The northern lights affect the human being, at least indirectly, via mental experience. Evidence
of this are the numerous legends and beliefs that are alive still today. Some of the effects of
these beliefs are very positive. Many of us would very much like to see and experience the
northern lights at least once in our lifetime. According to the Inuits, the northern lights are
caused by the souls of dead people playing soccer in the sky, celestial football, with the skull
of a walrus. The same game happens to be their favourite on earth, too. Apparently, there
must be a lot of fun in the heavens. But the Inuits also say that the one who watches the
northern lights too much will eventually go mad.
In the beliefs of an indigenous tribe in Siberia, the northern lights help women to give birth,
and according to another belief a child conceived by the
light of the aurora will have a long and happy life. It is natural for a human who has never
seen the aurora to want to see them at least once during his lifetime. Experienced as an
adult, the display of the active northern lights is unforgettable. An active auroral substorm
is nature's most beautiful display of colour.