Ep. 10/ Aurora Borealis: Nature’s Fancy Night Lights
Basking in the Beauty of the Northern Lights, Whimsical as well as Empirical!
Hey there, fellow doom scrollers,
If you’re of my generation, chances are you’re either lucky enough to have seen the Northern Lights with your own eyes by now or are rightfully annoyed by the pictures and videos of it splashed across all forms of social media.
As irksome as a litany of Northern Lights related stories, posts, TikToks—whatever it is kids these days use—might be, the truth is these lights are pretty darn cool. Even the etymology of their scientific name, Aurora Borealis, is enchanting. Coined by Galileo Galilei in 1619, it was inspired by the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas. I love how simply by the name we get to appreciate both the geographical location they tend to generally be visible in as well as the ethereal nature of these stunning, kaleidoscopic displays of light.
Considering the ferocity and sheer intensity with which most of us tend to shove content down our throats, it’s safe to assume you probably already know the Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. What it means is that the Sun (our collective favorite star of the Milky Way) constantly emits charged particles, known as the solar winds. The magnetic field of the Earth tends to capture some of these charged particles and direct them toward the poles. As the particles enter the atmosphere, they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms. Excited oxygen produces green and red colors, with green being most common at altitudes of 100 to 150 km and red at higher altitudes of 150 to 350 km. Nitrogen can emit blue, purple, and pink hues, typically at altitudes of 95 to 400 km, although these are a lot less common due to nitrogen’s difficulty to excite.
I hope I’m not being too pedantic. Sorry; sometimes the nerd in me forgets where to draw the line.
Anyway, I don’t want to dive into the science behind nature’s super awesome disco lights no matter how exciting (literally) that might be. I want to talk about something even more wondrous-the enthralling and captivating myths, legends, and folklores about Aurora Borealis, ranging all the way from playfully adorable (according to Finnish mythology, the Northern Lights, also known in the area as “revontulet,” meaning “fox fires,” are believed to be caused by a magical fox running across the sky) to downright dark (Many Inuit tribes viewed the Lights as spirits playing a ball game with a walrus skull) all while being splendidly spiritual. There are two stories that, in my unsolicited and extremely puny opinion, stand out. One, which is exceedingly edgy and rad, comes from Norse mythology according to which Aurora Borealis, are reflections from the shields and armor of the Valkyries. For Norse people, the Valkyries were warrior maidens. These divine beings were tasked with selecting the best, bravest, and strongest of warriors who had fallen in any battle to take them to Valhalla, Odin’s grand hall of the slain, where they would prepare for the ultimate battle, the Ragnarök. I think it’s a really nice way to honor those who have passed away. (I’m just saying, we did see the northern lights the night after the unfortunate demise of Mr. Ratan Tata.)
Another, a truly soul-tugging and lesser-known, legend comes from the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, often associated with indigenous Siberian or Sami folklore (Sami are an indigenous people inhabiting the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula.) In this story, the Moon’s daughter, Niekija, is a radiant and gentle spirit who wanders the night skies. Her beauty and kindness are known throughout the heavens, and her presence brings peace and calm to the Earth during the darkest nights.
One day, she encounters the leader of the Northern Lights, Náinnas, a bold and vibrant spirit who commands the auroras. He is powerful and dynamic, able to shape the lights into dazzling displays that dance across the sky. Náinnas is captivated by Niekija, drawn to her serene nature, which contrasts with his own fiery energy. They meet secretly in the sky, where their love blossoms, creating a spectacular interplay of light and shadow as they dance together in the Northern skies.
Unfortunately, their union wasn’t meant to be. The Sun, impressed by Niekija’s unparalleled beauty and delicate nature had previously wished his own son Peivalke, to be married to her and, therefore forbids the relationship. Heartbroken Niekija is returned to her mother, the Moon, while the leader of the Northern Lights continues to create his displays in solitude.
Their separation explains why the Northern Lights and the Moon often appear separately in the sky, rarely seen together (which we now scientifically know is because of the impact of Moonlight on aurora visibility. A bright Moon can overpower the faint glow of weaker auroras, making them less visible against the illuminated sky). But on the rare occasions (as was yesterday) when the Moon and the Northern Lights share the sky, it is said to be a moment when the daughter of the Moon and the leader of the Northern Lights are briefly reunited, their love lighting up the night in a gorgeous dance. Maybe, just maybe, what we witnessed was a glorious tryst between two divine lovers, an ephemeral yet ethereal rendezvous.
I love these myths, legends, and folklores our ancestors used to describe the Aurora Borealis as they are reflections of what they knew and prioritized about the world around them. That’s what all these stories are: tools for understanding the universe, the natural world, and communicating the knowledge gathered to others. Myths, I think, are some of our species’ first attempt at scientific inquiry. I am always besotted by watching our myths bleed into our philosophies that then evolve into scientific explanations.
So, here’s to the beauty of the world we live in—the mysteries that light up our lives and the ways we try to make sense of them. From the ancient myths that helped our ancestors understand nature and its bounty to the science that allows us to figure out the awe, each is a different side of the same coin—our endless curiosity and desire to connect with the universe. Maybe the auroras remind us that even in a world of data and formulas, there’s still room for heart-stopping brilliance, and more importantly, for moments that make us pause and stare with bated breath. After all, whether we see the Northern Lights as excited gas particles in the atmosphere or as the fleeting love of celestial immortals, they remain a reminder of how the biggest of our trials and tribulations pale in comparison to the vastness and magnificence of the universe around us.
Until next time.
Xoxo
