Wednesday 29 July 2009

Northern Lights


The Edmonton Journal reports that there were spectacular northern lights visible in the Edmonton sky one night last week. (Usually, you see northern lights in the winter but they can actually occur at any time of the year if atmospheric conditions are right). Viewing the aurora borealis is one of the great privileges of living in a northern country. Even though I know there's a rational scientific explanation for them, seeing this incredible natural phenomenon always produces great spiritual awe in me.

Over the years, I've most commonly seen northern lights in the form of great sheets of white light that move slowly and majestically in the dark heavens, fading and growing stronger by turns. On a couple of occasions I've seen huge sheets of green northern lights. I've never seen any other colours, although some people have been so blessed. Nor have I ever been lucky enough to "hear" the northern lights -- apparently, if conditions are sufficiently extreme, you can actually hear the aurora borealis make a tinkling sound as they move about the sky, much like ice cubes clinking together in a glass.

4 comments:

Caroline said...

It is a dream of mine to see these in person someday. How lucky you are... I agree, there is something very spiritual and magical about the Northern lights.

clairedulalune said...

Amazing, one of my wishes in life is to experince that! i didn't know you could hear them? This just makes them even better!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Caroline and Clairedulalune, I sincerely hope that one day you will personally see the northern lights, because they truly are an awe-inspiring sight. It is extremely rare to actually hear them though -- the conditions have to be just perfect -- so hearing them is sort of like catching a glimpse of the Holy Grail (if that's not mixing my analogies)!

yellowdoggranny said...

im coming to your neck of the woods..that's just so lovely.