In our culture, we often say people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. But in Iceland, Nordic islanders don't throw stones because they might hit the Huldufolk, or hidden people. These enchanted, beautiful (and some say imaginary) beings live in large rocks, rock piles and outcroppings in Iceland's startling dramatic landscape. Sometimes construction projects are rerouted around rocks where Huldufolk are thought to live; other times, seers are hired to advise builders and designers where Huldufolk rock dwellings could be moved without angering them. I might pick this majestic outcropping in Thingvellir National Park, not far from a waterfall where Game of Thrones was filmed. I'd use the keyhole-shaped opening as my widow's walk.
Iceland
I took this photo on a day when the clouds were clamoring for attention in the coastal town of Budir, Iceland. Budir is set amongst lava fields on the Snaesfellnes peninsula and has a magical, mysterious quality. As we walked in tall grasses and rocks next to the sea, a local storyteller shared the tale of Iceland's hidden people, or Huldufolk. Not all Icelanders believe in them, but she does. They are beautiful, enchanted people who have made their homes in Icelandic rock piles for eternity and make trouble if disturbed. As I hiked through the landscape, I imagined Hidden People doing their tasks invisibly around me. The sky represented such tangible creative thrust toward new and imaginary destinations that I decided to use it for my site's cover page, too.