Eva and the Devil’s Servant

Image: DV

A most excellent rumination on life, language, and the creative process on the blog of my favorite Icelandic witch, Eva Hauksdóttir:

http://www.norn.is/sapuopera/2011/05/breaking_the_mould.html

Usually she blogs in Icelandic; her choice of English is made evident in the post. Anyone who has suffered bouts of creative frustration should be able to empathize with her predicament.

About her former shop, Nornabúðin:

Nornabúðin was a "witch shop" in Reykjavík from 2005 to 2008, specializing in items associated with witchcraft, pagan religion, and natural healing. Amulets, tea, herbs, and various witchcraft related items were sold there. Her shop was decorated with gnarled, twisted branches, animal hides and antlers, and other artifacts from around the world:



It was owned and operated by Eva Hauksdóttir, a practicing witch (Norn, in Icelandic), social critic and conceptual artist. She offered rune-reading, and dispensed practical wisdom along with her wares. The shop had tables for tea and social gatherings:



The outside of the shop had two large windows, which had displays of her goods:



These dolls were especially cute, in a witchy way:



The shop closed in wake of the Icelandic financial meltdown in 2008. Eva was an instrumental figure in leading protests against the standing government, which ultimately resulted in a change of the national leadership.

She was featured in the documentary Guð Blessi Ísland.