Fear of the Northern Lights (auroraphobia)

Auroraphobia is a fear of the Northern Lights. The shifting colours and unusual glow in the night sky can feel eerie or threatening rather than beautiful to some people. Because the aurora is sometimes seen from parts of the UK, the fear can come up closer to home than expected.

About this phobia

The name comes from aurora, the Latin word for dawn, which also gives the scientific name aurora borealis. It is very rarely reported and appears mostly on lists of unusual phobias. It sits near other sky related fears, such as astrophobia, the fear of stars and space.

What it feels like

• Feeling uneasy at photos or videos of the aurora
• Avoiding trips to places where the lights are seen
• A sense that something is wrong when the sky changes colour

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Are the Northern Lights dangerous?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural display caused by particles from the sun meeting the upper atmosphere, and they pose no danger to people watching from the ground. Understanding what causes them helps some people feel calmer.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices