Fons Perennis interviews Light Elf

Two of our members travel the beautiful country of Norway and its mountainous landscape of Jotunheim and Rondane. At a restaurant called "Gruvekroa" they ran across a very interesting individual who goes by the name Light Elf. After an intense conversation lasting until closing time, we were thrown out and promptly invited to his home. There we spent a few days drinking, conversing and dining, and being shown around on what used to be a seasonal farm. It was decided to do an interview for our magazine La Civetta to see what this fellow pagan is about.

The interview is done in written form on a laptop. Our members are anonymized and the interview object has asked to have his real name hidden.

Fons Perennis: First of all, let us thank you for the hospitality you have shown so far. You live in a truly beautiful place. What can we say? Fields of green, mighty mountain ranges, the forest and river nearby. You even have your own lake!

Light Elf: It's my pleasure having you, and I want to thank you for the company. I seldom meet new people. When I saw the symbols of Helios and Selene displayed on your clothing, I simply couldn't help myself, and knew I had to talk to you.

Fons Perennis: Tell us about yourself, Light Elf, but briefly. How old are you, and what do you do?

Light Elf: I'm 44 years old. Very briefly, I'm a declared pagan like you. I've been doing art and philosophy for many years, and even been a political activist for a period of my life.

Fons Perennis: What are your published works?

Light Elf: Only one book with a title I don't dare to translate to English. Other than that I've completed a number of projects, including a journal on philosophy. At the present, I'm working on my Opus Magnum.

Fons Perennis: So it is safe to assume we're dealing with a struggling artist?

Light Elf: That is indeed very safe to assume. Too safe, in a way ...

Fons Perennis: How will you describe your art and writing in general?

Light Elf: I don't know if its a term, but I'm a dark romantic. I write transgressive literature. Massacres and rape with a romantic flair, if you will. He he.

Fons Perennis: That's an interesting combination.

Light Elf: Many people seem to think that, including the police.

Fons Perennis: You have mentioned this. Attention from the police because of a number of things ...

Light Elf: Yes. Mainly because of political activism, which made them target my art at one point. Anything to silence a dissident.

Fons Perennis: Tell us more about this. The events which transpired to lead into such ...

Light Elf: In 2017 I was the henchman of a certain Johan Slåttavik. He is a public figure, so I can give his name. I believed we could enact political change. Raise the awareness, if you will.

Fons Perennis: What did you do?

Light Elf: Mainly writing articles, doing podcasts, and making a fiery piece of performance art. It was this last thing that really riled them up ...

Fons Perennis: So this made them intervene?

Light Elf: They thought I was a terrorist, or a potential terrorist. It was a fiery display.

Fons Perennis: Well, were you? Potentially, we mean.

Light Elf: Potentially, yes. No one can be fully responsible for their actions. I am certainly not responsible for my thoughts!

Fons Perennis: We have noticed that you're very free spoken. Much unlike your other fellow Norwegians, which seem quite reserved in contrast.

Light Elf: I've had Africans tell me that. You're not like other Norwegians, they say, and quite wide eyed at that.

Fons Perennis: You seem to enjoy a good performance, and displays! We also hope it stays within such spheres and do not escalate ...

Light Elf: You're allowed to hope. Anyway, I had an informant within the police ...

Fons Perennis: Are you serious?

Light Elf: Yes. It shows what amateurs they are. He warned me that they were onto me, and even showed me their internal messages.

Fons Perennis: Are you not afraid to reveal this? Because of consequences for your spy!

Light Elf: Not really. He doesn't work there any more. Anyway, they thought I was mentally unstable, and called me in for a conversation. That was the first time, but there have been many others ...

Fons Perennis: Did you accept this "talk?"

Light Elf: Had to. Otherwise they would have raided my house. They even exemplify this in their training manuals.

Fons Perennis: What happened then?

Light Elf: Nothing much at first, but they used my statements in their yearly reports, word for word.

Fons Perennis: What did you say?

Light Elf: That mainstream politicians are thoroughly corrupt.

Fons Perennis: Many can agree with such sentiments.

Light Elf: And it's getting increasingly illegal. In Germany you go to prison for saying just that ...

Fons Perennis: Sad days for Europe indeed. We are friends of Europe.

Light Elf: I don't know how much of a friend I am, but I try to be sympathetic. Lately I've found that harder and harder ...

Fons Perennis: This is connected to your general disillusionment with politics?

Light Elf: It was the pandemic. It simply broke me. I lost all will to fight then.

Fons Perennis: This was indeed a defining period, and it seems to have struck you particularly hard …

Light Elf: For parents to willingly and gleefully accept the poisoning of their children. The genetic changes. The transfer of wealth and power to the billionaire class. I understood people won’t wake up, no matter what.

Fons Perennis: So then you withdrew from politics?

Light Elf: Not immediately. It was a long and painful process. I had bad dreams, even when I was awake. I can’t tell you about them. But there was a second blow which happened in the art world.

Fons Perennis: Tell us about it, then.

Light Elf: I partook in an art forum. There I posted a poem to Freyja, and a poem to Mars. The poem to Mars was of course warlike. A female writer of Harlequin literature reported me to the terror police over it, and I was called on the phone by the terror police because of that.

Fons Perennis: Verily, this seems like an overreaction …

Light Elf: So not only did I lose my belief in political change. I lost all hope on behalf of my countrymen. Lost hope in humanity, even.

Fons Perennis: Well, at least you were out of politics then, we venture.

Light Elf: Yes. I resigned. Just wanted to write. But they wouldn’t leave me alone.

Fons Perennis: So the harassment just continued?

Light Elf: I was writing splatter-literature on my blog, involving amongst other scenes of police and politicians being murdered and raped, including with a fish. Well, really, with an entire sea food restaurant …

Fons Perennis: Seems like you were angry.

Light Elf. I really was. Anyway, I was called into a new “conversation” with a very hostile policeman. He asked me if I knew how I made people feel, a very feminized perspective. I answered I didn’t care what they felt, as I have no respect for people in general, which is true …

Fons Perennis: You respect us, we hope.

Light Elf: Partly. You have the limitations of Italians. Overly impressionable, overly enthusiastic, easily fascinated … Why else would you be talking to me?

Light Elf: Norwegians are much worse, trust me.

Fons Perennis: We’ve found you an interesting conversational partner so far. Let’s keep it that way.

Light Elf: Anyway, when they realized they couldn’t silence me with threats, they tried contacting the health services on me. The ultimate goal was of course to have me committed, and thus invalidate my views.

Fons Perennis: Did they succeed? With the commitment part.

Light Elf: Not at all. I just had to have a five minute conversation with my assigned doctor, and then I was off the hook. But it was a tremendous mental strain, because I was in a bad spot and in the process of moving. I also lied to that doctor.

Fons Perennis: So you lied to the doctor to escape consequences?

Light Elf: It was a woman. She wanted me to transfer my health journals to my new doctor. I enthusiastically agreed, having no intention of doing so, of course.

Light Elf: Women in general are easy to lie to. Until they find out, he he.

Fons Perennis: Surely it was the end of the Saga, as they call it. You were off the hook then.

Light Elf: Not quite.

Light Elf: I lived in a mouse infested dump for a terrible year. Curse be the greedy bastards who squeezed every penny from me for that. After that I moved to this place, and what a place it is …

Fons Perennis: The Elf-Valley …

Light Elf: Yes, my brother and I used to drive by this place. I said: Why would I move here to the Elf-Valley, just because it corresponds to my artistic name? That will never happen. Half a year later, I did.

Light Elf: Anyway, then the local police had taken an interest, because of new reports …

Fons Perennis: What reports were those?

Light Elf: Not sure exactly. I was just harassed and called into a new “conversation.” Being caught by surprise and afraid of having my house raided, I agreed to that one also. But I believe it was for reiterating the lines of a song not even of my own making, for a promo for one of my books.

Fons Perennis: Surely you can’t be serious …

Light Elf: It was a variation. From “Tyrfingr taking lives with power” to “Light Elf taking lives with power.” That was enough.

Light Elf: Art has very poor growth conditions in Norway. Norwegians are not a people of culture, and don’t understand abstract thought. I value Italians more.

Fons Perennis: We’re flattered, or so we think …

Light Elf: Except in Italy you have to dress in real fancy clothes to even have a chance with the ladies. I find that tedious.

Fons Perennis: Will it help if we talk to them on your behalf?

Light Elf: He he … can’t hurt.

Light Elf: As you have noticed, I have many ladies here, all dressed up in wool.

Fons Perennis: Yes, we’ve helped you chase a few of those away, through the gate and all …

Light Elf: What more do you want to know?

Fons Perennis: What about philosophy?

Light Elf: That one is simple. I’m a Nietzschean through and through. I hope to embody Dionysos. Doing so in person would be fantastic, but perhaps not very realistic. Doing so in art is within reach, and thus I strife for it.

Fons Perennis: How do you see the future like?

Light Elf: You mean for me or for the rabble in general?

Fons Perennis: We mean for both. We’re not rabble, by the way.

Light Elf: Okay then. For myself, I don’t care. In ten years time I’m probably some cripple or not alive at all. Anyway, it won’t even be me. I have no respect for old age. But I have come to terms with my own mortality and the meaninglessness of it all. I truly don’t care.

Fons Perennis: That sounds … bleak.

Light Elf: No, it’s the opposite. I live for pleasure and do the things I love, which are writing. The stars won’t remember, but the stars don’t remember anybody. It’s just that my time perspective is very short. At most I worry about having to afford a new car in say five years. That’s as far as future thoughts and worries goes.

Fons Perennis: To hell with all us others …

Light Elf: Just leave me with my dope.

Fons Perennis: You do dope?

Light Elf: If I do, just the soft kind … he he. Much magic to be found in the landscape. I trawl high and low.

Fons Perennis: And then you get high?

Light Elf: There’s a cure for small hats, and that is pointy hats.

Fons Perennis: Cryptic messages for our readers to understand, but for us personally, Light Elf has demonstrated the meaning of his words.

Light Elf: As I sometimes do, for those lucky enough to receive them.

Fons Perennis: Because violence ensues when the words stop?

Light Elf: Exactly! See, I was peaceful. I only tried to talk. And look what they did to me!

Fons Perennis: What future do you see for our Europe?

Light Elf: Dark days ahead. Things have to reach their logical end conclusion. People are insane and won’t listen. Someone casted a mighty spell. Broadcasted the spellcasting, if you will.

Light Elf: I descend from the Indo-European nomads and the old hunter gatherers for the most part, I think. So I hope for that future. Norway is a harsh country. I just want to wander around and harvest what I need, without complications. Let the others that don’t belong here just die or leave on their own volition.

Fons Perennis: How about us?

Light Elf: You belong in softer and greener pastures, with your soft little hearts. He he.

Fons Prennis: Lastly, what are your views on paganism? Can it come back?

Light Elf: It never left. Did you know my address is technically named after Odin. It has the same name as an English city. Really suitable for me. I’m also “the hooded one” at this point.

Light Elf: Ultimately, I’ve ended up as more of a trickster. Loki is probably my main god. I live and breathe chaos.

Fons Perennis: What are our main gods, you think? Honest question.

Light Elf: Probably the goddess of wisdom. So that you one day can understand these words with her help. He he.

Fons Perennis: Anything you want to say for our readers in Italy?

Light Elf: Let’s help each other grow. The times will be hard. Realize your dreams, if you can. Also, remember to enjoy the here and now. The path is not eternal.

Fons Perennis: We thank you, Light Elf, for this open hearted and quite frankly, a really frank interview.

Light Elf: My pleasure. Let’s enjoy the remainder of your stay together.

Suitable with some Italian themsed music here, surely, to describe my noble valley