Torfbær

Do you always need to see to believe?

The huldufólk, Iceland’s hidden people, are said to live in a parallel realm that overlaps with our own, invisible to most… unless they choose to reveal themselves. While few claim to have seen elves directly, many sense that something unusual lingers in Iceland’s untouched landscapes.

Some huldufólk are playful tricksters, known for harmless pranks or leading travelers astray with illusions and strange sounds. Others are gentle and wise, offering guidance, protection, and unexpected help to those who are lost or in need.

In Icelandic lore, they often appear as quiet guardians of the land: healing the injured, protecting sacred springs, or assisting farmers and midwives. They’re said to reward humility and respect with blessings — from good fortune to dreams rich with insight.

Take action:

Spend some time sitting quietly outside the torfbæ (turf houses, representing old farmhouses) and you may just begin to understand that magic can still exist… not just in folklore, but in the way we move through the world when we slow down, listen, and open ourselves to wonder.

While it is believed that the elves live amongst the stones and lava rocks, we have created these miniature torfbæ as a tribute to the Icelandic folklore… a place where we can try and commune with the huldufólk.

Using the pen, paper, and box of Elder Futhark runes provided, write a short message to the hidden people in this ancient alphabet. Will you ask for guidance? Share a wish? Request protection? You never know how their support will show up when you have the courage to ask.

Place your message in the letter box when you’re done. Once a year, on sumarsólstöð (the summer solstice), we gather the letters and offer them to a ceremonial bonfire – a ritual symbolizing the burning away of the old and the welcoming of new cycles. An offering to the space between worlds, where your words may find ears you never knew were listening!