant minds who might one day earn the title “light figure,” or perhaps more fittingly, “creator of light.”

Until then, let’s enjoy the lights of the Christmas markets, the sparkling streets, and the cozy decorations that brighten up our homes.
Deal?

Ursprünglich erschienen auf swisschris.ca