A Lexicon of Light - Issue 78: Atmospheres

The 20 words defined in this lexicon reflect the ways in which light irradiates the atmosphere, the universe, and our perception of the world. Because no single system--scientific, religious, philosophical, or cultural--can possibly encompass every meaning of light, this lexicon is systematically unsystematic, exploring each of these realms through words that serve as synecdoches for ways in which we understand light and its myriad effects. Each of Earth's poles has an aurora, which can occasionally grow large enough to be seen near the equator, inspiring visions of apocalypse. For the Inuit, who are more accustomed to it, the aurora is perceived as a football game played by spirits in the heavens. The scientific explanation is no less astounding.