Perhaps icons are the clearest and safest images throughout the Christian world. Certainly the present writer embraces iconography. He finds his icon—a tiny icon—in his pocket. It is there. He takes it out and places it on his coffee table. There is an image—an icon—that looks out into the world. But it is true that the figure of Christ looks out into the world and into the individual. The image of the present may perhaps turn round and look at the author. It is therefore clear that the writer will see the face and eyes of iconography looking out at him: “I feel as if I am standing, gazing at the back of Ben Hur’s Jesus figure and observing all those who are fascinated by his face. In several years he will turn round and look at me. Living I would not be able to withstand his glance. I would die of happiness. That I do not want to do. Just yet.”
The author is Owe Wikström. Yvonne King has translated the English language text from Swedish. The Icon in my Pocket, On Outer and Inner Journeys carries the title Ikonen i Fickan (Gracewing, ISBN 978 0 85244 667 6). The translation is helpful and straightforward. Professor Wikström has written fifteen books and is professor of the Psychology of Religion at the University of Uppsala. He is a Lutheran pastor and psychotherapist, having written works in the fields of psychology, philosophy, literature, music and culture. He is a frequent contributor to Swedish radio and television. His bestseller Långsamhetens lov (In Praise of Slowness) was translated into many languages. Wikström was awarded the C. S. Lewis Prize in 2007.
The Icon in my Pocket is an expressive and friendly text. The author is happy to read snippets in his text. ‘Why should all books be read from start to finish?’ But it is true that the writer is frequently drawn into religious and spiritual themes, entering into a genuine discussion of Christian mysticism. The text is expressive not only of an outward journey but of inward travelling. On his travels to Rome, Paris, Venice and the Canary Islands Owe Wikström experiences the allure of travel – stuffed into a metal tube (aircraft!). Back on earth, he expresses the tranquillity and beauty of churches, believing that many folk are mad happy with religion, even if he is uncertain. But it is clear to the author that he still looks into his tiny icon with inscrutable eyes. The author has certainly explored the inwardness of iconography. He speaks of a serious clam expression that addresses him, with a cheap plastic Russian icon. It is authentic because iconography has a reverse perspective. But it is most certainly true that it looks out—at the writer and into the author. For Professor Wikström the Christian Orthodox image turns out towards him, even when he is sleeping on a train or nodding off at the airport. The icon appears next to his bed at home. The beauty of holiness may be concealed but it is expressed vividly.
A further compelling estate is that of the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. It is most certainly a centre of pilgrimage. The exploration is not quite for that of Chopin, Modigliani, Morrison or Oscar Wilde but to the family grave of Marcel Proust. The chapter entitled Paris in Late Autumn—on culture, ideas and longing – is indeed the journey of Proust. It is of persuasive interest, and expressive of a very different dimension of inner life, from the author himself. But an equally compelling figure is that of the Abbé Pierre in the Emmaus Movement who actually died recently. It is his core of inward strength, which is so powerfully expressive. Abbé Pierre is indeed a figure of inward strength and spirituality. His faith is unwavering but his attack upon the government Welfare system is very precise. Here indeed is a great range of figures – here, there and everywhere.
Owe Wikström has produced a careful expression of the spiritual life. Religious faith is most certainly a genuine bond between people of faith. No doubt, in this author’s most expressive text, there is a sense of holiness and of the present reality of the Ground of Being. The Icon in my Pocket, On Outer and Inner Journeys is quite certainly a book to be glanced at, studied devotedly and walked back and forth within. Perhaps we are seeing a return of spirituality?