Spiritual Meaning of the Northern Lights & Aurora Borealis
Everyone anxiously anticipated the total solar eclipse 2024, but who would’ve guessed that the spiritual meaning of the northern lights and aurora borealis would take us by storm? Nobody could have predicted we would be blessed with northern light sightings this far into spring and this far south in the northern hemisphere. This otherworldly event might have sparked a few questions. What does it mean to see aurora borealis? Does the aurora borealis have a spiritual impact? Is the aurora borealis a work of magic, or something else?
These musings may linger in the back of your mind as you gaze into the night sky hoping to catch a glimpse of the auroras. If you’re lucky, you might see a rainbow of colors. Maybe you’ll witness the cool blues and greens coloring the cosmos. Perhaps you’ll be astounded by the striking reds and purples that dominate the night sky. If you look closely, you might even see something dancing across the lights. Depending on what you believe in, you could see animals, gods, or even your late loved ones.
The recent aurora borealis sightings have captured the world once again. Whether you saw it in person or across your social media feeds, you cannot escape the auroras. Keep reading to learn more about this gorgeous cosmic phenomenon.
What Is the Aurora Borealis?
At first, you might think that the aurora borealis is pure magic. But a little science goes into this mesmerizing phenomenon, too. Auroras result from a solar storm’s small electrically charged particles traveling through the Earth’s magnetic field lines and intermingling with gases. The aurora’s colors can change depending on the gases present in Earth’s atmosphere. If the electrically charged particles interact with oxygen, then the auroras will lean toward red and green hues. If nitrogen is present, then the aurora will likely lean toward blue and purple hues.
Typically, the auroras occur near the north and south poles since this is where the solar storm’s particles gather. The closer you are to the poles, the more likely it is to see the auroras. Popular travel destinations that boast northern light sightings include Iceland, Sweden, Canada, and Greenland. A great way to gauge to see if you can witness the northern lights is by using the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app. The app offers a map that tracks the probabilities of northern lights sightings among other features.
The best time to see aurora borealis is between September to late March, the peak northern light season being the wintertime. It’s recommended to go aurora hunting later in the evening and away from any major cities. Finding a remote place with no other lighting will give you the best chance to see the auroras in all of their glory.
However, this past weekend’s sightings were an incredibly unlikely event. The unforgettable occurrence is thanks to an unexpectedly powerful solar storm. A rare geomagnetic storm blew when the sun experienced a coronal mass ejection. Coronal mass ejections occur when a massive sunspot erupts on the sun’s corona, resulting in a geomagnetic storm. The geomagnetic storm then releases the supercharged particles that interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, giving us heightened aurora sightings. Without the geomagnetic storm, we may have never seen auroras as far south as we did this past weekend!
The Spiritual Significance of the Aurora Borealis
Depending on the myth, the aurora borealis could signify multiple things for several cultures along the northern hemisphere. Indigenous peoples in Canada, Northern Europe, and the United States felt that the auroras represented a spiritual realm. In particular, the Inuits believed that the souls of their loved ones could be seen in the northern lights. Auroras are typically revered in Indigenous cultures since it’s a window into the spiritual realm and a way to connect with late loved ones.
However, some European myths and legends connect the auroras to animals. The Finnish legends believed that the fire fox would leap across the sky, leaving the glow of the auroras behind it. Similarly, the Danes thought that the auroras came about from swans shaking ice from their wings as they flew. Scandinavian legends hailed the northern lights as a positive omen, suggesting that fishing for herring would be highly successful.
Other myths and legends suggest that being born under the aurora borealis could lead to a legendary life. Aurora babies are considered highly blessed since the auroras represent the presence of gods and spirits at the child’s birth. However, other legends suggest that babies born under auroras may be connected to the souls of deceased babies. Likewise, some Viking legends suggest that the auroras were the “Bifrost Bridge” that led deceased warriors to Valhalla. No matter how one looks at it, the overarching theme is that the aurora borealis are highly connected to the spiritual realm in several myths.
But what happens if you dream of aurora borealis, especially if the myths and legends don’t necessarily apply to you? Dreams often symbolize something in your waking world. Seeing the auroras in your dreams is considered a positive omen. It might be a sign to keep your eyes on the horizon. Something amazing could be coming your way that may fill your life with joyful and rewarding experiences. If you have lost someone or want to connect to the spiritual realm, dreams of auroras might signify that a departed loved one is looking down on you. The aurora might also remind you that you are a spiritual being, so it could be time to dive into your gifts and spiritual practice.
How Does the Aurora Borealis Affect Us?
The recent aurora borealis sightings coincided with wonderful astrological energy this past weekend. The sun in Taurus joined Uranus in Taurus and Jupiter in Taurus. Uranus is known as the plot twist planet, and Jupiter is the planet of luck. Altogether, Uranus can influence unusual occurrences while Jupiter can expand upon it. The solar energy plays a vital role as it can maximize the potential for a serendipitous event. Jupiter also harmonized with Neptune in Pisces, adding an overall dreamy effect to the cosmic energy.
As the stars aligned, this might have alluded to something otherworldly playing out. On a smaller scale, you could have actualized your dreams this weekend or were blessed by a stroke of luck. On a larger scale, the cosmic energy aligned in favor of a surprising natural phenomenon. In this case, the cosmic energy to the unexpected aurora borealis sightings.
Seeing the aurora borealis in person is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! No matter if it’s your first time or if you’re lucky enough to live near the lights, the beauty of the auroras never ceases. Since this is such a positive event, you may feel more hopeful and excited after seeing the auroras. Aside from the spiritual impact of seeing the auroras, this event typically wouldn’t affect your overall physical health and well-being.
The best crystal to charge under the auroras would be labradorite. Not only is labradorite a powerful protective stone that aids in psychic development, this crystal is also highly connected to the northern lights. According to Inuit folklore, labradorite comes from the northern lights as a gift from the spiritual realm. One Inuit legend claims that a warrior struck the gemstone with his spear to release the northern lights from the crystal. By charging labradorite under the aurora borealis, the auroras could enhance the crystal’s abilities to strengthen intuition, protect auras, and release chakra blockages.
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