This honestly came across my dash at such a good time. I came out to my mom as genderfluid/nonbinary on Monday and while it went better than I was afraid it would, it did go about as poorly as I expect in that I knew she wouldn't be receptive to it. Coming out is something Loki has been nudging me toward for a long time now and has often told me that it was something I'd have to face eventually, so when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. The conversation ended with my mom saying she was praying for me and me looking up protection spells (only for Loki to be like "what are you doing? You know that one basic one, go do it!").
Tonight is prayer meeting night at my old church and while I had already intended to use a battery powered candle to redo the spell tonight (time difference issues) at the start of their services, I saw this post and just knew it was going to be okay. They're going to pray for me, I know that, I can't exactly stop them, but I know what I am safe from their prayers. I'm safe from that energy that would have me conform to their standards and beliefs, that would have me and my system, us as a whole, be something we are not. And seeing this come across mt dash only feels like conformation of that to me. I am safe.
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I’ve always sort of avoided drawing Loki in his myths, for various reasons, one of them being that my style is so different that I suppose I felt like it wouldn’t suit it. Also this particular myth really hurts (as a Lokean) but for some reason, I felt called to finally tackle it in my style. It’s my first Loki piece in quite a while (and I feel it turned into more of a Sigyn piece tbh) and I’m actually super proud of it.
There's something almost amusing to me about the posts that talk about how scary Loki is because I was just doing laundry and cleaning up a bit and when I moved passed his alter to put something away I got a very clear and distinct sense of "You're holding your breath again, breathe, pinhead!"
And like, I get it to some degree, Loki can absolutely turn things upside down, he's a deity of change and renewal and growth and those things are rarely comfortable (especially for me, a traumatized, autistic taurus), but in my experience Loki is also kind and patient and a little bit like an adult sibling. He reminds me to slow down and breathe, sometimes figuratively and sometimes literally because I unconsciously hold my breath way more often than is healthy.
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Guilt related to spiritual practice/deity relationships (and plenty of other things, too) is most definitely a product of Christian supremacist culture and should be promptly ignored. If your practice makes you feel guilt, interrogate why that is and make adjustments accordingly. Your spiritual practice should enrich your life, not make you feel horrible about yourself. Life is too short to feel guilt over every little thing you do or don't do.
I mean, I get that it's basically the Christian version of "Don't ruminate on something beyond your control and cause yourself undue stress", but when you grow up being told that worry is a sin and shows a lack of faith, but it's never really explicitly stated how to or what it means to "give it to God", it's easy to assume you're following the rules when, in fact, you're just dissociating from the problem.
ok so i’ve seen some of you aren’t that sure that this is actually embroidery (i was suspicious too bc damn!!!!) so here you is another embroidery of his with some close ups♥ :
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Lord Dionysus, probably: Nothing is wrong with you. It is the perception of others that you have assumed as your perception of yourself that's flawed. The thoughts that you have are forged in negative experiences from fools who presumed to know everything about you - those who brought you low in hopes to dim the light that threatened to outshine them. How do you view yourself, truly, without input from other people?
For some reason Hermes wanted me to make this post so I am going to do my best!
I have three trickster deities in my deity 'social circle' I suppose we can call it. They are, of course: Loki, Hermes, and Odin.
Very curiously the only deity that has the 'reputation' of a trickster and all that it comes with it is Loki. That's not to say that Hermes and Odin aren't acknowledged as tricksters but when someone speaks about a trickster deity most people's minds automatically jump to Loki.
I'm going to tell you how I associate the others as different aspects of the 'Trickster' archetype. Of course this all UPG.
For Hermes in particular I associate him with the 'thievery' aspect of the archetype. For instance as a baby he rustles Apollo's cattle; he seems to lean toward tricking people out of their property. It's well known Hermes is a patron of thieves, rustlers, outlaws. The more 'crime' focused aspects of trickery.
Hermes in particular generally has a playful demeanor; it's not to say the others don't but he genuinely seems to come across as largely benevolent. He might cheat at cards or hustle some pool but he's generally not going to fuck up your whole life with his tricks. I think he takes great pride in the 'winning' over other people. He is associated with a love for games so it makes sense that he would love the thrill of a mental challenge. The kind of "I warned you, didn't I? Oh, but it's okay. You can't have possibly have known. It's okay, kid. No harm, no foul. But you aren't getting your money back. No refunds."
I think Hermes is perhaps so benevolent that one might actually forget this aspect of his personality. He is known as the "glad-hearted god" and he is a bringer of immense joy to mankind.
Loki, of course, needs no introduction. Loki is without a doubt a trickster but in the way a lawyer is if that makes sense? He points out loop holes you hadn't considered and if he sees something that he can twist to his advantage he will. But! That's more in line with him being a wordsmith and clever rather than actually seeking to humiliate you or belittle you. I think Loki loves to debate; loves to play devil's advocate.
It's more of a oh? You think this? Defend it to me. I'm going to make you consider every angle and if you mess it up then you have to admit I win!
Loki's tricks are notably harmless but can verge into the crueler territory if he has a lesson to teach. (Cutting Sif's hair for example) The cutting of hair is a symbol of adultery and I think more than anything Loki can't stand hypocrisy. From the Aesir and from others in general. You say one thing and do the other? Well, he's going to have to call you out and make you look like an idiot.
So, Loki's trickery (when it's not harmless like HAHA, I put pink dye in your shampoo or...BOO SPIDER, is generally designed to teach a lesson or upset the status quo.)
Now finally, we arrive at Odin. To me Odin is the essence of the Trickster we all fear. I admittedly know the least about Odin so please forgive me if my information on him isn't as on point.
Odin to me is ruthless in getting what he wants. He doesn't particular care if you know why he's tricking you; he wants something from the exchange. That's not necessarily a bad thing and that's not to say you NEVER get anything in return. Odin can be very generous if he takes a liking to you.
However Odin definitely exemplifies the concept of "I will do anything to get what I want and woe to you that stand in my way. I have no trouble stepping over you."
He has no problem lying or telling you what you want to hear to accomplish his goals. He is the Trickster that will whisper sweet words and if you happen to not want to go along with what he wants then that's a "you" problem.
I can't help but admire the lengths he will go to get what he wants. More than anything he craves knowledge. He's well known for that. If you happen to have some obscure knowledge he wants and you won't fork it over he has no problem tricking you, using seidr, or outright killing you if the ends justify the means.
That isn't to say that Odin isn't a wonderful deity and loving to his followers and those he calls his. I just think he is more of the figure people should think of when they jump the gun to thinking about 'harmful' trickster deities.
Odin is a trickster with a ruthless side; if he can use his formidable wits to get what he wants he's not going to care too much if he has to bend the truth, steal, lie, or kill to get it.
There is a time and place for all genres of tricksters.
Ok but that assessment of Loki is *spot on*. The fact that you called them a lawyer reminds me of my absolutely favorite kenning for them in the Skaldskaparmal: "the vexing litigant of Heimdall and Skaði." They are 110% a loophole guy. (That's largely why I took time to suss out if I really wanted to oath to them in any way.)
I have spent less time with Odin than Loki, but I definitely feel the "do what I need to get what I want" vibe. He is a little scarier than Loki in my opinion, though I certainly recognize my own bias. I am glad that Odin is being more recognized as the trickster he is, though. This tough God of War thing is just...too macho for the guy that learned "women's" magic. If war gets him what he wants, he's totally there and strategizing. But war itself isn't his *Thing* the way I think some people think it is.
I've never spent time with Hermes, but after reading this I really think I'd like to. He sounds like a good time lol.
Then said Loki: ‘Do thou also after the manner of other men, and show Baldr honor as the other men do. I will direct thee where he stands; shoot at him with this wand.’ Hödr took Mistletoe and shot at Baldr, being guided by Loki: the shaft flew through Baldr, and he fell dead to the earth; and that was the greatest mischance that has ever befallen among gods and men.
-Gylfaginning
Found this in my drafts XD. If there's a bit of mythology you'd like to see meme'd, let me know~ 💖
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In my own spiritual journey and in the journeys of so many people I know, there is a lot of angst around our relationships with deity. As I've mentioned in a whole slew of other posts, a lot of this tends to be rooted in Christian beliefs that are deeply ingrained into the culture of the United States (but it can be seen in other cultures where Christianity is the dominant religion. I can just speak to my own experience as a U.S. citizen). Even if you didn't grow up in the church, in this culture (and ones like it), people still reference Christian mythology, concepts, or beliefs as if they're just a given part of life. Things like people saying, "Not today, Satan," or "Jesus take the wheel" with sincerity despite not subscribing to the existence of Satan or Jesus at all. Or saying with certainty that someone who's done horrible things will/should go to hell after death in spite of not believing in an afterlife. The fact that saying someone is "religious" implies they are a devout Christian as if no other religion exists for them to be devoted to. The Christian worldview is so intrinsic in our dominant culture that it is often very difficult to approach our non-Christian deities (and spiritual practices in general) in a way that isn't steeped in that tradition and worldview.
The Christianity I grew up in* emphasized devoting your entire life to God/Jesus. God and your service to him should be the primary focus of your life. Everything comes back to God. God is the only perfect thing in existence and your belief in Jesus' resurrection is the only thing that will make you perfect in God's eyes. Even when you aren't going to church on Sunday, when you know people that do (and especially people that take this stuff extra seriously) you're still learning that regular church attendance is what it means to be in relationship to deity. That there's an expectation to make everything in your life about them and to give them absolutely everything, and that anything less than total devotion and unwavering belief in their perfection means you aren't a "good" Christian/believer. You're taught that Jesus is your friend no matter what, but if you don't believe in him you're destined to suffer for all eternity in the afterlife. Talk about a toxic relationship dynamic. If we saw people acting like this towards another human, not a deity, we'd say there's an unhealthy power dynamic at play. There's codependency. There's constantly ignoring your own needs and desires for the sake of someone else and being made to feel guilty when you do actually stick up for yourself or do something that you want to do for you.
*I realize not everyone who practices Christianity does so in a toxic, cultish way like I did. It's just not as common in my experience.
So. You find paganism/polytheism in a monotheistic culture that normalizes toxic relationships with deity. You likely recognize that on some level because you're rejecting that dominant religion and worldview in the first place. But when all you know about relating to deity comes from that perspective, you're inevitably going to default to that way of thinking whether you're conscious of it or not. You approach these new-to-you deities as if they are perfect, untouchable, all powerful beings that ask the world of you. Anything less than devoting all your time, energy, and resources to them means you're not a "good" devotee/worshiper/etc. and that will invoke their anger towards you. You feel pressure to formally dedicate yourself to them in some way through oaths and the like. A lot of voices in the pagan/polytheist sphere echo this mentality (consciously or not) because, in many cases, they, too, were raised in this culture and struggle to untangle this mindset from their practices, making it all the more challenging to even recognize that you are entangled in this mindset yourself or to break free of them if you are.
It's okay. It's not your fault. Our human ancestors made choices that shaped our culture into what it is today, for better or worse. Our Christian ancestors just so happened to colonize cultures with their beliefs to the point that we struggle to decipher what cultural traditions existed pre-conversion. At best we're often able to notices points of syncretism when compromises were made to maintain local traditions while still promoting Christian faith (i.e. forcing Christianity onto people/the culture). What matters in the here and now is that we consciously recognize this toxic relationship model between humanity and deity, and actively work to build healthier relationships between us.
This is where treating deities as people comes in. Notice I'm saying "people," not human. From an animist perspective, everything has a spirit and personhood. Naturally, deities are included in this. Deities exist in a way that we as humans do not, just like a deer or a rosebush doesn't exist the way we do. Even so, just like human people, they all have their own personalities and areas of interest or expertise. They are capable of helping others in many ways, but, because of these points of interest/expertise, some are better suited to help in certain situations than others. Equally, we are not going to vibe with all of them (just as we don't vibe with every other human we come into contact with) and that's perfectly okay. They have flaws and imperfections and have done morally questionable things, much like humans. It's normal to come to the defense of those we love and care about, but trying to insist they've never done anything wrong or imperfect isn't acknowledging or seeing them for who they really are. Do you see where I'm going with this?
Creating fruitful and meaningful relationships with deities requires us to use healthy relationship models that we strive towards with our fellow humans. A relationship is a relationship, regardless of the physical form (or lack thereof) of the person you are in relationship with. The challenge is, of course, that this approach conflicts with the dominant narrative of Christian approaches to deity relationships that we are so accustomed to. It might feel disrespectful or too "casual" or otherwise strange to adopt and apply this mindset to our deities. But a healthy relationship is a healthy relationship no matter who it's with.
Now, these relationships may still look more "traditional" from the outside looking in. We can leave offerings at altars or other sacred spaces. We can meet in public places for rituals and making offerings together. We can spend time in prayer in conversation with our deities. It's our mindset and approach to these actions that can change. We're not doing it out of a sense of obligation or guilt. We're not doing it because it's expected of us. We're not doing it because we'll have an eternity of suffering if we don't. We're doing it because we want these relationships. Because these relationships fortify and strengthen us. Because mutual service to one another is beneficial and meaningful and build connections.
Yes, if you make a promise and don't uphold it, they might be upset, but so would your human bff. But, just like with your human bff, there is always opportunity for mending that relationship. Offering them food and drink is essentially no different than doing so for the human guests you invite into your home. Having relationships with multiple deities is no different than having a friend group at work or getting to know and hang out with a friend's family. The only thing keeping us from seeing things and approaching our relationships with deity in a healthy way like this is the dominant cultural narrative around deity worship and relationship.
Our ancestors knew that right relationship with deities and other spirits was important to our existence. They knew deities were people, part of our natural ecosystem like any other person/being. They knew the value of reciprocity in all relationships. They knew befriending their deities built meaningful allyships and would serve each other well. They may have valued the skill sets and strengths of certain deities over others for any number of reasons (including their own cultural biases), but that is just as true today as we navigate modern existence in our own cultures.
Approaching deities as fellow people has greatly decreased the weight of guilt and fear that I have historically felt around deity. Treating them as people has made me less afraid of forgetting to leave offerings. (I have ADHD and forget to interact with humans just as frequently, but those humans still love and support me. So, just maybe, my deities still do, too. Spoiler alert: they do.) Treating them as people has made me feel less pressure to make oaths or promises regarding the nature of our relationships, and less fearful of breaking any kind of oaths I may make. (I don't have to make excessively formal declarations to other humans for them to know they're my friends or family, and not doing so doesn't make our relationships less meaningful. And I know that if I break a promise to someone, I can hurt them and have the responsibility to make it right.) Treating them as people reminds me that I am also my own person with my own needs and wants that deserve to be acknowledged and honored. (Every second of my life and attention is not owed to them. I'm not beholden to anyone's supposed will for my life, deity or otherwise. I have a say in how our relationship looks and functions.) Treating them as people as facilitated a lot of healing around both my religious trauma and my approaches to human relationships. (Recognizing toxic patterns with deities helps you recognize toxic patterns in other relationships, too.) Treating them as people has made it easier to reach out to a variety of deities for help or general connection without feeling guilty. (My human friends and family know and accept I have other people in my life I like to spend time with. They also know when they aren't doctors and I should go talk to one to help me with a medical problem, not them.) Treating them as people has reminded me that my worth does not come from my relationship to them but is intrinsic to my being. (I am worthy of love, dignity, and respect no matter what my spiritual leanings are or how many deities I choose to interact with. They don't give it to me, just help me see it when I struggle to.)
I know I cannot tell you what is best for you or your practice as it is not mine. What I do know is what I see around me and what I have experienced, and my hope is that sharing these thoughts and experiences helps you in your life and practice in some way.
