Archive for October, 2009

My Norwegian farm grandmother used to tell me that the state of my kitchen is the state of my soul. They were meticulous farmers. Tools were always cleaned and put away.  Leaving a tool laying around was understood by my mother and her siblings as a severe breach in health and safety for the family. Someone could injure themselves through this negligence. Loss of a tool can mean loss of food and shelter. Neglecting a tool shows disrespect of the tool and the work it will perform less efficiently after being rained on. Health and safety were serious concerns on the farm. You don’t wear barn boots into the house. You don’t wear house shoes into the barn. And you always wash everything very carefully. Disease is spread through ignorance of the principles of cleanliness. Disharmony occurs when tools, books, clothing, the things of life, are not cleaned and put away. If you own a cow, an ax, or a pair of shoes, those things must be attended to. They consume some time and energy and in return you are given milk, efficiency in use, and longevity of service. This user to tool relationship is two way. We give attention to the tool and it performs well for us. This is a very ancient concept in Norse tradition. Weapons, spinning wheels, farm animals, landmarks in nature were given names. Lineage of these tools and places were remembered and passed down. These principals were instilled in my mother who instilled them in me. I have even been given tools used by my grandmother and great grandmother. These things I continue to use so the relationship stays alive and I add my name to the lineage of tools.

In Relationship

The reality of relationships with our surroundings gives rise to another Nordic value to add to cleanliness and orderliness. Simplicity. The more things you have, the more attention you must pay these things. In most Scandinavian households in Minnesota you will find few things. But those things will be of highest quality, well maintained and serviceable, and full of the charm of life. There is a free flowing energy in homes like this. Not a barren and cold feeling but rather a clean and well used feeling. I found these principles alive and well in Norway this past May while visiting farms and homes. It is prevalent in Scandinavian design as well, natural materials in clean lines, easy to keep clean. Just look into any Ikea! Throughout history, humans have understood their environment as a balance between seen physical reality and the energy that holds our physical world together. In Norse tradition we personified the energy of the things and places in our lives. In the best barns lived the Nisse, the “little folk” who help keep order and energy in the barn. There are house wights or vaettir who help keep things in order in the home. These creatures must be given attention as well or they might just start messing with the energy of the place.  These days, homage is given to them by placing their likenesses around the house and gardens. Some homes have little altar areas for the good folk that are kept, yes, very clean. Some areas of the land are still honored by prayer ties in trees or offerings of crystals or other trinkets. All this is in the hope of creating good energy with balance and flow that helps us live well and do good work. As I began studying the Chinese art of Feng Shui, it became clear that my grandmother practiced perfect Feng Shui. In reading the five principals Destiny, Luck, Feng Shui, Education, and Philanthropy that create enlightenment in humans, I easily understood these things in light of my Nordic background. I will elaborate on the five principals here and correlate them to Nordic philosophy. Read the rest of this entry »