Of Pagans and Sunny Skies

[icymist]

I’m not a religious person but I’ve seriously considered joining Ásatrúarfélagid, the pagan society in Iceland. In 2006 I went to one of their ceremonies for a story and interviewed their high chieftain Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, a very interesting fellow.

Hilmar told me that he makes his “bread and butter” as a songwriter and later I found out that he has collaborated with Sigur Rós and, as far as I can tell, played the priest in their video for “Vidrar vel til loftárása.” However, being a high chieftain has become more time consuming than he bargained for.

What I like about Ásatrúarfélagid is that it’s not just a religious association. Its purpose, among other things, to keep the old Norse traditions alive and reclaim our cultural heritage.

Its members also have a very open and tolerant attitude towards other cultures and religions with respect being one of their most highly-regarded values.

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