Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.03.1995, Síða 11

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.03.1995, Síða 11
Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 17. mars 1995 »11 An American Visits lceland, Cont’d. While we were in Iceland, a new priest for the religion of the ancient Norse deity, Odin, was installed. A distinguished looking man, he held his hand in a huge flaming chalice by way of “trial by fire”. His followers are centred in Reykjavík and are small in number. The majori.ty of Icelanders seem not to take them seriously. As a Unitarian I was pre- pared to welcome the return of the old gods — after all we have our own contingent of Unitarian Pagans — yet as I learned about the religion of Odin the more reservations I had. For men there was an emphasis on death in battle as a requirement for life after death — Valhala, the Norse heaven. (Women, no doubt, were excluded). The code of revenge, the right of fathers to expose their new-born, the naive character of Thor, God of Thunder and Lightning, and other notions contributed to my reserva- tions. Against my inclinations, I had to consider the possibility that Christian ideals were an improvement over those of the old Norse religion. I sense that most Icelanders feel the same way. They are not particularly religious and churches are not well attended; yet the precarious and con- tradictory nature of fire under glaci- ers, the polarities of beauty and dev- astation, the powerful forces of sea, earth, sky, and of volcanoes ever pre- sent-reminders of human powerless- ness. Adventure and misadveriture are seen as unified. When disasters occur they work together to reclaim their lives. Icelanders appear to tolerate if not respect their state church, yet their spiritual centre appears to be else- where. What informs their lives are spiritual principals rather than reli- gious codes. Removing your shoes before enter- ing a house is customary although not compulsory. There is always a piece of furniture to sit on while removing or putting on shoes. In addition there is usually a “beauty spot” similar to the Japanese “Kakemono”. This area is dedicated to the display of an art object, paint- ing, or flower arrangement. It may have a mirror, special lighting, or a cabinet for the storage of materials used for the arrangement of plant material. Icelanders are virtually all soaking. In the soaking area there are four pools each with a different temperature. Like the Japanese, Icelanders believe that soaking pro- motes relaxation and reduces stress. Thermal pools no doubt help to keep Icelanders even tempered. Katherine Scherman writes, “almost never do you see the inward frown of worry. For outlanders from an unquiet world Iceland seems to be the out- post of an uncluttered world”. For most Westerners the term “illegitimate child” has negative con- notations. It is a term that does not translate well in Icelandic. “Love child” is the best approximation. The term has no negative connotations and no social stigma. Ron and Thora (Asgeirson) du Bois in Myvatn, lceland visually literate. Original art work in homes and public spaces is often seen. Icelandic artists and craftsper- sons are fully aware of and in' contact with the international art world. Thora has two cousins who are brothers. Often they are at odds with each other because their personalities are uniquely different. Yet they expressed a filial bond with hugs and sometimes with a solid kiss. I was told that it is not considered effemi- nate for brothers or close friends to hug or kiss. Ip public, a hug or “brushing” of both cheeks is a com- mon expression of greeting among men. Landscaping with r.ocks is exten- sive — plants play no part in gardens that often achieve the status of works of art. Icelanders are similar to Japanese in their appreciation of the aesthetic qualities of rocks. Rocks are objects that can be used for the orga- nization of pure form — tensions between void and solid, shape, size, volume, texture, etc. Organization of disparate parts to achieve visual unity is always the challenge — as difficult as that of composer in organizing sound, time, rhythm and movement. Grímur said that Iceland averages one murder a year. Rape is not a problem that Icelanders worry about. Handguns are prohibited — ordinary citizens are not allowed to own them. The police have handguns for emer- gency situations, but they do not £1 Thora's Island Home Adelightful story about a 12 year old girl who comes from lceland to live with an Aunt and Uncle on Hecla Island. Film laminated cover and quality bond paper. Cover illustrations by Roman Swiderek (1992), courtesy of Gull Harbour Resort and Conference Centre. 112 pages. ♦ Available at all bookstores in Winnipeg 4 H.P. Tergesen & Sons, Box 1818, Gimli, Man. ROC 1B0 +• Smithbooks, Lower Mainland, B.C. 4 Smithbooks, Park Royal Shopping Mall, - h- Vancouver ♦ lane Ross Books, White Rock, B.C. _____________________________________ SyiviaSigurdsori $13.95 plus $4 for G.S.T. & mailing Thora's Island Home carry them in public. Capital punish- ment does not exist. Grímur com- mented, “We try to help them”. He explained that prisoners get paid a small amount for useful work. On the 500 mile return trip from Reykjavík to Vopnafjördur we saw only one police car and no acci- dents. Outdoor Swimming Part of an explanation for the excellent health of Icelanders is their addiction to swimming and soaking in thermally heated out- door swimming pools. We went swimming several times at the largest pool in Reykjavík. There ,is an atten- dant in the shower area to make sure you soap down correctly. Once outside the pool complex underground thermal action can be seen churning the water. Small gey- sers leap out of the stones. It is a huge outdoor complex with areas for water games, for swimming and for Baldur by Kevin Johnson No alchemy was needed in your case To valorize you from the gold you were: Your happiness, conflated with the grace Of kindest mercy, was not transmutable, And so all living things rejoiced in you And gave a pledge to keep you out of harm, For from your goodness all their love ensued So vital was the magic of your charm. But base and jealous Evil found a way To spurn this banquet of felicity, Investing malice on the blackest day To blot your beauty in apostasy. Your death would bring all Evil to an end, But death would die when you were born again. ALBERT W. EYOLESON, LL.B. Barrister and Solicitor INKSTER, CHRISTIE, HUGHES, MAGKAY 7th Floor - 444 St. Marys Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3TI Bus.: (204) 947-6801 Res.: (204) 888-2598 Fax: (204) 947-6800 The New Icelanders A North American Community rii, Nf ii’ lcdandcrs A Nou'i m Ami:ku an C hY Paviu Amnason n Vin« i-.ni Aiina.non Part history, part memory and myth, this collection includes archival photos, essays, ; selections from settlers’ diaries and early newspaper reports documenting the nistory of a people who, in 1875, left their island of glaciers and volcanoes to establish The Republic of New Iceland on the Canadian prairie. Edited by David & Vincent Arnason. $17.95 CDN (+gst), $14.95 US (+$2.50 s&h) to: TURNSTONE PRESS 607-100 Arthur Street Winnipeg MB Canada R3B 1H3

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