On the night of Saturday, February 21, 2015, I bore witness to one of the most beautiful sights in my life: the Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights. The sheer beauty and spectacle of the solar waves hitting Earth’s atmosphere was unlike anything that I had ever seen before, and something that I hope to not soon forget. Looking up into the night sky, filled with countless and gleaming stars, the Northern Lights appeared as dancing green waves streaking across the near-midnight sky, an unparalleled sight that reminds me of the grace and power that the universe entails. At this moment, I had felt closer to Earth and more aware of my surroundings than I have in years, and truly made me appreciate having the opportunity to be able to see and explore Iceland.
Although the waves of the Aurora Borealis did not seem to be as strong as I hoped when I decided to hike up the ridge near the Sólheimar church that used to bear the 2015 sign, it was from up there that I was able to view the Northern Lights in a much greater way than from near the Sólheimar sign by the dining hall. Whether it was the closer distance to the stars and dancing waves, the cold wind and air from a higher elevation, or the slight exhaustion from a small hike, I hadn’t felt more at peace with both myself and nature than when I visited the Grand Canyon two-and-a-half years prior. It is nearly impossible for me to describe the feeling of being able to feel the cold, Icelandic air whipping at my face and hands, while looking up and being able to see the black curtain that surrounds all of us. Additionally, words escape me when being able to see what appeared to be columns of light shining down towards your direction, most likely from the solar waves hitting the atmosphere. This is a sensation that I would never choose to give away and something that I can only hope to reencounter during my time here.
Sam Wallace