11-25-18
This time last year I was getting prepared for an epic trip to the great, great, great north. The land of fire and ice, to the land where elves and Vikings still call home. To Iceland.
I haven’t traversed to every corner of the globe; however I have seen many truly spectacular sights. Nothing has struck quite the way that the Icelandic winter landscape. The limited light. The intermittent wind storms, and then warm fronts. The elf houses that were around every corner.
Mystery and magik are a focal point for the Icelandic culture. There society is one that still honors the power of the unknown, and this is something that can be seen represented at almost all levels of their country.
As an individual that puts immense theological and spiritual faith in the natural world, it was something else to enter a country that did similarly. The respect and reverence for the natural is something that cannot be denied, and rightfully so; their year operates in extremes with many places experiencing up to 24 hours of light during the height of summer, and nearly 24 hours of darkness in the height of winter.
Every road, every turn, every plume of steam emanating from the ground brought with it a mystifying sensation. Our trip was consumed with the music that has come from Iceland. Each artist, though unique in sound, still embody an ethereal and atmospheric balance that can only be birthed from a land as majestic as Iceland. Góða Tungl by the Icelandic group Samsaris, has become a pivotal song within my life this last year. I have been introduced to music that entwines ancient lore and modern rock, however not typically to this specific degree.
As we were traversing the north during Winter Solstice, listening to an old poem about the power of the moon seemed fitting… it only took several months until we got back stateside to realize this is what the song was truly about. Without knowing any of the lyrics, the music had already rooted itself within our cores.
Lyrics:
Original (Icelandic)
Góða tungl um loft þú líður
Ljúft við skýja silfur skaut
Eins og viljinn alvalds býður
Eftir þinni vissu braut
Öllum þreyttum, ljós þitt ljáðu
Læðstu um glugga sérhvern inn
Lát í húmi, hjörtun þjáðu
Huggast blítt við geisla þinn
Góða tungl um götur skírðar
Gengur þú og lýsir vel
Þar er setti sér til dýrðar
Sjálfur Guð, þitt bjarta hvel
Lít til vorra lágu ranna
Lát þitt friðarandlit sjást
Og sem vinhýr vörður manna
Vitna þú um drottins ást
Góða tungl í geislamóðu
Glansar þú í stjarnasæ
Og með svifi hvelfist hljóðu
Hátíðlega’ í næturblæ
Þú oss færir, frá þeim hæsta
Föður mildan náðar koss
Og til morguns, gullinglæsta
Góða tungl þú leiðir oss
Lyrics
English-
Kind moon, you glide across the sky,
sweetly at the silver lining.
As the will of the almighty offers,
according to your steady path.
Lend all the tired ones your light,
tiptoe in every window,
But leave the suffering hearts in darkness.