Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis (Latin for "northern dawn"), paint our northern skies in waves of green, violet, and gold, inspiring humanity for thousands of years. The Northern Lights occur when solar particles from the sun collide with the Earth's magnetic field, igniting the upper atmosphere in ribbons of color. Long before science offered an explanation, these lights were believed to be messages from the god, spirits of the ancestors, or portals to other realms.
In Norse mythology, they believed the Lights were the glow of the Valkyries' armor (female warriors) who rode across the sky carrying slain warriors to Valhalla, their final resting place. And in some Norse tales, the Lights were associated with Bifröst, the rainbow bridge that connects Midgard (Earth) to Asgard (the realm of the Gods).
Húsafell, Iceland
For many indigenous communities across the Arctic, the Northern Lights hold deep spiritual meaning. The Inuit believed Northern Lights were tied to spirit energy or ancestors. Their legend tells a story of an Inuit warrior who discovered the Lights trapped within the rocks in Labrador, Canada. This warrior struck the rock with his spear, releasing some of the Lights back into the sky and the rest remained in the rock. This is what we now know as the crystal Labradorite, known for its magical, transformative properties.
The Sami, of northern Scandinavia, viewed the lights with profound reverence and caution. They believed they carried the souls of the departed, and showing disrespect could invite harm.
Many people today view the experience of the Northern Lights as an activation on a deep soul level, reminding us that there is something larger than us that exists. Under their glow, you may feel divine connectedness, timelessness, and a feeling of being seen. The Lights are encoded with transmissions or light codes. They contain frequencies that can activate upgrades to our DNA and light body, activate deep soul retrieval and memory, or awakening within the souI. You don't necessarily need to understand the codes they send, but rather allow yourself to feel into them. Notice what feelings you experience under the Lights and journal those feelings or carry that into your next meditation.
Here in southeastern Wisconsin, it isn't common to see the Northern Lights, but when they arrive, it is an event where people gather outside in community awaiting the chance to view the magic. There's power in being united by wonder and awe. In those moments, we're reminded that we are a part of something vast, beautiful, and shared. All of us are not just connected to the cosmos but to each other. The Northern Lights call us to look up and remember our place in this Universe!
