On the Veneration of Loki
As far as we know, the ancestors did not worship loki. why?
As I have stated elsewhere, I am skeptical of heathens who "work with" or in any shape or form worship Loki. I don't mean this to be offensive but, rather, it is their straying from the source texts and the traditions that gives me pause. This is a constructed (not reconstructed) practice with no literary or historical evidence supporting it.
That being said, I do believe that Loki plays an essential role in the myths and, as such, should not be neglected by heathens. Perhaps he should be respected for even he, as Fenrir (Loki's son), was Fated, as are we all, to be that which we are and to become that which we shall be.
What then can we learn from Loki if he is not to be venerated or worshipped (most traditional and academically trained heathens strongly discourage such, as do I)?
Loki is a being of great complexity. Much more than just a shapeshifter and trickster, in his own way, he does teach us much about living a life of self-empowerment as one who has taken charge of his own destiny (or at least fully embraced his Fate and come to terms with it).
He seemingly creates his own rules, when not disregarding the rules entirely, living by whim and personal fancy.
While he seemingly creates more chaos than not, he also helps to right these wrongs, even if begrudgingly.
He is often a traveling companion of Thor and blood brother to Odin, Odin even having sworn to drink only when Loki is present (though there is some debate on the actual extent of this oath).
When we look at Loki in the corpus of myth, we find that his presence raises some key questions for heathens today - Are we playing the game of life or are we but pawns in the game? Whether playing the game or being played, what fruits are being born out by our actions? Are they for weal or are they for woe?
Loki reminds of the constant struggle for balance between chaos and order. Humans are a part of that struggle. It is both an internal and external struggle.
Two Problems for the Abrahamics and Paganism as Default Original Position
“In the beginning God…” didn’t exist. (Genesis 1:1, sort of).
In the opening chapter of the Old Testament, one reads that God created the heavens and the earth and all that in them dwell and this ex nihilo. Jews and Christians have always taken this as prima facie fact. However, outside of special revelation (the Bible), there is little to no reason to accept this foundational assumption of the Abrahamic faiths, i.e., the proposition that a singular deity created the universe and all that it contains. In fact, this is quite readily refuted.
There are a number of problems with respect to the monotheistic deity of the Abrahamics. Below, we will briefly survey but a few.
Christian Apologetics as Personal Affirmation
Most Christians aren’t Christians for rational reasons. They are either born into Christian families or, later, become Christian due to a given religious experience (which occurs in a Christian context) and, thus, become Christian because it is the only religion that they are familiar with.
This is not specific to Christianity of course and would apply equally to Buddhist contexts producing Buddhist converts, Islamic contexts producing Muslim converts, etc.
Despite so few (if any) coming to Christianity on purely rational terms (e.g., as one might with respect to a historical point or political philosophy), once an individual becomes Christian they tend become radically committed to the “rational” defense of their new religion.
Eir - Goddess of Health & Healing
In the Norse lore, Eir, meaning “the helper,” “mercy,” “peace,” and “clemency” is said to be the goddess of medicine and healing. Listed third in the Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda, Snorri names Eir as an Æsir, a goddess who is “best of physicians.” She is also listed as the only deity among the maidens of Menglöð, herself possibly a goddess of healing among the Jötnar.
In the Þulur, Eir is listed among the valkyries but not the goddesses. Even so, the valkyries have the power to revive the dead and heal wounds so it isn´t a stretch to assume that Eir would have powers of healing.
From the two, brief accounts above, there is some debate about this particular being. Only mentioned a few times in the source texts but never focal to the myths, the debate centers around whether or not Eir was in fact a goddess or, rather, a valkyrie (or if the Eir mentioned in the Gylfaginning and Þulur are even one in the same being).
The question is to what extent should we trust Snorri?
The Old Gods Sleep No Longer
The Old Gods awaken
from their deep slumber.
Harken kith and kin -
with ear to the North!
They have risen and gathered.
Soon they will ride forth
across the nine realms
reclaiming old thrones.
Ásgarðr and Miðgarðr -
order restored.
Wode to the new gods!
Hail to the Old Gods!
Soon we sumbel
and pass the blood of Kvasir.
Toasting our fimbul Gods
and the heroes of old.
Hammer & Ale: An Ode to Þórr
Thundering Þórr
lances of lightning.
Hammer strikes hard
foes vanquished fall.
Hel's gate held open
for fallen foe.
Victors to Valhǫll
drink the draught of ale.
The “Christian” Vikings
The below (brown resin crucifix) is often sold online (ebay, Etsy, etc.) as a replica of a crucifix said to be from Jutland, Denmark in the 11th century.
The oldest Viking crucifix thus far, however, was discovered by a metal detectorist near Aunslev on the island of Funen, Denmark and dates to the first half of the 10th century.
This illustrates that, with respect to Christianity, the Vikings (like all other people) were less likely to fully convert to Christianity as preached but, rather, embraced it, likely only in part, and recreated it in their own image.
Christianity didn’t conquer the Vikings. Time and geopolitics did. That is unless Christ was a Viking as he appears on these pieces.
The Isle of Lewis Chessmen: Viking Influence Beyond the Viking Age
Discovery
On one account, it is said that the Isle of Lewis Chessmen were discovered in 1831, partially buried in Uig Bay, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis (in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland) by one Malcolm Macleod who had tracked a cow that had strayed from the herd. As luck would have it, he happened upon a partially buried stone case containing the chessmen along with a number of other gaming pieces.
However, the veracity of this account is contested and the actual discovery story of the pieces remains a mystery. Another account has them being found in the ruins of a monastery and yet another in a souterrain (an Iron Age stone cellar).
What we do know is that they first appeared in Exhibit at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1831 on the permission of one Roderick Rirrie.