Magical Icelandic Spar-The Sunstone

Medieval Icelandic texts indicate that the Vikings used the spar, which they called the Sunstone, to navigate. I am fascinated by this beautifully sparkly crystal. I have researched the history and have used the Sunstone in several stories.  I even have one of my very own that stays on my desk. 

The Spar has a magical property to split light. Pretty cool, huh?

So, for all the rational people who need to understand the practical side of where the magic comes from, these details are especial for you. The Spar is a crystallized calcium carbonate. It has a unique birefringence for polarizing light.  Birefringence is the marvelous - dare I say magical? - property of double refraction that splits the sunshine. If a ray of light goes through birefringent material, it is split by polarization into two rays on barely different paths.

Most light we see unpolarized, like sunlight, light bulbs, and firelight. So what is polarized? Many of us are familiar with polarized sunglasses. The glasses help filter out the glare and clear up the image of what we see. That's a basic principle of the Sunstone. An unpolarized ray of sunlight passes through the crystal and is divided into two rays of perpendicular polarization directed at different angles. This is called double refraction. It splits the ray of sunshine and makes clear rays.

At that time, most maritime navigation was done based on the sun and stars. This was fine as long as they could be seen. But, during storms or cloudy days - even weeks - a ship could drift far off course. The Vikings could use the Sunstone on cloudy days or at twilight to identify the direction of the sun within a few degrees. This is one of the reasons they were able to accomplish their amazing travel, that they were not taken off course during long periods of cloudy conditions.

See, it is just a little Icelandic magic!

The Vitality of a Viking

Achieving a state of true happiness is a common goal that everyone strives to attain. It is elusive and is often even difficult to define. We all know it when we see it. When we meet someone that exudes true happiness or watch them in a video, perhaps see a photograph of a beautiful smile, there is a elemental understanding of an internal joy or peace that we feel we must understand.

We all want to define this elusive characteristic.  How is it that this person is so completely happy? What is the secret? And, most importantly, how can we recreate it for ourselves? I know of such a person. She is never depressed, never complains. She greets each day with a smile. She is always ready for the day’s tasks, challenges, and enjoyment. She is the mother to ten children, and has over 30 grandchildren and great (great) grandchildren. She has tried white water-rafting, paragliding, zip lining, target shooting at the pistol range, and even flown a single-engine aircraft. She has a ready hug and an infectious laugh. She tries to encourage people not to be a “sad sack”, “negative Nellie” or “downer Dave” and will readily share her favorite quote (by Kathleen J. Edgar):

Smile awhile and while you smile

          Another smiles
          And soon there will be miles and miles of smiles
          Because you smiled
         And life’s worth while because you smile

She is my mother. She just observed her 71st Mother’s day and celebrated her 92nd birthday. As a very active 90 plus, she is a constant source of inspiration to so many people . From from the first moment of introduction, people are drawn to her. What is her secret?  She is constantly asked, “How do you do it?” She embraces the joy of every day, revels in daily activity and is always as excited as a child with a new toy is when presented with the opportunity of another adventure.

She will tell you that you only have this moment. Live it fully. Yesterday is past and you cannot change it. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Focus on the positive and say yes to your dreams. She was eighty-eight when she published her first book. Today, four years later, she has four books in print and is working on two more. She writes for the pure love of storytelling but constantly laments her lack of time to focus on writing. She finds herself lost in the fascination of her research, which often sparks a flurry of notes on future storylines. But it is more than just that.  There are events to attend, birthdays and graduations, family barbeques, as well as heritage events and festivals that all promise fun. So much to do and so little time. I laugh when she says she doesn't have time to sit in a rocking chair like retired people are "supposed to do".

Why is her story important? Her zest for life is an inspiration to us all, but there is more to her story. In November 2016, she suffered a stroke. The onset did not present with any of the normal symptoms. She did not feel weakness or lose control of one side, there was no impact to her speech, and no noticeable indicators. As she moved in the kitchen, the room spun in a way she had never experienced before. She described it as more than dizzy and beyond a sense of vertigo. It was so severe and rapid that she knew there was something seriously wrong. Calling for help, an ambulance was quick to respond and she was in the emergency room in just over thirty minutes. Due to the quick medical treatment, she completely recovered with no lasting effects. She became committed to learning the early signs of a stroke, what she could do to limit her risk and what lifestyle changes she could make. She still lives ever day to the fullest, but now she checks her blood pressure. She watches what she eats a more carefully- but still thinks candy-coasted chocolate counts as adding “green” to her diet. Even more since this experience, she values every day as a gift.


May is stroke awareness month. Know the warning signs. The common symptoms many people associate with a stroke are paralysis on one side of the body, weak muscles or sudden coordination problems, blurred or double vision, slurred speech, confusion, or rapid involuntary eye movement. There are other signs you should never ignore, especially if they come on suddenly or unexpectedly. Did you know other symptoms might include overactive reflexes, problems with balance, intense lightheadedness or vertigo, difficulty swallowing, sudden severe headache, or a sudden inability to understand speech. If you even think there is a possibility you or someone you know if having a stroke, call an ambulance. The risk is too great to wait.

To learn more about her story, visit her website at www.vikingamma.com. Watch the video of her experience, told in her own words.


#strokeawareness
#vitality
#aging
#Iceland
#mom

 

 

 

 

 

The Legend of Hvítserkur the Troll

Many people think that Hvítserkur, the beautiful basalt stack on the Vatnsness Peninsula in northern Iceland, looks like an elephant, a rhinoceros, or even a dragon.

Actually, according to legend, it is a petrified troll.

Hvítserkur was a giant troll who lived at Mount Bæjarfell with his family. He had enjoyed peace and quiet for centuries but then humans discovered Iceland. At first there were few and Hvítserkur they were not much trouble. They were easy to ignore, step on or eat. One day, Hvítserkur heard shouting, clattering and all sorts or rumbling and thumping sounds.  As most trolls in Iceland, Hvítserkur could not go out during the daytime. Any troll caught out in sunlight would immediately turn to stone. Waiting until that night, when the sun was down and all was dark, he investigated the area on the other side of Húnaflói, where the sound had originated.

He found signs that humans were constructing a large building. He was not happy and knew he would have to watch them carefully. He might have to stop them. Over the next few weeks, Hvítserkur watched and listened. He found out the humans were building a convent they called Þingeyraklaustur. He did not know what that was, and vowed to keep a close eye on the progress.

One night, he was jolted from a deep sleep by a irritating ringing sound. Hvítserkur knew that humans were to blame for the noise coming from the at Þingeyraklaustur convent. They had added bells and they were clanging loudly. Each night, the awful noise got worse. For weeks, Hvítserkur and his family couldn't get a decent night's sleep. One winter's night, Hvítserkur decided he couldn't take it any longer. To stop the horrible sound, he decided to destroy the bells and stomp on convent to dust.

As soon as it was dark, he planned walk across the fjord, destroy the bell, and spend the daylight hours in nearby caves. He would then return home the next night. He prepared during the day and as evening approached, he was ready to set out. As the Hvítserkur started to leave, his son, Bárdur, begged to go with him. Bárdur wanted to see the world. He also argued that he would be able to assist his father just in case the bell tower was to difficult for Hvítserkur to destroy alone. Hvítserkur worried the the fjords were too deep and the hike too difficult for Bárdur. But, Bárdur pleaded and was relentless in his pestering until Hvítserkur agreed. It took Bárdur quite a while to convince his father and it was fully dark when they finally set out.

They soon found out the fjords were very difficult for Bárdur to cross and their progress was slow. So slow, in fact, it took all night. As they came close to the shore of the peninsula, the night was nearly over. Hvítserkur was certain they could make it to share and the safety of caves. They were nearly to land when Hvítserkur looked eastward and saw the sun rising. As soon as the rays of the sun touched him, he instantly began turning to stone. Hvítserkur could feel his body turning and with one arm he shielded Bárdur. Using the other arm and all the strength he had left, he heaved his hammer at the convent where the bell hung. To this day, it is said that the hammer is visible in the eastern part of Þingeyrarsand.

The pronunciation is a little difficult but sounds like "queet ser cur". It starts with a "Q" for the hv and the "er" in the middle is almost "eh" sound.