Aki Cederberg

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Aki Cederberg (born in 1978) is a Finnish writer, musician and filmmaker. He has written books about Indian religions and European modern Paganism, including Journeys in the Kali Yuga (2017) and Pyhä Eurooppa (lit. 'Holy Europe', 2020).

Early life[]

Aki Cederberg was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1978. He has a university degree in culture and arts.[1] Interested in spiritual matters from an early age, he explored Western esotericism and the works of Aleister Crowley before moving into European modern Paganism, which he defines as having a mythopoetic view of the world. Because he wanted to connect to a living tradition, he began to make trips to India to meet gurus and explore Indian religious traditions. His first trip to India lasted for three months and he kept returning to the country during the next ten years.[1]

Writing career[]

Cederberg has written for The Fenris Wolf, a series of anthologies from Edda Publishing.[1] Experiences he had in India and Nepal form the basis for his books Pyhiinvaellus (lit. 'Pilgrimage') from 2013 and Journeys in the Kali Yuga: A Pilgrimage from Esoteric India to Pagan Europe, published in 2017.[1][2] At the end of the latter book, Cederberg rejects universalism and spiritual exoticism and argues for Westerners to approach spirituality through the gods of their native traditions, in Cederberg's case paganism from the Nordic countries.[2] Publishers Weekly called Journeys in the Kali Yuga a "visceral, evocative memoir" where the author acts as "neither guide nor guru, allowing readers to truly participate in his journey without worrying about what exactly they are supposed to learn".[2]

Cederberg's next book, Pyhä Eurooppa (lit. 'Holy Europe'), was published in 2020 and is a travelogue about places in Europe with a reputation of being holy.[3][4] Cederberg uses this to argue that humans need a sense of sanctuity and significance in life, which he contrasts with materialism and exploitation. The book discusses how European cultural and spiritual heritage has become associated with nationalist and far-right politics, something Cederberg renounces. A. W. Yrjänä of Helsingin Sanomat called the book "weirdly refreshing" because of its rejection of irony and direct call for spirituality.[3]  [fi] of Turun Sanomat highlighted and complimented the book's argument about a human need to connect to previous generations, which both capitalism and the Soviet Union have been unable to fulfill.[4]

Other work[]

Cederberg has been active as a musician and filmmaker.[3] He has been a member of various music groups and made the film Taiwaskivi (2009) with the audovisiual group Halo Manash.[1] He has worked as an assistant director on several Finnish feature films and made a making-of documentary about the film Christmas Story (2007).[5]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Yhteistyö, Rajatiedon (2015). "Aki Cederbergin pyhiinvaellus". Ääretön (in Finnish) (4/2015): 32–35. ISSN 2342-7264. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Journeys in the Kali Yuga: A Pilgrimage from Esoteric India to Pagan Europe". Publishers Weekly. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Yrjänä, A. W. (27 February 2021). "Euroopan pakanalliset symbolit on riistettävä takaisin nationalisteilta ja natseilta, sanoo kirjailija Aki Cederberg, jonka matkakirja vie ikivanhoihin pyhättöihin". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b  [fi] (21 April 2021). "Aki Cederbergin uutuus on etsijän matka esikristilliseen Eurooppaan". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 April 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Aki Cederberg". Elonet (in Finnish). National Audiovisual Institute. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

External links[]


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