Sami Belief in Lapland · The Stone That Must Not Be Disturbed

The Sami live inside the Arctic Circle and herd reindeer, with their own joik, or chanting, their drums and their deities. They treat particular stones, called sieidi, as the dwelling of a spirit, leaving offerings when they pass, and above all not disturbing them.

Missionaries threw such stones into lakes and burned the drums, but some stones were found again and offerings were made at them once more.

The herders’ explanation is simple: this stone is older than your father; we walk past it, we do not move it.

Occult Chronicles / Norrbotten · Sweden / Time immemorial