Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2019, Blaðsíða 27

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familiar months we know now,
but here we see the old Icelandic
months, and in the inner circle
are the old heathen holidays. Cel-
ebration, of course, starts on the
21st of December on the Winter
Solstice. Then there’s the Spring
Equinox, the Summer Solstice and
the Autumn Equinox. It’s all about
harvesting, and loving mother na-
ture. Everything we make has a
meaning—to celebrate mother na-
ture, and give grace and thanks.”
She smiles. “Not very complicat-
ed.”
Blessed beginnings
The shop’s intriguing displays are
no coincidence. “We are both in
the arts,” says Agnes. “I work in
the hotel, taking care of the flower
arrangements and things like that.
Sometimes I go there with laven-
der and bless the hotel. People will
say ‘What was that?’ when I come.
And when I put out the flowers,
I also go with a little bit of mag-
ic. I work on many weddings here
with the flowers, and I always put
a little bit of magic inside. They
don’t know about it, but I bless the
marriage.”
Guests of the hotel might also
sometimes see a ritual taking place
from their room windows. “We
work with the magic of nature,”
smiles Agnes, her eyes shining
brightly. “We sometimes have cer-
emonies outside when it’s good
weather, and people are welcome
to join us. We burn sage, and let
people come and write wishes. It’s
all about where the moon is—if
it’s waning, waxing or full. There
are rituals for if you want to take
something in from the flow of the
cosmos, or if you have something
to let go.”
Witch and proud
Some hotel guests love the store,
say the pair, but they get all kinds
of reactions. “People felt we were
really quite weird at first,” laughs
Sigga. “But not any more. Still
some do—they think this is a seri-
ous witch shop. Which is okay—we
are witches. That’s fine. It doesn’t
bother us.” Agnes adds: “There are
still people who walk in then walk
out. But others come inside, and
their eyes open wide. They look
at it like a museum, talking very
softly.”
“People think we have all the
solutions in the world,” finishes
Sigga, smiling softly. “We had a
woman who was 150 kilos come
into the shop looking for choco-
late—there was none here, and she
was going to buy ten soaps because
she thought they were chocolate
bars. I told her they were soaps,
and her mind changed immedi-
ately. She bought rune books and
charms, and she left happier than
ever.”
“People felt we were really quite
weird at first. Some still do.
Which is okay. We are witches. It
doesn’t bother us.”
Stamphólsvegur 2, 240 Grindavík
+354 4269700, +354 6992665
salthusid@salthusid.is
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