Latest stories
Dotted with red comes November
The thorns weave their forts,Dotted with red comes November. Gone are the leaves and shy cheeks,The drying fruits in constellations. Thinking of November,Anneli
Two phoenixes – the logo – the journey – the symbolism
An ideal logo immediately reveals what it’s all about. Maybe not all, but at least whether it’s a company logo – and oftentimes you can even guess what they do based on the logo. In our case we wanted it […]
Please steal me away
We’ve stayed the night at the Gränstorp central inn – a small, quiet town where reality wears a crack. A good night’s sleep has at least restored some of my patience. Still, I don’t blame the innkeeper for the wary […]
Tree hugs and autumn vlog
Let Enchanted Duo take you to Ängsö, Västmanland, and Skultuna to enjoy the autumn colours. It’s such a short season, but nice to drink in the scenery while it lasts. Some dressing up, some crazy and a lot of tranquillity. […]
Friend or foe?
I’m still staring at him – this stranger that I’ve apparently flown into unwittingly. I can’t wrap my mind around how it happened. I was so careful reading the winds and the landscape – I should have noticed another flying […]
Fern fantasies
There’s a large flower bed just in front of our house, and since a large part of it is in the shade throughout the day, fern grows there – or rather fern loves growing there. And spreads – tries at […]
A stranger
All set. I take one last look at the petite city behind its protective wall, surrounded by tall mountains. There’s something about this place – wild and tame all at the same time. The stone cottages, and the winding streets. […]
Working with Marco Minnemann
“You’re ashes and fire” is released and it’s about time to introduce Marco Minneman, whom we’ve been working with for almost a year now. I have three favourite drummers in the world, and one of them is Marco. It was […]
“You’re ashes and fire” lyrics/art video
Let’s rock! We’re extremely proud to be featuring the exceptional and brilliant Marco Minnemann on drums, the creative and talanted Mohini Dey on bass, and helping us to add some Medieval influences is Andrei Oltean on flute and jaw harp. […]
“You’re ashes and fire” behind the scenes
Composing, filming, producing and finally materialising that vision is powerful. But it takes time. Get behind the scenes and get a glimpse of how we work, how we think.Let us take you to the beautiful places that inspire us.Perhaps it […]
Olof and the elves, and the theme for “You’re ashes and fire”
Hooves turning soil,The morning calls.Frostwork and pearls of dew.Jarl Olof returns with the first burst of green. Mountains and valleys,The moor, the mist, and the river. Hems and skirts, hair and dirt,Frail are the arms of coiling veils. The taunting […]
Been underground
I’ve just come back from an ambassador assignment. It took me away from writing. Perhaps you’ve learnt by now that there are many, many kingdoms in the Elemental Realm? Or Fairy, on the other side of the thin borders, faultlines […]
Idur, my Scandinavian elf
This is Idur, and an attempt to draw the Scandinavian elves. She’s a mixture of acrylic paint and photo layered together. There’s some digital lines too. The background forest (which is hard to make out) is from the forest pond […]
Get that magic: Art prints in our shop
I know it looks easy. Would you believe me if I told you it’s taken me years and years to get to this point of finally, finally introducing art prints to our Enchanted Duo shop? I created Idur in early […]
Grape Flowers
Grape flowers. Summer. Summer reflections. Summer, here in the Northern Hemisphere, is a time of intense light, extremely long days and bright nights, since the sun drops just behind the horizon to almost immediately turn and rise again. It can […]
Chap. 2 Queen of mud and time
“You have got to be kidding me? Do they have absolutely no sense of honour whatsoever?! Twigging incredible!” Mineral pinched her lips into a hard line in an attempt to keep from laughing. It wasn’t funny, not even a little […]
Gotta surrender to the way (art/lyrics video)
The first step of getting where you want to go, is to accept where you are. Gotta surrender to the way things are right here, right now.
The eagle (Article in More to Life Magazine #59)
Yay, my article “The eagle” made it into More to Life Magazine’s issue #59.I’m so grateful! This is a transforming piece, and the eagle is a powerful spiritual symbol of truth and new beginnings. Have fun reading, there’s lots of […]
The sea, shells chiming, and the peacefullness
Running my fingers through small rocks and seashells. They chime, and it’s like music – music for the soul. And then the gentle, soothing song of the waves rolling in. I can sit here forever. Paint with shells, collect the […]
Sätra brunn, a breath of history, old memories and music
For hundreds of years the freshwater springs in Sätra brunn have been important to the surrounding villages, or travellers passing by. The water here is filled with minerals, among them iron which colours everything yellow… Back in the day it […]
Tell me more about Werifesteria
So, we keep talking about Werifesteria, but what is Werifesteria? Werifesteria means to head into the forest looking for adventure, and we love this word because this is just what we do, where we’re taking you. Let the forest speak, […]
The perfume of home (chap. 1, Queen of mud and time)
Bright orange and pink hues glazed the sky. Mineral sat in her favourite spot within the royal gardens. She was reminded of home by the vibrant flowerbeds, whose colours mirrored those of the sky: brown, burgundy, yellow, rose, and occasionally […]
She’s soft, loving and warm
I’m poking her with my pointing finger.She’s soft, loving and warm. I’m resisting, not sure what I’m giving up.She’s patient, waiting and ready. I could say “now” and we could become one.But I’m hovering just over the threshold. It looks […]
The secrets of the vaults
My raven ancestors have always been carefully keeping notes of the realm, the different elementals, the kingdoms, special occasions, interesting decisions and fates – it serves as our lore, inspiration and guidance for future reigns, future leaders and elementals. To […]
Unwrapping the self
I was staring at my reflection in a long mirror. I was huge when I started out. I had no idea there were that many layers. This wrapping was an undefined shade of teal and turquoise. I was pondering the […]
Fire and ice
It was unintentional… Really, it was. That the two first books in the Werifesteria Elemental Series should be fire and ice. This is a bit funny because the series is inspired by Norse mythology and the Scandinavian folklore and landscape. […]
Your true talent
Hamingja is an internal part of our self, of our spirit, but something that’s still been regarded as a separate entity. Some believed that their ‘hamingja’ could be inherited by children in their linage, to which I’m doubtful. But what […]
The Salamander Messaging System
One of many challengens when it comes to creating a new world, inventing a new world even, and especially a fantasy world, is that ordinary things might not operate the way we’re used to here… I really wanted Ember’s and […]
April – Time of change
And so April has come and gone – one of the moste indecisive months of the year. Back and forth, back and forth – winter and spring, winter and spring – as if there’s really a battle going on. I […]
Hamr and hugr – and changing skin
Perhaps you are aware that many elementals (elementals are human-like beings with affinities for different elements like air, fire, water and earth) have more than one skin – ‘eigi einhamir’, meaning ‘not of one skin’ in the old language. Hamr […]
Beamed up or Aurora’s finger?
Light phenomenon playing over the forest this evening. Beamed up or Aurora’s finger marking a sacred placed? I can’t help but wonder how our ancestors would have explained this. Did you know that for example northern lights were considered warnings […]
A life-giving pause
I have paused, A forest clearing let me in. I am still, As still as I have never been. I can see, Clearer than I have ever seen. I feel, Stronger than I have ever felt. […]
Give Earth a hug on Earth Day
So, today is Earth Day and perhaps you feel like you really want to do something special to celebrate her. Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Here’s a few really simple ways from me to you: Give yourself or a friend […]
I’m still wondering about the bear
Not sure when I knew it had to be a bear. One day it was there, with a deep rumbly “Hello, I’m your inner strength”. And oh boy did he have stories! Not just for “I’m still wondering”, but for […]
Rebirth, cycles and Easter eggs
Rebirth can mean many things: Reincarnation, lifetimes, ascension, Easter, how spring chases winter away, the cycle of life, eco-systems, cycles, how we step out of a darker time of our lives, a change – however small, but still important and […]
“I’m still wondering” music/art video
The bear symbolises strength, and in the music video for “I’m still wondering” it represents the inner battle. Wrestling, well, that’s how bears fight, is here the symbolic representation of the struggle between our mind and our heart. The enchanting […]
Freaking rhyme mode
There’s something cute with verses that rhyme.Ho, Ho, Rosemary and Thyme.But when I’m stuck, it’s not so sweetA stubborn lever that won’t retreat.Rhymes can be fun and clever,But oftentimes they seem to get old.Like silly jokes too many times told.And […]
Morgan Ågren on drums
Did you know, Nicko has three favourite drummers in the world and Swedish drummer Morgan Ågren is one of them. And as we’re preparing to release “I’m still wondering” it’s thrilling to announce that Morgan’s doing the drums on this […]
“Like a kite” lyrics/art video
We’ve had a lot of fun both filming for this video, coming up with all the ideas, dragon makeup, dance break at Anundshög, working with talented dancers and so on. But did you know that it’s taken us over two […]
In pursuit of passion
This passage is from Evanescere, and it’s one of my favourites. Let’s heal the divine feminine in all of us together. Let tomorrow be filled with mutual respect, care and consciousness. Let light reach, and correct, where darkness has dwelled. […]
Moss whispers
It’s like a tiny forest I wish I could enter, but I’m the giant. My feet are too large. I can only squat and hover, use my camera and my microscopic lens to get close, and then imagine what this […]
I love getting test copies!
From idea to content to actual product is quite a process. First, I spend months writing, editing and working on the cover art. Then a few weeks of layout and finally I can order test copies. It’s like a special […]
Where I grew up
I’m restless when I’m here, back in the little town of Ravnea, and the raven kingdom, that I suppose will always be home. I’m observing the folks that do call this home, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I […]
Waffles with cloudberry jam
On the 25th of March the crane returns with longer days. Well, this is what our Scandinavian ancestors believed, and one of the occasions that marked the change of season before they had a calendar to track time. When the […]
Sunrise, stone setting and a dance break
Anundshög. It’s guesswork to figure out what this place meant to the people living here back then. Researchers estimate that the tumulus was built somewhere between 500 – 1010 AD, and the surrounding area was believed to be a hub […]
Into the fog
On a day like this, I think I just might disappear into the fog. The willow trees near the Black stream – some dead from old age, only their skeleton remains, some simply slumbering deeply as always during the winter […]
Again, it’s time to break
There will always be challenging times, fear and anger can so easily drag us back into separation and our actions become from ‘lack of love’. Pain can seem so very real at times, but I bet if you compare this […]
The symbolism of the kite
Nicko wrote the chorus, but the verses were a blank sheet. I’m not sure from where the words “Like a kite, like a kite yearning for the sky…” came, but suddenly they were just there – eager to get out. […]
Little bird lost (book)
I wanted to write a story about what it’s like to feel this bone-deep need to do something, but you’re not sure what it is. This deep calling. Here’s Little bird lost.
When I’m only thought
Tree Kisses vlog
The forest nearby. An inspiration. I love walking.Discovering every new detail as the seasons change. From my transcendental poetry collection Tree Kisses. Love,Anneli
Welcome to Enchanted Duo’s blog
Hello world! Welcome to Enchanted Duo’s blog. Update complete…Configuration confirmed… @Anneli, @Nicko: You can post now. Baking cookies, Sipala