Our Sagas
This is the Saga of The People of Gjallarhorn Kindred
A Question of Propriety
From Thorinn of Gjallarhorn Kindred
I have a question. By what authority or right does a man following Asatru ridicule a God of the Aesir?
I am new to Asatru, and while I seek to learn the lore and knowledge of the belief, I am not completely familiar with every line of the Eddas, sagas and Myths. If there is a great scholar out there who has found a reference which empowers a man of midgard to curse, belittle, ridicule and cast moral judgment on one of the High Ones, would you be so kind as to educate me.
I am speaking in reference to Loki. I have heard many derisive comments made about him. insulting actions such as pouring of toasts on the ground if he is hailed, naming sanitary facilities as "Loki Hof", and other derogatory actions. I have heard him branded as either "evil", which is a concept foreign to Asatru, or "bad", in the form of moral judgment.
While it is difficult to figure out the motives behind Lokis' actions, it is also difficult to figure out Odins' motives? Odin is often somewhat unscrupulous in accomplishing his missions, and we honor him for his cunning. Is it then dishonorable for another to do as the All Father does?
I have noticed that the many beneficial results of the acts of Loki seem to get overlooked. Loki procured the weapons of Thor, wagered for Asgard wall, won Gungnir and Draupnir for Odin, Skidbladnir and Gullinbursti for Freyr, and was the MOTHER of Sleipnir which proves that not all his offspring are mortal enemies of the Gods. A large percentage of the great tools and powerful allies of the Gods seem to come from Loki.
Most of the myths I have read mention Loki, and usually he is doing something that brings great power to the Gods, with motives that are either obscure, and no less honorable than the motives of other Gods. I look at the story of Odins' quest for Mead, and see that Lokis' methods and morals seem to be typical and in keeping with the the All Fathers'. The Lokasana tells me that most of the Gods operate these ways.
Much emphasis is placed on Loki leading the hordes on the Giants at Ragnorok. For one thing, Loki is a giant, what is dishonorable about his siding with his kin? Perhaps this role was assigned to him by the Norns, or perhaps by the All Father himself, and to do otherwise would be an act of dishonor.
In the Lokasana, Loki reminds some of the Gods that they have done questionable things for personal reasons, and for this, the gods chase him down and imprison him. This I find to be an example of the vanity and intolerance of distasteful truths on the part of the Gods. The message I get from the Lokasana is not a permission to curse Loki, but rather a warning that even Gods look small when their actions are selfish, vain, or greedy.
In his role as the teller of unpopular truths, Loki is certainly guilty of tactlessness, and perhaps of violating the hospitality of the host,but not of dishonesty.The Gods whose behavior was questioned objected to being spotlighted, but all knew and admitted that Lokis' charges were true and accurate. Loki revealed some skeletons in the closets, and for this, he was treated as an enemy. Perhaps a lesson in interpersonal dynamics here, perhaps an example of the hazards of confronting or revealing the dirty laundry of others. Even a lesson about the vulnerability that often results from trying to sell an edited version of ones personal history. I find many lessons in the Lokasana, but not license for me to curse a God of the Aesir.
The Gods of the Aesir and Vanir are powerful and proud, but lay no claim to the morality by which I see them being judged.
It appears some other moral system may be getting confused with that of Asatru. Where does the concept of Evil come into the myths? I find nothing in any text that supports this concept, with the exception of commentaries by people who are openly other than Asatru. There is much about the competition for control of the nine worlds. There are enemies. There are forces and powers to be respected and even feared. There are wild and uncontrollable beings, those who would have it be their way even those who have no regard for honor, but not evil.
Evil is a concept that is a function of a Pure state theology and its dichotomy of Good and Evil. These terms are not Asatru as far as I can find, but rather seem to me to be a perversion of concepts of Honor and Dishonor brought to us by those ever creative plagiarists who turned Yule into Christmas, and Ostaras feast into Easter.
Loki teaches many lessons, His way is about cunning in actions, it is about taking advantage of the falsehoods and arrogance of others to achieve his ends. I have noticed that all of his "mischievous" acts start with some other being having unwarranted pride, avarice, greed, or vanity. Loki teaches me that these things make me vulnerable.
Do not mistake my intent. I am not promoting a "Loki Cult", dedicated to acts of malicious and unwarranted mischief, disrespect, or an excuse for dishonorable behavior. In fact, my purpose is the opposite of that. Those who act dishonorably, and then justify these acts by claiming Lokis' patronage, do so at their risk. Loki himself will deal with them for besmirching his name, I suspect he doesn't suffer fools gladly.
I believe that it is wrong for me to morally judge the actions of a God, or to self righteously curse a God. If I curse Loki, how is that different than cursing Thor, Freyja, Heimdall, Balder, or Odin himself.
The Gods may curse Loki, that does not give me permission to curse him. They are Gods, I am a man of Midgard, sworn to honor ALL the Gods of the Aesir and Vanir.
In entering Asatru, and often since, I have sworn an oath to honor the Gods of the Aesir and Vanir. Loki is a God of the Aesir, and as such, I will respect and honor him, as is his due, and as I have sworn.
Hail the Gods
Signed,
Thorinn Alffarin
on the qualities of the Norseman.