The legend of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, was spotted in varying shades of green and yellow over the skies in Iceland.
Dramatic images of the Northern Lights have captured what appears to be a huge phoenix rising from the ground and flying over Iceland. Captured by photographer Hallgrimur P. Helgason, the scene wowed stargazers in Kaldarsel, Iceland.
Helgason said: ‘It’s really a thrill shooting the aurora, especially when they are so playful like they were that night. I have to admit that I always get an adrenaline kick when the lights burst out like that – that particular shot was the top one of the night.’
As far as equipment goes, he uses a camera and tripod to photograph the lights, and advises snapping in the dark away from city light pollution and never using a flash. It would probably help to invest in a decent lens if you’re going to give this a “shot.”
Helgason mentioned that the Northern Lights were mainly showing in splendid green and yellow colours when he was taking photographs, but also noticed red and blue, which suggests the aurora was extremely strong that night.
After some time, the appearance of the Phoenix transformed into other recognizable shapes, prompting even more intrigue.
These photos were taken a few months ago, around January 31, right as the world was heading in a direction it was unaware of at the time.
The legend of the Phoenix is one that contains timely significance, especially considering the state of the world right now.
Ancient legend paints a picture of a magical bird, radiant and shimmering, which lives for several hundred years before it dies by bursting into flames. It is then reborn from the ashes, to start a new, long life. So powerful is the symbolism that it is a motif and image that is still used commonly today in popular culture and folklore.
The Phoenix is also an alchemical symbol. It represents the changes during chemical reactions and progression through colors, properties of matter, and has to do with the steps of alchemy in the making of the Great Work, or the Philosopher’s Stone.
Continually morphing and remorphing, the Phoenix represents the idea that the end is only the beginning. Doesn’t this seem like something, perhaps a message, we can appreciate right now?
Maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe this is just the beginning of something new…something better than before.