Invitation To Magic | Studying the Elves of Iceland
Photograph by Anna Tsui
A journey to study the elves of Iceland rekindles a sense of magic and possibility
This past summer, under the auspice of the bright Nordic sun, I found myself in the parking lot of a nondescript office park in Reykjavik, Iceland, searching for a man.
His name was Magnús Skarphéðinsson, and he was the headmaster of the world’s only elf school.
On my left, my Icelandic friend, Markús, located a small paper sign on the wall with a drawing of a man riding a horse into a magical fire. Next to this ominous graphic was written “The Elf School, 2nd floor” in small bold font.
The author, with study guide in hand
After months of planning, my belly was nervous with anticipation. I collected my two red bags filled with mini California SunMaid raisins (my gifts to the elves), and I tiptoed up the steps to enter another realm where fantasy and legend were alive and real.
I have always been drawn to magical, hidden worlds. As a
