The Pull of the Invisible: Exploring Magnetism in Science and Spirit

We live in a universe shaped by invisible forces—and few are more quietly powerful than magnetism. It shapes stars, shields our planet, and makes modern technology possible. But magnetism isn’t just a physical force—it’s a beautiful metaphor for connection, alignment, and unseen influence in our personal lives.

In this week’s blog, we’re exploring the nature of magnetism—not just as a fundamental force of physics, but as a reflection of the energetic currents that move us on a deeper level.

🧲 What Is Magnetism?

At its core, magnetism is the result of charged particles in motion. It’s closely linked to electricity, forming the electromagnetic force—one of the four fundamental forces in the Universe. From the Earth’s magnetic field to the tiny magnets on your fridge, this invisible phenomenon influences everything from navigation to neural activity.

Earth’s magnetic field, for example, is generated deep within its molten core and protects us from harmful solar radiation. It’s also what allows compasses to work and what many animals use to migrate across vast distances.

At its core, magnetism is a force caused by moving electric charges. Anytime an electron moves, it generates a magnetic field. When a lot of electrons move together — like in a wire carrying electricity or inside a spinning electron cloud — the result is a magnetic effect strong enough to move other objects.

This is why electricity and magnetism are so closely linked — they’re two sides of the same electromagnetic coin.

👩‍🏫 Just A Quick Detour...

Let's just take a brief look at the equations that govern this crazy Universe. First, let's look at electricity. To define an electric field, we place a particle with charge q in an electric field and measure the force F exerted on the particle. The strength of the electric field is given by:

It's tempting to do the same thing with the magnetic field. However, that would require a single particle with a magnetic charge—a magnetic monopole. Sadly, those do not exist (or, to satisfy the X-Files-ey nature of my soul, they have not been discovered to date.)

So, we'll put that charged particle in a magnetic field and move it at velocity v. The magnitude of the magnetic field, B, will then be found by

We're often interested in the direction of a magnetic field, so we can find that by taking the cross product as follows:

Two types of mathematical operations encountered routinely in physics are the cross product and dot product (you'll see the dot product below, in Maxwell's equations. When it comes to naming things, I think the only people less creative than astronomers are physicists. 😉)

Finally, the electric and magnetic fields are related by four classic, fundamental equations known as Maxwell's equations. These equations are responsible for basically every electromagnetic phenomenon known to us humans. Do you think interstellar space travel will (or does?) use these same equations? 🛸

Anyway ... back to the blog...

🌍 Magnetism in Nature

The Earth itself is a giant magnet, thanks to molten iron spinning in its outer core. This creates a planetary magnetic field that shields us from solar radiation and guides migrating animals. It even causes the beautiful northern lights — the aurora borealis — to dance across the sky.

The Sun is well-known for its powerful magnetic field and phenomena such as sunspots and prominences. Stars, blackholes, even galaxies have magnetic fields.

On a cosmic scale, magnetic fields weave through galaxies, shaping the paths of charged particles and influencing the birth of stars. Magnetism is not just a force on Earth — it’s a cosmic fingerprint that traces motion, energy, and life itself.

Maybe you're starting to understand why I believe the electric universe theory is the way to go—electricity and magnetism are everywhere in the Universe!

💫The Beauty of the Unseen

One of the most poetic things about magnetism is this: it acts at a distance. You don’t have to touch something for it to be pulled, aligned, or repelled. That quality makes it the perfect bridge to explore our inner landscapes.

Just like physical magnets, we all have energetic fields—literally and figuratively. The human body produces both electric and magnetic fields, as can be seen with MEG (magnetoencephalography) and MCG (magnetocardiography). You can hold two probes of a multimeter (one in each hand) and see the electric voltage in your body. Figureatively, we attract certain people, ideas, or emotions... and repel others. Sometimes you're just drawn to a person, place, or idea for no discernible reason. But the pull is real.

There’s something captivating about the way invisible fields can cause attraction and repulsion, hold structures together, or create change without ever being seen. In this way, magnetism mirrors the subtle forces of connection, intention, and balance that many spiritual seekers explore.

What if understanding magnetic fields could help us better understand our own energy — how we’re drawn to some people or ideas and repelled by others?

📝Write It Down

You know me... I love journaling. Here are few things to consider as you take your random walk through the world of magnetism:

• What are you drawn to?

• Where do you feel pulled or repelled?

• Are you aligned with your inner compass—or being influenced by something external?

These are the kinds of questions magnetism invites us to ask—not only about how the world works, but how we work.

🧪Try It Yourself: Magnetic Experiments at Home

Looking to bring the science to life? Here are a few easy activities to try:

1. Map a Magnetic Field
   Sprinkle iron filings over a piece of paper with a magnet underneath. Watch the field lines appear like invisible artwork.

2. Build a DIY Compass
   Magnetize a needle and float it on water using a leaf or cork. It’ll align north-south—just like Earth’s own magnetic compass.

3. Feel the Push-Pull
   Hold two magnets close. Try flipping the poles. The push and pull you feel? That’s force—without touch.

In case you don't have iron filings laying around your house 🙄, here's a website that sells them. No, I don't get any compensation (I wish! 🤑)

🌌Final Thoughts

Magnetism reminds us that the most powerful influences are often unseen. Whether it’s guiding particles, birds, or your own intuition, this quiet force invites us to pause and consider what’s truly moving us.

The Pull of the Invisible:

Exploring Magnetism in Science and Spirit

✨ Curious to reflect more deeply? Download the free “Pull of the Invisible” Journal Page here.

🎧 Or listen to the full podcast episode on YouTube!