Music and singing by Bergþóra Árnadóttir, my late mother. Photos by Birgitta Jonsdottir: aka JoyB
Photo text
1. Containers
The box with the remains of my mother, the container to scatter the ashes in the river Sogið and the Ladybug.
2. The Urn
Wishing rock, cigarette lighter, guitar pin, a heartshaped note that says I love you in Icelandic, a bird in his nest, a guitar nail and a tooth from my mothers ex husband.
3. Mom & Dad
Symbols of my mother and father. My father was born in the sign of the cancer, often referred to as the crab or the Fisher King. He lived for the ocean. The Ladybugs first journey was to the beach, the crab the first thing we met and thus the symbols united.
4. Alone
My mothers favourite poet to compose music to was called Steinn Steinarr, his name in English means something like Rock Stones. So the Ladybug rests for a moment in solitude with the Rocks at the beach.
5. The Grave
The small red heart is where my mothers urn rests. The cross is for her father, the grave on the left is her brothers and the one on the right is her grandmothers resting place. Where the heart is, we will place a rock in the shape of a 12 string guitar. This graveyard is in the countryside close to the village where my mother grew up.
6. Journey back
The ladybug and the green green grass of spring. My mother made some beautiful songs that referred to spring, to hope and thus the journey back to memory land, to life, begun symbolically in spring.
7. Waiting for the company of others
My mother was social when in Iceland. Had no difficulty in talking to anyone and thus I placed her on a bench to see if anyone would take note of the Ladybug.
8. The Ladybug got company
This lady takes notice of the Ladybug, sits at the bench and holds her in her hands for a moment.
9. Drinking buddy
Many of the stories I hear of my mother are from bars, pubs, and such places. Lots of laughs and good times. She was indeed a great drinking buddy as long as she didn't drink too much. She loved cats and made a couple of songs about cats.
10. My mothers doll, Jon Sverrir
This was my mothers doll from her early childhood. She named it after her brother that died when he was 7, his name was Jon Sverrir. Some say this doll is a ghost and get spooked. I like this doll, so did the Ladybug. I often keep next to the doll and somehow it feels right.
11. Missing granny B
My younger son misses his grandmother a lot. It gives him joy to be able to hold the Ladybug and sometimes play with it. But it is also a good way for him to hold when he grieves her.
12. Relics of the past
The Ladybug is a source of many laughs and games. As well as it plays a role in the grieving process. I believe that grief is much related to missing sharing new moment,s new memories with the person that has died. So we are always creating new moments with her. Using the Ladybug somewhat makes it more real.
13. The sound of music
My older son didn't feel much grief for his granny when she passed away because he didn't get to know her much. She spent most of her time in Denmark and when she was in Iceland she had to meet EVERYONE. But somehow holding the Ladybug makes him closer to her. The ashes within the Ladybug make it a good instrument. At the memorial gig about her we plan to have someone play on her. I know she would have liked that.
14. Planet Bergthora.
My younger son likes to play with the Ladybug. Here the Ladybug plays the role of a spaceship or planet in one of his games.
15. In my hands
I was often in the role of the mother to my mother. She was in many ways childlike. Here she rests in my hands. We have gone full circle...
16. Ladybug heaven
Sometimes I place the Ladybug in the sunlight, everything is simple and pure. The rays upon the red and black, the third rock from the sun.
Copyright (c) 2007 Birgitta Jonsdottir
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Simply beautiful.
PatientPaws 1 year ago
i liked how you communicated your message in a nonverbal way and the use of symbols. creative. artful also because its conveyed at an emotional level. clever!
dictionar1 2 years ago
This is such a beautiful, very touching video clip that is dedicated to the love you have for your mother. Thankyou for sharing.
Carrill 2 years ago
emotional
monsoonostrich 2 years ago
very cool
gnamp 3 years ago
:) :'( :) i like this video
phonicfred 3 years ago
Fallegt myndband. Þvílík rödd, þvílík kona.
utolsolehelte 4 years ago
this is very nice
it nice to see as wel that you care about your mother
acualy that quite normal but some people dont do that sadly enough
thanks for this nice video
dunjaXD 4 years ago 2
This is a lovely idea
TheSausageheads 4 years ago
Fallegt
Hnetan 4 years ago