Aurora

                                    

                                          
Aurora Borealis
                          
"Don't look at the lights for too long."
                          
This was something I have heard my whole life, regarding the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis. The warnings always popped up when winter was approaching in Northern Canada. Sometimes it was a joke. We have a café here that is called "Lights", and when winter approaches there is a sign added that says "Don't look at me" It's a fun joke for everyone who lives here, and even funnier to explain to outsiders.
                          
You see, there is a myth that goes with the lights here in Northern Canada. It's not the myth that the lights come from a fox's tail, or from a great warrior building fires. We have heard those, of course, but those aren't the myths we believe in. Here, the myth is a bit darker.
                          
It's said that the lights are reflections of spirits. The colors change because there are always new spirits being added. But it's all spirits in the lights, floating all over to find their way back home. Some spirits are old, and evil. Some are fresh and new and confused. But they all carry a negative energy. No spirit in the lights wanted to be there, ever. It is said that if you look at the lights for too long, the spirits will think you are envious of them. They will come down and take your life, and bring your spirit up with them. They take your interest as jealousy, and it angers them that we waste so much time looking at them when they wish they could be where we were. They think we are taking our lives for granted. 
                          
They think they have to teach us some kind of lesson, to make us appreciate what we have. So that's the myth. Don't look at the lights for longer than ten minutes consecutively, or the spirits will become angry and take you up there with them. 
Around 9 minutes you are supposed to start hearing crackles and whistles, to signal the spirits descent to come and get you. 
                          
However, you can look for as long as you want from indoors, through a window. They say the spirits cannot see you if you are indoors. But if you are open and exposed in the forest, which is practically everywhere where we are, you cannot look for too long.
                          
And with any myth, there is alleged proof as well. This proof is Sarah Watkins. Allegedly, she was a nine year old girl, who fell victim to the spirits. Many years ago, her parents took her camping. They believed she was old enough and has heard the warning enough times to believe it. They enjoyed a nice day of winter camping, and once it got late, they all nestled in together on a log to watch the beautiful lights. After watching for 7 or 8 minutes, her parents took her into the tent to go to sleep. It was late after all. But Sarah was much more curious than she let on. 
                          
After her parents were long asleep, and after the embers of their fire died away into nothing more than lightning bugs, Sarah crept out. She was entranced by the lights, and craved more time with them. Without her father's old watch to keep time, she had no clue when her time was up. She got carried away. And so, Sarah Watkins was reported missing the next day, when her parents woke up and discovered her gone. 
                          
They slept through the night, only waking up to an empty space between them, where Sarah had nestled in the night before. The site was assessed, but because her parents made such a mess looking for her, the police couldn't get much out of the scene. After weeks of scouring the woods and nearby towns, everyone sort of gave up. Her parents moved away, and nothing ever came from the investigation, but to this day everyone swears it was because of the lights. And to this day, everyone swears that the lights glowed blue like little Sarah's eyes the following night. All the people who were around for Sarah's vanishing act practically had an aneurysm if you suggested Sarah fell victim to anything but ancient spirits.
                          
So, to this day, even though I am twenty years old, my mom still tells me not to watch the lights for too long. But now that we were all old enough, me and my friends and boyfriend planned to camp in the woods to see the lights. Even after seeing them so many times, it's just not something you get sick of. Despite the myths, nobody can deny the lights surreal beauty. My parents were fine with it, believing their warnings had resonated with me and I would not be that stupid. But I was that stupid.