When a solar storm (or a magnetic storm on the sun) occurs, electrically charged particles, or ions, are rapidly drawn to the Earth by its magnetic field. The ions then collide with the earth’s different gasses in the upper atmosphere emitting various colors of light. The color of light depends on the type of ion (charged or not) and gas colliding together, and the altitude. Charged ions and nitrogen at a high altitude create a brilliant blue and charged ions that crash into oxygen at a lower altitude become a yellowish-green color, which is the most common color.

But just because we can explain the Northern Lights in scientific terms, it does not rule out the spiritual reality! The lights symbolize all that is magical, mystical and unknown about the world. Some believed these dancing waves of color to be our powerful guardian spirits; spirits of our ancestors who come to meet and bless us. Others say it is a sky God who searches with a torch for children who misbehaved. Many myths, legends and stories wander across cultures about the meaning of the Lights. But no one can escape when the Lights start casting their magic spell!

Aurora Borealis is derived from the Greek words “Aurora” meaning “sunrise” and “Boreas'' meaning “wind”. The Greeks held that Aurora was the sister of Helios and Seline, the sun and moon respectively, and that she raced across the early morning sky in her multi-coloured chariot to alert her siblings to the dawning of a new day.

Aurora is also Latin for morning glow or light of dawn. The Romans associated the lights with Goddess Aurora, the goddess of dawn who woke up the world with her torch. She was trailed by maidens who threw flower petals onto the world to ensure the start of a bright new day.

The Finnish word for the Northern Lights “revontulet” translates literally as “fire fox”. Their myth says that the lights were caused by the firefox who ran so quickly across the snow that his tail caused sparks to fly into the night sky creating the Aurora.

The Sami word for aurora borealis is “guovssahas”, meaning “the light you can hear”. Many believe indeed you can hear a crackling sound during Aurora Borealis.

The Cree Indians held that the Aurora was part of life’s circle and were the spirits of the dead who remained in the sky but apart from their loved ones. The Cree believed that the lights were spirits of these departed friends and relatives trying to communicate with those they had left behind on earth. They called it the Dance of the Spirits.

The Algonquin’s take on the Aurora was that it was created by light from a fire built by Nanahbozho, their creator. They understood the fire to be Nanahbozho’s way of telling his people that he remembered them and was watching over them.

Our Icelandic ancestors associated the lights with childbirth and held that they would relieve the pain of delivery as long as the expectant mum didn’t look at the Aurora whilst giving birth because the child would be born cross-eyed.

In Sweden, the Aurora was often seen as a portent of good news. Many of our Swedish forefathers believed the lights to be a gift from benevolent gods providing warmth and light in the form of a volcano in the north.

The Northern Lights feature prominently in Norse mythology. One legend suggests that the lights were reflections or glow from the shields and armour of the Valkyrie, female warriors who would choose who may die in battle and who may live to fight another day. Dying in battle seemed to occupy Norse mythology quite a bit and the Aurora was also believed to be “Bifrost Bridge”, a glowing and pulsating arch which led those fallen in battle to the warriors final resting place in Valhalla.

REINDEER

Reindeer pop up in global myths often. Among Hindus, the Goddess Saraswati can take the form of a red deer. She is the Goddess of wisdom, learning, art and music. Among Buddhists, Reindeer symbolizes the purity of Buddha’s teachings. Siberian tribes honored Reindeer as a light-bringer who ushers people safely from earthly realms into their next existence. The ancient rock paintings throughout Asia and Europe depict Reindeer. The animal was a guide for the soul. Many of the renderings show the creature flying as if taking messages to Heaven.

Reindeer has a very unique energetic combination of air and earth, bringing both grounding earth energy and inspiring cosmic energy with them wherever they go. We as humans run both these types of energies through our energetic system, keeping us consistently aligned with our place here on earth, and how it matches up to our heavenly alignments.

Reindeer is a creature of Journeying and Magic, it has a magical ability to regenerate and being in touch with life’s mysteries. Reindeer symbolizes wisdom, inner peace, gentleness, intuition, tranquility, self-awareness, resourcefulness, cleverness, knowledge, creativity, inventiveness and survival. They are Family oriented, caring for the herd, skillful in communication and social activity. They have a strong spiritual connection, as they are aware of subtle energies happening all around them, and therefore also represent empathy and energetic sensitivity.

Reindeer teaches perseverance, endurance and strength, staying true to your inner compass, the power of adaptability in adversity and tenacity to get things accomplished. Reindeer is in touch with innocence and our inner child. It has the ability to move through life and obstacles with grace. Reindeer shows how to call upon both male and female qualities that you possess. Reindeer will aid in spiritual transition, communication and social abilities. It is about movement, finding inner peace and your place as you journey through life.