Sieidi – a holy rock

Sieidi is a holy rock or an other type of peculiar formation in nature that is found throughout Sápmi.  Holy formations all over the world have in common that they stand out from the surrounding nature. For example Uluru (Ayers rock) in Australia. It´s a mouintain. That itself is not so peculiar. But the fact that its the only mountain within miles makes it stand out, and therefore holy. The same principle goes here in the north. If there is a big rock, a tree, river or whatever that stands out from the rest of the surrounding area, it could be a sieidi. We also have sieidisoulu; sieidi-Islands, small Islands that where given offerings to.

The sieidi is connected to shamanism,and the realm of Sáivo where all the gods, spirits and ancestors dwell.

It was usual for surrounding families or siidas – people that lived nearby a sieidi to share it. There could also be sieidis that where used only by specific families.

There are still a lot of sieidis intact in Sápmi, still visited and respected, but the way of honoring the sites has changed through time.  

The old way of giving offering

In books about Sami culture we find explanation of the old ways the Samis used to give offerings to the sieidi. It would be done in different ways. There was no ONE way to do it.

In the book “Hva vi tror på”, available in english; “What we belive in“, by sami Aage Solbakk he describes that it was usual to take a reindeer to a sieidi, slaugher it, boil it and eat it by the rock. They would eat everything but the bones which where left by the rock. Sometimes the fat was given as an offering. Also using the blood of the reindeer to annoit the rock with would be done. Fishermen would use fish oil to do this.

In our understanding it sounds like they would share the food with the Gods. Like throwing a party with/for the gods. We feel the meaning with the offerings are making friends and get to know the gods – just like you would give presents and food to any visitor or other new aquitaince and friends.

The sieidis today

Also nowaday the sieidis are honoured in different ways.

There is a rock close to Hammerfest, the northernmost city in the world, called Stállogargo. It is said that this stone is a Stállu that turned into stone because it was out in the sunlight.

This stone has a lot of offerings surroundig it. Alot of people throw even just a coin through the car-window while driving past it “just in case”,  or just because everybody does that. It is considered bad luck not to give it attention of some sort.

Close to Elins childhood village there is a rock that is on the path to the mountain house of Gárdin/Ravnastua. Everytime we pass this rock – EVERY SINGLE TIME –  we have to stop. It is considered bad luck not no. It is unclear if this rock is given offerings to, but we don´t want to exclude it could have happened in the past, and maybe even today.  

We have visited a sieidi in Alta many times. This sieidi is called Áhkku (áhkku = grandmother, old woman) and is the one where there are most clear signs that alot of people still give offerings to it. There are toys, headbands, coins, candles, necklaces, t-shirt, flowers, pieces of wood, chocolate, pearls, cards, and whatnot. This is the sieidi that is most obviously still being used we have visited so far.

But at a sieidi-rock near where Jungle grew up, last summer we actually found a plate and a cup next to the siedi. And animal-bones also. This gives us the indication that Sami people even today visits sieidis and have meals with the Gods for good luck. Like it is described in the books about Sami people mentioned earlier.

Jungles father threw some money into a spring for his new dog to become a good herding dog for the reindeers. The dog later turned out to be very good.

Our sieidi

Last summer we discovered our own sieidi at Lysvoll, Northern Lights Shamanic Centre where we live. East of the house is a big rock. It is slightly misplaced, in the edge of a field and looks like its standing quite solid even if has almost like a cave under half of it. We started thinking that this rock could have been used as the family siedi a long time ago, so we decided to make it our sieidi. This sieidi anyone who come to the centre is welcome to visit this. Its quite near the house, and we can see it from the livingroom window.

How the two of us do it

The way the two of us do offerings to the sieidi depends on time, weather, intention and mood. We usually come and say hello, and give the rock something like chocolate, food or drinks, and do some joiking in honour of the spirits and gods that are close. We can also sit and meditate by the rock, ask for healing, guidance or whatever we feel we need in our life, or otherwise anything that feels natural to do.

Since we just discovered this rock close to our home we are still trying out what feels right to do. It could be really nice to do ceremony by the sieidi and also to have a picnic with a bonfire close to it – testing out how it would be to do things the old way.