There is a magnetic pull I feel in my chest—a compass that always points me North. While my physical body is firmly planted on my small farm in Germany, my soul has been charting a course toward the Boreal forest for as long as I can remember.
Early sparks: Denmark, Sweden, and childhood dreams
The initial spark was a gentle one, lit in childhood. I remember family vacations in Denmark and a deep fascination with old Swedish children’s television series. There was a simple magic in those stories, a quiet resilience and a connection to nature that felt honest and pure. They ignited a desire for Scandinavia that never truly faded.
Twenty years ago, I visited Sweden for the first time. The air felt different. It was fresher, cleaner, and the forests seemed to whisper a promise I couldn’t quite understand yet.
The Yukon & The Arctic Circle: Confirming the calling
The true turning point, however, came in 2013, when I undertook a journey that changed my life: I traveled the Yukon River by canoe. I fell completely in love with the vast, untamed beauty of the Boreal landscape.
The calling was confirmed again just last year when I crossed the European Arctic Circle for the first time. I visited Finland, met new friends, and was instantly fascinated by the unique wildlife, the endless forests, and the wild, untamed waters. Even billions of mosquitos weren’t enough to make me homesick—they just felt like a natural welcome committee!
A life in training
Today, my farmlife and my work with Slöjd are not just hobbies. They are my training ground. I am practicing the “old ways” today so that when the day comes that I finally move to Lapland, I will be ready.
The weight of my past career is behind me, replaced by the rhythm of the seasons and the meditative calm of crafting. The North is my “why”—it is the destination that makes every day here in Germany meaningful.
A question for you
As I stood there in the boreal wilderness years ago, I realized something. Have you ever experienced that strange, powerful feeling of arriving somewhere for the very first time, yet feeling instantly like you’ve finally come home? A moment where the noise in your head stops, and your soul finally finds its peace?
That is what the North is for me.
I would love to hear from you—where is that place for you? Where does your soul feel at home?
My soul is northbound, and I’m sharing every step of the journey here on the blog.
— Stefan aka Widowulf
