Be Prepared, Not Scared…Solar Flares and Stress


The cover story of this month’s issue of National Geographic highlights a potential super solar storm. Tucked in amongst the physics of solar plasma bursts and coronal mass ejections is the information that a solar flare, much like the one in 1859, if repeated, is likely to take down the US electrical power grid for a week, perhaps a month, not to mention some damage to cell phone satellites. How would Americans live without electricity for a week, or a month? It might prove to be a little stressful, particularly if one is not prepared. (I should add that a few high level military employees have shared with me they were told to plan for 2-3 months without power.) It’s not like you have weeks to prepare for an event like this. Scientists have about 30-90 mins to let the world know something dramatically solar is coming our way. While having no power for a while might be a good lesson in learning to slow down and focus on what is really important in life, the old Boy Scout motto, “be prepared” comes to mind. The upshot of all of this is that we are going to have some GREAT northern lights.
Stress Tip for the Day:
Without acting like the world is coming to an end, are you well prepared for an event like this? Do you have plenty of canned and dry goods to draw upon for meals. How about water, plenty of water? How about flashlight batteries, candles, matches, toilet paper, a few hundred dollars in small bills in case any stores might be open, and of course, a few good books to read (I can recommend a few in need any). Emergency preparedness is always a great idea, whether it’s because of potential floods, earthquakes or forest fires. To this list we should add cosmic weather,: super solar storms. Take time this weekend to stock up on supplies, so IF this day ever comes, you are well prepared and can sit back and ride out the solar storm in comfort, rather than running through the streets in a panic. If you don’t have an emergency preparedness kit, now might be a good time to get one this weekend. Be prepared, not scared.
Links, Books and Movies Worth Noting:
Here is the online article from NG: Enjoy:
Here is a link to an item at Costco for an emergency kit. Take a look at what they have in there and see if you need any of this stuff. Below is a similar link to the American Red Cross kit.
Quote for the Day:
“The morally right thing to do once you’ve identified a threat of this magnitude is to be prepared. No preparing for this has intolerable consequences.” —Karel Schrijver, National Geographic, June 2012.
Photo for the Day:
Last Sunday was a near solar eclipse. I took this photo from my back yard (with two polarizer filters and some cloud cover to help). Solar eclipses were thought to be the harbinger of dramatic change. Might be a good idea to be prepared for any change on the horizon, even if the change isn’t solar, but a financial meltdown.

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 12 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (7e) and the newly released, A Beautiful World: The Earth Song Journals. He can be reached through his website: www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
Brian Luke Seaward

Author Brian Luke Seaward

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