It is with both gratitude and a certain wistfulness that we announce that Knut Fuglesteg is stepping down as forstander (presiding leader) of Sjamanistisk Forbund, and that Gunn-Evy Olafsdatter Håkaby is retiring as a ceremony leader. Both have chosen to retire after many years of service to the association, and their efforts have left deep marks on our organisation and on the community around us.
Knut Fuglesteg
Photo: Gunn-Evy O. Håkaby Knut has been a driving force in Sjamanistisk Forbund since 2012. As forstander he has played a key role in the development of the association, was the prime mover behind the first local chapter in Valdres, and has also been appointed an honorary member. Under his leadership the association has grown both in membership and in public presence. Knut has been a strong advocate for preserving traditional shamanic practice, while also being open to modernisation and new thinking where necessary. Knut has practised healing for over 55 years and has been part of the council of forstandere, as well as a contributor to the development of ceremonies and to teaching. On the main board, Knut has served both as a board member and as deputy leader.
We are fortunate that we will still enjoy Knut's presence on certain occasions, including a planned guest appearance at the naming ceremony this coming spring. His wise guidance will be missed, but we know that he will always be part of our community.
Gunn-Evy Olafsdatter Håkaby
Photo: K. Fuglesteg Gunn-Evy was one of the first ceremony leaders in the association and has also held office as forstander. With a background as an intensive care nurse, she has been central to shaping the code of ethics for forstandere and ceremony leaders. Her warmth and experience have made her a highly valued ceremony leader, leading countless ceremonies from naming rituals to weddings. Gunn-Evy has a remarkable ability to create joy and enthusiasm around her, and many of us have appreciated your insightful comments and observations. As a ceremony leader she has shown how important it is to learn from one another, and how important it is to be aware of how we affect others and how words can have a great impact. It is a reminder that we should always strive to build one another up rather than tear one another down. In her work, Gunn-Evy has been a fine example of how important relational skill and ethics are in the role of ceremony leader.
Like Knut, Gunn-Evy has also chosen to step back, but happily she too will appear on certain occasions in the future. We look forward to having her with us at the naming ceremony this coming spring, and we are sure she will continue to touch people's lives positively through her wisdom and her presence.
It is always sad when key people choose to end their active roles, but we also see it as an occasion to express gratitude and to appreciate everything they have contributed. Knut and Gunn-Evy have both been crucial in shaping the direction we are taking as an association, and their influence will remain long after they have formally stepped back. We wish them both a peaceful and meaningful retirement, and we look forward to seeing them again at guest appearances in the future. As a small token for their many roles, each has received a knife engraved with their name.
