Elin Kåven

START OF A NEW SAMI BLOG

2018-12-09T15:23:00.002+01:00

Jungle Svonni and I have started a new sami blog. It was launched a few days ago, and we have 6 post up already! We will post every tuesday. Make sure you subsribe to our feed or even our newsletter.

On this blog we will share everything we can about the Sami people – the native people of the north of Europe. If you are interested in indigenous peoples, arctic and native lifestyles, global sustainability, nature, spirituality, mythology and shamanism this blog is for you!

See you on Beneath Northern Lights.com !

LEARNING JOIK AT THE UNIVERSITY

2018-10-31T21:45:00.003+01:00

Frode Fjellheim is a famous Sami musician and producer. He has done a lot of memorable and historical stuff in Sami music - too many to start listing things... I think he deserves his own blog post.

But he has for years now been teaching joik at the University. His course is called "Med joik som utgangspunkt". and its a 60 hour course.

I have thought about this course for many years, but never attended. Not only because I didn't have time but also because I didn't think this course was for me. Frode joiks the southern-semi way, and I am Northern Sami - so I didn't think that this was a course I could attend. But I have seen now many Northern Sami people have done this course.

My mother mentioned to me that we have forebears who are Southern Sami - so it is ok for me to learn joiking Southern Sami way. That made it easier for me.

After I started experimenting with joik about 4 years ago, I have discovered that I naturally joik more the Southern Sami style then the Northern Sami style anyway, so maybe this course is perfect for me.

Some people asked me : why do you go this course - you know how to joik. And I say - yes in one way I do, I know the feeling of joik now, and I understand a lot about it - but I really want to learn everything others know about it.

But in another way - I don't really know anything about it - because the "joik-police" have come for me many times and said that what I do is not joiking. And in a traditional view it is not joiking.

When we where asked to make our own joik the first day at the course the joik I made was actually the only one that couldn't be called a joik, because it was arranged more like a piece of music would be. It was not built as a traditional joik, - or something that everybody would categorize as a joik.

This did not surprise me I as am always the one who does things differently then everyone else, even when I am not trying. But he did say - this was based on joik - but it is a very futuristic and a very non-sami way of building the joik because it was arranged. So it was taking the joik to another level - to a level where some people might not call it a joik anymore - but a song.

So if anything - this course will teach me why what I do is not joiking - and what I can do to make things more traditional, - if I ever choose to...

TO WALK IN MY SHOES

2018-08-21T09:27:00.002+02:00

QUESTION: How is it to walk in your shoes?

At the moment its very confusing, because a lot of the things I do bring out reactions both from Norwegians, people abroad and the Sami people. It has been really emotional and unexpected for me to see how many different reactions my art can bring out in people. Sometimes its very confusing for me to choose a path, because there are so many directions to go, so many opinions to listen to and so many rules and relagualtions to follow.

Right now I feel like I have to be on guard of what I say and do so I don't offend anybody, but at the same time I am

working on coming back to my own heart and roots. I am looking for what feels right inside and not letting the outside world affect me too much and to trust my instinct and inner guideance.

ARCTIC TASTES

2018-08-08T15:48:00.006+02:00

After catching greyling I went to gather some plants from the wilderness. I read in a book that most of the plants here are eatable, so I am experimenting a bit with the Arctic flavours.

I gathered juniper, crowberries, leaf of yarrow, leaf of lingon-, blue, and crowberry.
I then used some salt and peppermix, and butter in a pan, and the fish tasted really good! It did get a fresh taste of the Arctic wilderness! I am definately doing this again!

GIFT TO THE SEA

2018-08-02T19:45:00.004+02:00

I sent these flowers to the sea with the intention that all seas of the earth should be kept clean, like they have been for thousands of years.

Thank you, Dhanya Atma, for showing me how to give flowers to the sea with intetions in mind.

You see how clean the water is in this picture... I wish for it to stay that way and never be polluted.

Did you know wishing for and focusing on, and sending good thoughts to something or someone can make a difference. Because when enough people are working for the same goal by sending energy towards it, it will happen!

TALKING ABOUT SAMI PEOPLE

2018-07-30T10:10:00.001+02:00

Often I get questions about the sami people and sometimes it´s difficult to give an easy answer. It can be difficult to generalize Samis, and to give one straight answer, because there are a lot of opinions, judgements, and expectations about the sami people. Both from us Sami ourselves and from others.

But the most obvious reason is that the Sami culture is NOT ONE thing, it´s not ONE culture, ONE tradition, ONE language and way of joiking, dressing, being, and way of living. It´s actually many things. And it´s many ways of living.

There are 10 different Sami languages, some say less some say more. Every district has their own clothing, cultural traditions, joiking styles, and living conditions. Some a fishers, some farmers, some reindeerhearders.

So if you ask me about Sami culture, it can be a very big questions, and most of the times I am not prepared to answer on behalf of all the Sami people, because we don´t always agree with each other, we have different opinions about things, different values and traditions.

But of course I can always answer the questions on behalf of myself as a Sami, and what feels right for me. Other Samis might have other opinions, and might disagree with me, so my truth does´t necessarily apply to all Sami people.

Do you feel like you are representing a whole culture, and you feel you are talking on behalf of alot of people when you speak? How do you handle and relate to this?

IS IT OK FOR A NON-SAMI PERSON TO JOIK?

2018-07-23T13:46:00.000+02:00

Is it ok for Espen Wensaas to joik?

When I did a lifestream on Instagram where I answered some questions about joiking I actually realized a few things about the use of joiking amongst non-samis.

I am realizing that a lot of non-sami people are actually using the joik as it is meant to be used.

But first; It is possible for everybody to joik. Physically it is possible for everybody to learn it. There are no physical restrictions to it.

If you are not Sami, and you want to learn joiking, I invite you to first ask yourself: Why is it that you want to joik? What is it that is missing in you that makes you want to incorporate a foreign culture into your own? Maybe its the connection to nature and the authentic ancient expression straight from the core (that is often what people who are learning about sami culture are looking for).

Or maybe it is just for fun, to learn a new skill, to have fun with it?

The reason why you want to learn yoking will tell you if and when it is ok for you to joik.

The main thing is to always do it in respect of Sami culture.

The joik has a lot of uses and occasions and reasons to why we would joik, - and one of them is for meditation and grounding.

After experiences and conversations about the joiking and sami music I realize that joiks and sami music are often used for meditation purposes. This is fantastic, and I am really happy that people all over the world benefit from sami music this way! <3 br="" nbsp="">
If you are alone on the mountain or at your house or wherever in private- and you feel like joiking for the purpose of coming closer to nature, to yourself, to ground yourself or to enter meditative state, to honor gods, feelings and people or anything similar - I would encourage you to do so.

You are not being disrespectful to the sami gods if you do this. in contrary - I think you are honoring them - as long as the joik is coming from a respectful place in you. A joik is always the right thing to do to honor someone, so I think it is a really good idea to joik in those occasions.

But another thing is to step on stage, perform a joik, and call this a sami traditional way of joiking. If you do this, then you must be sure that you know what you are talking about, that you are respecting the sami culture, that you have done your research and history-lessons. Because the moment you go public, you might be asked questions you are not prepared to answer.

But for yourself you can do whatever you want, and as long as you have respect and good intentions with it, I encourage you to learn joiking as it is a blessing to have in life.

Have fun experimenting!

Are you non-sami who wants to learn to joik? Why do you want to learn it? Do you think it is ok for non-Sami people to joik? What do you use joik for?

MARRIAGE AND SACRED UNIONS

2018-07-04T10:57:00.004+02:00

This morning I woke up thinking about the sacred union of marriage. I have dated a few guys in the past who do not believe in marrige. And also met women who do not believe in marriage.

For me a marriage has always been a very romantic idea. Not only the wedding but to also to give the other person so much of your life, your trust, loyalty, love and are devoted to that person so much you can see yourself with this person the rest of your life. It is a very beautiful thing to me.

But today I thought of another aspect of marrige. The protection a sacred union will provide. When you are married there is alot of protection purely in the fact that you are married.
The sacred union of marrige and the energy that two people surround themselves with, and are grounded in - that they have created together works as protection from harm from the rest of the world. They will stand strong together. And every marriage is sacred. Usually you stand in front of God(s) and you make vowes. I didnt realise before how much protection this can give to a couple. There will be a sacred protection in this relationship given with the blessing of the God(s) between the two. And that it is really difficult for anything or anyone anyone to interfere with. The universe has blessed you, and is on your side, you could say - just to put things in a romantic way...

A relationship is often about the two individuals developing as humans with the support of each other. The sacred union of marrige will give them the space to do so more easily, because they don´t have to be thinking about the protection and wellbeing their relationship all the time - because that is already being taken care of. They can now focus on their individual development, and at the same time know that their realation is being taken care of.
I realise this is possible even without marrige, but I think marrige will enforce this even further.

So why do we have so many divorces then?
Because it is possible to break this protection from the inside. Because of change. Because of not paying attention, and not taking care of the individual needs of each other. Because the marrige was done on false premisses in the first place. Because we change directions in life, and need something else. Because of free will. Because marrige in the modern times is about love and co-exsitence - not about practicalities. Because we are stribing to evolve as humans, and every human trancsends in their own time, to necasserily when their spouse does. Everything changes - thats what life is about. And there is a time and space for everything.

How do you feel about marrige? Do you think it´s just for show and fun, or is it something more to it? Do you want to get married?

THE EGO AND THE FREE WILL

2018-06-29T11:40:00.000+02:00

I have been trying to figure out the mystery of the ego for a long time now. To let go of the ego - what does that mean anyway? And what is the ego?

It´s said that its a bad thing when you are acting out of your ego. Why do we have a ego thrn if its so bad? Isn´t the world supposed to be perfect as it is? Why has this mysterious good God given this handicap of an ego for us to struggle with and spend our lives trying to not use it?

I have asked a few people about it, and of course they gave me vague answers. I still got the impressions that they meant its a bad thing to have a ego and we should let it go. And of course there are alot of books about this to read, and I am sure some of them have come to the same conlusion as I have. Unfortuanelty I have not been able to read much the last years - but getting there...
I finally today got a theory in my mind about what the ego is.

I think the ego is actually our free will.

Animals usually don´t have egos - they have instinkts. Humans (and maybe a few animals) are the only species as far as we know on this planet that have egos - and free will.
I therefore came to the conclusion that they are actually the same thing, just using different descripton of the same mechanism.

The ego/free will is the ability to choose which path you take in life. To choose between all the diffrent colours in life. To chose the bad, the good and everything in between. To choose to be happy, sad or everything in between. It´s the free WILL. I can wish and dream about anything and because of my free will I will actually be able to go through with it and make it happen.

I have the choice to surrender to the universe and a higher force - become religious or whatever I want to be - and live a life whorshipping something that is outside this physical existience.
Also I have the choice to be a ateist, and only focus on materialism, only on the physical and bodily pleasures. Or I can choose both! I can even choose to live many lifes within one lifetime. For example a criminal half my life, and religious the rest. So many choices! They are endelss. The bottom line is that everyday I can choose what to have in my life.
The benefit of an ego / free will are obvious!

So... I don´t acutally belive that it is possible to loose the ego anymore, then the only thing you would do if you lost it is to actually make yourself smaller then you are - you would lack a huge part of being a human. You would not be a fully functioning human. The ego is there for a reason. You are supposed to use your free will for something!
If you choose to surrender to a higher purpose - then you are not loosing your ego - you are using it! You are using your free will to let something else decide over your human life at this point in time. That is a very brave thing to do.
I think no matter what we choose in life we are actually using our egos, because we are human - and we have egos no matter what.
Your ego wants control - but you can choose to give your ego a rest, and that´s probably what people mean by "let go of the ego".

Do you think this makes sense? Do you think that ego and free will can be the same?

AM I A HEALER, LIKE JOHAN KAAVEN?

2018-06-20T16:13:00.001+02:00

Photo Ann Helen Gjermundsen

Many people I meet ask me if I am related to the famous shaman Johan Kaaven. And yes, I am related to him. He is my great granduncle. The second thing they ask is if I have the same healing powers that he has, and to that there is not an easy answer.

There are relatives that have such skills as he does now still. The powers are still in the familiy. And I think I might be able to access such powers if I wanted to. People in the familiy who do have them choose not to go public about it, and work their healing powers in silence, with the faith that the people who need their help will encounter them. And they only use the powers when they are in situations it is needed, - and not like a profession.

Since I was a child I have been terrified of having such skills as the shaman has. I remember when I was a child I sincerely hoped I would never see the white reindeer, which in sami culture means you are "a chosen one". I was scared of all the responsability that comes with it, and I was scared that I wouldnt be able to enjoy my life as much when I knew things not everyone knows...

But the last 5 years this has changed. When I got ill after 35 years of perfect health and needed to go to surgery, and I experienced that there are very few people who actually can help me when I truly need it... After this I have been thinking more and more about taking the ideas about other realms seriously. I mean - I have always had the interest for it, and if it can do good - why not!
A few people have told me that I have a shaman spiritual guide and he is trying to talk to me, but I refuse to listen... A few years ago I decided I would do my best to take this more serious and change my life in a direction where I actually could live a life where I am more in tune with such possibilities that connection with nature religion and spirituality can take place.

But I know I will never be shaman in a tradional way - like Johan Kaaven and other sami noaidi´s where.
I wouldnt nessacerily call myself a shaman or healer at all. But I think I can make my own magic through music and arts and try to connect with other worlds and powers in my own way.
This has been a very exciting journey for me so far, and of course the fay-realm has a big part of it.

This weekend I am playing a concert at the 100 years anniversary of Johan Kaaven´s death. They have a seminars, exhibitions and movies about him in Lakselv during the weekend. I am honored to pay him this respect and I think it was a great thing to arrange this anniversary. He deserves it! 💛

THE PLACE I AM GOING

2018-06-03T12:57:00.002+02:00

Why do I spend my energy trying to achieve something, when it will come naturally in the place I am going?

Why do I spend my my money on therapies that help me cope with problems that don´t even exist in the place where I am going?

Why do I spend my life making decisions based on what others have given me as an option when I know there are more the place I am going?

Why do I blame myself for being unable to enjoy myself in unsupporting surroundings, when I can just move on and live in bliss?

ⒸElin Kåven 2018

A VERY PERSONAL INTERVIEW

2018-05-11T15:43:00.002+02:00

This week an issue of iPorsanger was published with a 6 page long interview with me.
This interview was done because of the Johan Kaaven 100 year anniversary event this summer in Lakselv. Johan Kaaven was my great granduncle and a famous shaman.

I was a bit nervous about this interview because it would be the first time I would speak about my realtionship with him, and how I feel about the shamanistic ways that he is famous for.
This interview became really personal and I talked about things I have never talked about before in interviews the same way. I have mentioned things, but not in a such personal way as this time.

The journalist Ann-Helen Gjernumdsen was the perfect woman to interview me because I felt like she understood me. She knew what I was talking about and was interested in the topic, and knew much about the topic. Then it was easier for me to talk freely, cause I knew there was a big chance she would actually understand me correctly - and not just write what she thought I meant. It was a great thing to experience this kind of juornalism, and hopefully I would be able to do more interviews like this in the future.
The pictures turned up great also! I love the background of the fjord in Porsanger and the cold weather.

You can read the interview here. It´s in Norwegian:

https://issuu.com/trykkeriservice/docs/iporsanger_1-2018

NORWEGIANS DON`T KNOW THEIR OWN HISTORY

2018-05-06T18:18:00.000+02:00

It´s strange how many people in Norway think about the Sami history as something that only
concerns the Sami people - and us only.
They don´t think it´s important for them to learn anything about it. They don´t think its relevant to them,
becuase they are not Sami…

But why wouldn´t it? It concerns everyone, espescially them!.
This happened in Norway - so its a part of Norwegian history as well.
Some people have called it “The dark part of Norwegian history” the part that hasn´t been talked about.
And the same happened is Sweden, Finland and Russia.

Norwegian kids don´t learn about their own history in shcool, it´s actaully NOT a part of their syllabus
- they learn about other indigneous peoples more then about the indigenous peoples in their own country.

When I talk to people from abroad they have always thought of Norway as a country that cares about
peoples right, the environment, and are nice, open, and understanding people.
That we are kind and have alot of understanding and compassion for all people and that we
don´t discriminate and all is good and so on.

They are shocked to hear what has happened in Norway regarding the Sami people.

Everything sami has been forbidden! The clothes, the language, the culture, they burned the drums and
clothing and banned joiking and the sami culture! They wanted us to become Norwegian
- good Norwegians.

This is called colonisation and we are not yet decolonised unfortunately.
We just celebrated the 100 years annivarsary since the first poltical Sami meeting.
Colonisation started long before that, it´s hard to say excatly when - but its hundreds of years ago
- and we are still misunderstood and discriminated in many ways. Colonisation is still happening.

The first step for us to get closer to a co-exsistence is knowledge. The schools and the whole society
has the responsability to learn about the history of Norway. What acutally happened and
why things are like they are now. And we have the right to learn about our own culture and live it!

Many kids growing up don´t even know they are Sami, and as they become adults and do
some genealogy to find their ancestors, they find out they are Sami, but don´t know anything
about how to be a Sami person.

I hope for the future that all nordic children get to learn about the Sami people in shcool,
so that they will have a understanding about our common history, so that we can at least find
a common ground to stand on and understand each other, so we all have the opportunity
to live how we want to live.

Are you surprised to hear that Norwegian kids don´t learn much about Sami people?

THE RIVER THAT NEVER FREEZES

2018-04-28T20:45:00.000+02:00

Not far from my hometown there is a small river, a stream that comes from the mountain and runs down to form a big pound.
This river and pound don´t freeze in wintertime. Many people find this strange, because everything freezes here during the winter. Tempearatures can get down to -50 celsius and it´s cold. So why doesnt it freeze?
The legend says that uldá/gufihtar (undergound people) live under this river, and thats why it never freezes. During the spring, when all the snow melts, sometimes the water is not so good in the tap and we have to go and get water from nearby springs. This river is one of them, so the water is supposed to be extra clean and good. Magic water if you ask me!

Can you find any other good reason then that the underground people are the reason this? 😉
Hihi, not me! 😀

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEFORE AND NOW

2018-04-21T20:10:00.003+02:00

There is no doubt there is a huge difference on the situation with the sami people now and how it was let´s say in the 70ties or 40ies. This is a really common question I get asked all the time:

HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED FOR SAMI PEOPLE?

Sami culture is not prohibited anymore like it used to be.
For a long time nothing Sami was tolerated. To simplyfy what happened: the government wanted us to become good Norwegian citizens, we where not allowed to be Sami. We had to change our names, burn the gákti (sami clothing) and drums, and stop joiking and talking sami. Chlidren in shcools would get punished if they where to talk sami or use sami clothes.

Colonisation happened, and it´s still going on, it has for at least 100 years - BUT....

Now we have opportunities - we had no voice before.
Because there has been shown interest in reconciliation between the Norwegian government (I know best of the situation in Norway, but there are sami people in Sweden, Finland and Russia as well) and Sami´s the latest years this is an excellent chance for us to show the world who we are. On our terms. We don´t have to let anyone from outside the Sami culture define who we are, but we can choose for ourselves to show what our values are, our lifestyle and world view, our culture and what we have to offer to the world.
We are allowed to learn how to be good Sami people. We have the opportunity to define ourselves - let the world know who we are from our own perspective.

What would you say has changed for the Sami people? Do you have any thoughs about it?

THE INTERNET IS EVERYTHING

2017-10-12T16:32:00.000+02:00

I go to the doctor to tell her I feel weak, tired and ask if there could something wrong with my body?
Doctor says: Right excercise is very important for the body to be at optimal health.
-I came because I don´t have the energy to excercise!

I go to my collegues to ask them if they can help me with my workload, it´s been too much for me.
They say: No, sorry. You haven´t been doing the things you should have been.
- I asked because I need help to to it properly!

I go to my family to find back to where I belong.
They say: You are here so seldom, we don´t have room for you.
- I came because I want to relate again!

I go to my singing coach who specialises on letting yourself loose on stage, because I want to be more free and in contact with my feelings and be more expressive.
She says: You are not putting your effort in it. There is no point. You are not working for it!
-I came because I want to learn how to do that!

I go to my therapist for help with finding the reason for my lack of energy and happiness.
She says: No one can help you if you don´t want to help yourself.
-I came because I am trying to!

I go to my boyfriend and tell him I feel lost and need support.
He says: You are not taking responsability for yourself.
-I came because I want to change that!

I go to a spiritual guide and ask for guidance.
He says: I can´t help you on you level. You are not listening to the signs.
- I came because I want to hear them!

I go into myself and ask what can I do.
I answer: I have been neglecting myself. I refuse to do anything!
- I asked because I want to make it good again!

I search on the internet and ask for advice.
It says: I have all you need!

And I booked a vacation. There is nothing that can be done anyway...
Thank god the internet knows me well enough to know what I need!

How is it that we don´t understand the sypmtoms of lack of basic needs in our society?
It´s all about all the fuzz and doing and becoming, and gaining, and creating, and being on top of everything, isn´t it?

VINTAGE GÁKTI

2017-10-06T16:02:00.000+02:00

Wearing my mothers old gákti at Rudolstadt Festival

Last year my mother was cleaning her closet, and she had a few gákti´s (sami dress) that are to small for her. They are supercute and vintage, so it would be too bad to throw them away. No way!
They are still usable, not too worn. And the gákti has not changed much since the 70ies, so its no problem wearing it. I guess thats the great part of traditional clothing. It never goes out of fashion!

I hadn´t got around to sewing my own gákti, so I was very happy when my mother said I could get from her. But one of them was a bit worn, so I didn´t feel I could use it for anything else then for example kitchen work, or everyday gákti. But I don´t really wear a gákti everyday, even though it would be cool if I did..
It´s just that the skirts are so big on them and a bit annoying and impractical to wear all the time...
I wanted to give the gákti a new life, but I didn´t want to cut it or anything, so that´s when I came up with the idea of dying it a different colour. A excellent idea!

Before

It´s a little bit tricky to dye this kind of fabric, becuase it had so many different colours - and all of them will react on a different way to the colour. I was wanting a green-ish gákti, instead of blue, so I went for a colour called emerald-green. The thing is that the colours will not blend like watercolours.

First I though that if I get yellow colour it will blend with the blue and become green. But Hertta Voido - who is a designer told me yellow colour would do aboslutely nothing to the gákti. There is no point in dying it in a lighter colour then the original. So my best options where blue, green or black.
So I went for the green, and the red parts of the gákti became dark orange, and the blue became green. It just turned out perfekt - and I am so happy with this colour! What do you think of the new colour? Do you think I should start wearing gákti every day?

MAYAN SEREMONY IN OSLO

2017-09-10T18:19:00.002+02:00

Today we went to a seremoni held by Mayan elders. They have been in Norway before - even in Karasjok, and came back now to connetct with the north.

Today is called "12 K´at" in the mayan calendar, and that is the day of the seeds. All kinds of seeds. Seed of the water, earth, trees, humans, every single smallest seed there is in the world.
It was also the day for connecting the mind-heart- and belly to create harmony in the feelings.

It was so interesting to see how Mayans do their ancient rituals and listen to them talk in the old K´iche language. I am not going to explain everything that happened - cause I cannot...
At the end of the seremony - Kjetil and I drummed a bit and we joiked.

But for me the things that came into my understanding is how important it is to give and take. - To let the energies flow through you. Don´t let them stagnate in your body. Let go. Both good and bad in flow - let them flow through you. When you receive something - let it go through you and then let it go. Let it go back to earth for example.

First we got healing from our forefathers to a place in the body where we need it (of our own choosing) - and then after we had received this healing we gave it back to the water. We gave the healing energy to all the water on earth. We don´t want it to dry out - cause we need it.

If you ever have the chance I would recommend going to a Mayan Fire Seremony. It was a really strong and profound experience - if you let if be so, of course!

I hope to see them again - cause I don´t have the opportunity to go to their main seremony in Oslo the 22th of september.

THE SMALLEST THINGS CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE

2017-09-08T20:17:00.001+02:00

Feeling pretty with leaves! 🍃I like to wear things that remind me of things I love. 🌲 This leaf is a actual leaf that has been preseved in metal from Blattraush.de Its amazing! ❤️🍃#love #necklace #leafdesign #blattraush #nature

Don´t underestimate the power of small things. The size does not equal importance. I love wearing things that have great value to me, and mean something to me. Jewlery is a great example of that. It´s good to have something to remind you of the things you love. Whenever you need that extra support - you can just look at the necklace or ring you are wearing and be reminded of the good things in life.

When I saw Blattrausch jewlery at Rudolstadt this summer when we where playing there I fell in love immidiatly, and I wanted to buy everything! What they have done is to take real leaves and preserved them in different precious metals. The leaf will live forever! <3 Do you have something small and special you like to wear and for what occasions?

NEW SINGLE "SÀPMI"

2017-05-15T21:44:00.000+02:00

The song "Sápmi" was the forst song Robin and I made together in 2015. We hadn´t met yet, so we did it over the internet... Sending files to each other utnil we were happy with the result.

This song is now for me the symbol of gratitude towards my homeland - my inspiration and love, and all the people who supported Elin & The Woods in the finals of Melodi Grand Prix 2017.

So many people voted for us, and did their best to show support and cheer for us. We will never be able to give back all the money they spent on voting and travelling to cheer for us, so I feel like this song is our way to give love back, and thank everyone for all the support we received. You are all in our hearts!

We will be forever thankful for this, and never forget! It was a surreal experience for both of us, and we feel so lucky to have been able to experience this! I don´t even know how to put it into words!

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

EVIL DREAM

2017-04-24T15:18:00.000+02:00

Last night I dreamt a very bad dream. It was almost like a nightmare, but when I woke up I felt like I had learnt something impontant.

I dreamt that I was visiting an aquintaince house that was under contruction. Her friend was there too. After a while we went for a party. It was saturday night and we where in a part of the town where collage students live and go out partying. It was dead dark outside, and there where barely any lights anywhere, we could barely see the main street that was full of restaurant and pubs and so on.

We randomly picked a door and went in there. There where to guys lying on some kind of hospital beds with needles and tubes and they where looking for something to suck. I immidiately had the creepiest feeling, and wanted to get out, but it was too late - they had spotted us and where after us already. We ran up the stairs - which was not a good idea - cause we where trapped in the house, instead of going out again.. One of us got caught already in the stairways of this creepy zombie like guy who just took our friend and who knows what they did with her. They where looking for some kind of life force to feed on. We ran futher up, and miraculously I was able to get out of the house and survive the night. My two friends I don´t know what happened to them, but I assumed they where dead...

At sunrise I was on the main street again, and it felt like this creepy evil energy was not there anymore. It had lost its power. Instead I saw women in white clothes singing and chanting about how we should care about each other and be nice to each other. I saw religious pictures on the walls. Christian pictures and angel-like women who sang on the streets. Suddenly I saw one of them quickly go inside one of the doors, and not long after there was this angry little creature running out from one of the pubs acting insane and shooting some kind of silver pins at me, it looked like laser or something. I managed to get away from some of them - and then I woke up, and I immidiately started thinking about the dream. About what evil and good really are...

When you act like a zombie - act selflishly, you don´t have ANY consideration of any other beings except yourself. You take what you want and need whenever you want to, whatever comes your way, you will take it and use it for your own will. Is this what it means to be "evil". Or is evil some kind of stupidity? We had no chance to survive this "evil". It was foolish of us to go in there, we had no chance aganinst that force.

And in the morning they where singing about everyone caring about each other and world peace and so on. Why was she not singing this song last night, when we needed it? I knew it was because she would not survive the night. Her life force would have been stolen by those guys who where after us, and she would be eaten alive.

It was a reminder for me that there are different energies that rule at different times and places. Daytime, when those evil energies where sleeeping, she could sing about peace and love, and she would have that in her life as long as she keeps away from the darkness.
Where do I want to put my energy? Do I only want to stay in the light where I can sing about happiness and good life, and hide away at night when the other takes over? Or do I want to live like the evil guys did, just take what I want when I need it.
Is it possible to be both evil and good?
In old shamnistic beliefs there is no "good and bad" and the good being the preffered one. There is always a matter of what kind of enery is needed, and wanted. As humans we can choose, and unfortunately, I often forget this...

But I am curious, what do you think this dream meant?

LISTEN HERE - LYTT HER - GULDAL DÀS

2017-02-16T18:54:00.002+01:00

Here is our song on Eurovision 2017. I hope you like it! :D
Dá lea min lálla Melodi Grand Prix:as! Savan ahte liikot nu olu dasa ahte jienastat munno!
Her er sangen vår på Melodi Grand Prix 2017. Håper dere liker så mye at dere stemmer masse på oss!

iTunes: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithiTunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithSpotify
Tidal: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithTidal
Deezer: http://bit.ly/FirstStepInFaithDeezer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elinandthewoods/
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ElinandthewoodsInstagram
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ElinAndTheWoodsTwitter

NEW BAND! ELIN & THE WOODS - ELECTROJOIK

2017-02-14T18:25:00.001+01:00

Last year in august I met Robin Mortensen Lynch and we wrote a song together called "First Step in Faith - Oadjebasvuhtii". Robin has produced a few songs on Eurovision, so we dcecided to send the song there. Alot of people write we every year and encourage me to participate in Eurovision, so I decided..why not try? And wouldnt you believe! We are one of the 10 finalists! And there where over 1036 demos sent, so it´s hard to belive we where elected!

This means our first ever gig will be at Norwegian Eurovision 11th of march 2017!

We called the band "Elin & The Woods" and you can read about us here:

www.elinanthewoods.com
www.facebook.com/elinandthewoods
Instagram and snapchat: elinandthewoods!

Follow us around, and be sure to vote on us if you live in Norway!

Håper du vil stemme på oss på Melodi Grand Prix!!
Savan ahte mu jienastat Melodi Grand Prixas!!

REBORN INTO NATURE

2016-07-06T22:27:00.000+02:00

Photo June Bjørnback

The cover for my album "Eamiritni - Rimeborn" have pictures of me naked in the forrest. Yes, it is true. I am naked.
When I talked to my photographer June Bjørnback about this the first time I was very specific about what I wanted. I wanted to be naked - but not in a objectifying manner, not being sexualised in any way. I didnt want any of my female parts to show, because I wanted the picture to be as neutral as possible. And still I didnt want it to look like I was covering up something, it should look like natural. I wanted it to look natural, beutiful, fairy-taleish, almost creature-like and mysterious... I did not want a male photographer to do this, simply because I was afraid he would not understand my mission of the pictures, and I would feel more comfortable with a female photographer.... June was totally in on it, she totally understood me - so we went for it!

I never doubted that these where the right pictures to have on my cover, because it is my inside reflected on the outside in a way. I felt that I had gone back to my roots. To my culture, but also that my life was shifting and I was becoming a different person when I was working on this album. I felt a new beginning in every area of my life, actually - like a rebirth. Thats why I wanted the word "born" in my album title. Rimeborn - as in reborn in/with rime. And all of us are born naked

I felt I had returned back to nature when I moved back home to the north of norway. I felt like I was reborn into nature, that I can be myself and show myself - who I truly am when I am in nature. Nature never pretends to be anything else then what it is. In society we are always trying to be better or different in different ways, often dreaming of being something else then what we are... Clothes are one way we actually can do that. The minute you put clothes on you are giving others a percetption of what you are, or what you want to be. Clothes are so powerful this way, it shows you identity so strongly. By being naked - without clothes and makueup and all that - I wanted to show myself that I am what I am, and I can go in whatever direction from now. I will go wherever feels natural for me to move forward to.
For me these pictures are the symbol of a new beginnig. The newborn me. I was reborn into nature, and I want to keep growing here.

Photo June Bjørnback

I heard comments like "it´s a marketing trick" to be naked. In my opinion the fact that I am naked is not the trick - having a nice picture that fits what I am going through in life and musically is the trick. I want to market myself as someone who is close to nature and wants to show herself as pure and true to herself as possible. So in one way, yes I can agree its a marketing trick - everything I do is.

I have had mostly good comments about this cover, very few negative ones. What do you think about these pictures?

- Elin

A NEW LIFE

2016-06-17T00:36:00.000+02:00

I have told you before the last 3 years have been really strange for me. It´s been difficult to keep motivated and the only thing that has kept me going is the love for music and nature. And without you people and some good friends I don't know what or where I would be at this moment. I have some incredible fans who always support me through everything, and they are so caring and loving towards me. They inspire me so much. I don´t feel like calling them my fans - I should find a better word for them, cause they feel more like friends....

Some weird thoughts have gone through my mind, and now I understand why people start using drugs for example. I am happy I made through all this without having to start using drugs for example... Like anti depressives or sleeping pills, or even suicide or whatever super drastic things. I felt like I needed something like that so many times, but it never got to that - so I am very happy about that. The only thing I know I could have done differently was how I acted towards people that loved me. I didn't even trust them.

After 7 months at home in Alta now - it seems like only a month for me - it has gone by so quickly - it took me several months to take in everything that had happened - not only the last year but the last 10 years. It has been a unbelievable psychological and spiritual journey - a journey I wanted to share with you - but I didn´t know how. But now I feel ready to share the things I have experienced.

Now - finally - after 3 years of doing tests and all kinds of treatments, the doctors finally have found that I have a cyst and I need to remove it by surgery. This cyst has given me the symptoms of "burnout" plus the pain that comes with it. I know that this is the main cause if my constant tiredness - although I confess I should take more time off and take better care of myself (which I will from now on).

But not only this - at the same time I have been going through a lot of emotional stress, and several shamans and therapists have said that what I am going through is something that can be described as a spiritual awakening. My life was torn apart and I felt like I have lost everything - I even felt like I died - and I did die in some ways. The parts of me that I cannot take with me into my new life died, so that the new me could emerge...

Last year I knew I had to change my life completely. I knew I had to change my lifestyle and everything in my life for me to survive… It is just not working anymore. But the strange thing was that I was living my dream - so why was I not happy… ? The answer to that question is really interesting to me, and I will try to share with you my toughs about it. And I want to do it now - before the answer is clear to myself. Maybe it will be clear to you before it is clear to me… But I want to write all this down now - before I know how it all ends, cause its not over yet - maybe it has only just begun...