Jónína Kristín Berg (born 3 September 1962) is an Icelandic art teacher,

aromatherapist Aromatherapy is based on the usage of aromatic materials including essential oils and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological and physical well-being. It is offered as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative me ...

and

neopagan Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of North Afric ...

leader. She is the regional ''

gothi Gothi or (plural , fem. ; Old Norse: ) was a position of political and social prominence in the Icelandic Commonwealth. The term originally had a religious significance, referring to a pagan leader responsible for a religious structure and com ...

'' of the Western Region for

Ásatrúarfélagið Ásatrúarfélagið (, ''Ásatrú Fellowship'') is an Icelandic religious organisation of heathenry (in Iceland also called ', " ás faith"). It was founded on the first day of summer (Iceland) 1972, and granted recognition as a registered rel ...

since 1996 and acted as interim ''

allsherjargoði Allsherjargoði (, ''All-People Chieftain''; plural ''-goðar'' ) was an office in the Icelandic Commonwealth, held by the goði who held the ''goðorð'' of the descendants of Ingólfr Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland. The role of the ''all ...

'' in 2002-2003.

Biography

She was born in Akranesi and grew up in Giljahlíð in Flókadal,

Borgarfjörður Borgarfjörður () is a fjord in the west of Iceland near the town of Borgarnes. Although the waters of Borgarfjörður appear calm, the fjord has significant undercurrents and shallows. The many flat islands lying in the fjord are for the most ...

. She was educated at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts, from 1985 at the Icelandic Academy of Fine Arts and Crafts where she completed her degree in 1989, then studied at the school's graphic department until 1990, after which she studied at the

Reykjavík University Reykjavík University (RU; is, Háskólinn í Reykjavík) is the largest private university in Iceland with approximately 3,300 students (October 2020). It is chartered by the Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Icelandic Industries, and the ...

where she completed her teaching degree. She has also studied massage and

essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...

therapy at Lífsskólann – Aromatherapyskóla Íslands from which she graduated in 2002. She has worked with individual training for disabled people in

Kópavogur Kópavogur () is a town in Iceland that is the country's second largest municipality by population. It lies immediately south of Reykjavík and is part of the Capital Region. The name literally means ''seal pup inlet''. The town seal contains th ...

, but since 2004 lives in

Borgarnes Borgarnes () is a town located on a peninsula at the shore of Borgarfjörður in Iceland and is the largest town in the Borgarbyggð municipality with a population of about 3800 residents. It is a main junction in Iceland and the gateway to the S ...

where she works as a primary school art teacher. She has also participated in group exhibitions with her own art. She performs

aromatherapy Aromatherapy is based on the usage of aromatic materials including essential oils and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological and physical well-being. It is offered as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative m ...

and has served on the Board of Icelandic Healers. She followed

from its inception as she was a neighbour of the co-founder

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson (4 July 1924 – 23 December 1993) was an Icelandic religious leader and singer of rímur who was instrumental in helping to gain Icelandic government's recognition of the pre-Christian Heathenry in the country. Bi ...

. She became active in the organization in 1985. In 1993 she was elected as a board member. Since 1994 she is responsible for annual

blót (Old Norse) and or (Old English) are terms for " blood sacrifice" in Norse paganism and Anglo-Saxon paganism respectively. A comparanda can also be reconstructed for wider Germanic paganism. A ' could be dedicated to any of the Germanic god ...

s in

Snæfellsnes The Snæfellsnes () is a peninsula situated to the west of Borgarfjörður, in western Iceland. The Snæfellsjökull volcano, regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland, can be found in the area. With its height of 1446 m, it is the highest ...

and Borgarfjörður and since 1996 she is the regional ''gothi'' of the Western Region. In 2002 she became the interim ''allsherjargoði'' after a conflict resulted in

Jörmundur Ingi Hansen Jörmundur Ingi Hansen (born 14 August 1940) is an Icelandic-Danish Modern Paganism, neopagan leader, designer, businessman and clothing retailer. Trained as a sculptor and known as a prominent member of Reykjavík, Reykjavík's hippie scene, ...

's removal from the office. She was succeeded by

Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (; born 23 April 1958), also known as HÖH, is a musician, an art director, and '' allsherjargoði'' (''chief goði'') of Ásatrúarfélagið ("the Ásatrú Association"). Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson was a pioneer in the use ...

in 2003 after a regular election could be held. She has legal rights to perform marriages.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Jonina Kristin 1962 births Living people Icelandic modern pagans Modern pagan religious leaders Art educators Folk healers Adherents of Germanic neopaganism