melianisnothere

[melianisnothere]

For those that are interested in my attempts to write the Poetic Edda into the so-called haiku meter, I've posted a free to read excerpt of Loki's Haiku Duel to my Ko-Fi page

If there's enough interest, I may consider (read: definitely will) post the full poem to my Ko-Fi page.

#the poetic edda

[melianisnothere]

One of my favorite kennings for Loki is "farmr Sigvinjar arma", which translates roughly to "the cargo of Sigyn's arms". Add a little Gustav Klimt to the equation, and you have an idea that's been plaguing me for months.

#loki #norse heathenry

[melianisnothere]

Queer Heathenry Masterpost

(updated google doc here)

General awareness:

Neo-Nazi Prevention & Dog Whistles White supremacists are misappropriating Norse mythology Dog Whistles in the Gender Critical Movement Guide to Anti-LGBTQ Online Hate and Disinformation What To Do When Racists Try To Hijack Your Religion Inside Asatruism's Fight Against the Co-Opting of Their Religion by White Supremacists

Sources and Sites:

GLBT in the Northern Tradition (site) Vikings are Gay! Podcast (podcast) Academic Research

Excerpts and Essays:

Sex, Status, and Seiðr: Homosexuality and Germanic Religion Sons of Frey Ergi: The Way of the Third Being Ergi The Tale of a Transsexual Norse Pagan Spirit-Worker

Scholarly Articles:

Queer Themes In Old Norse Myth Feminism in Medieval Scandinavia: How Paganism Forged Gender Equality Magic, Genderfluidity, and queer Vikings, ca. 750-1050 Mythical beasts: How queer bodies expand the religious imaginary

Practices:

Rite of Passage for an Ergi Child Honoring Ancestors: Queer Rite of Elevation

Queer-friendly Creators:

Ocean Keltoi (YouTube) Nordic Mythology Podcast (Spotify) The Norse Gods: Loki: An Evil Queer Icon? (YouTube) Storied (YouTube) The Welsh Viking (YouTube) Hearthkvlt (online shop; artist) Lockwood Metaphysical (online shop; artist) Ludvig Levin (online shop; artist)

Queer/queer interpreted passages:

Grettisfærsla  The Birth of Sleipnir  Þrymskviða  Lokasenna

#heathenry

[melianisnothere]

It has become more widely known that jotun men from Norse mythology can give birth and generally people immediately jump to “That has to mean they’re trans men!” but one of the first things we’re told about jotuns is that they’re intersex in a fantastical way where they have both penis and vagina because they are creatures of chaos. Well, some of them.

The first jotun Ymir had both and mated with himself (the text literally say he had both) to create the jotun race. Then there’s King Godmundr who gave birth to nine wolf pups by his wizard werewolf boyfriend, which of course highlights that sometimes jotuns birth animals or monsters, the most famous instance being Angrboða giving birth to Hela, Fenrir and Jörmungandr by Loki.

But it also seems like not all jotun men can give birth naturally, Loki being one of them. Every time he gave birth he had to transform himself into a female form via magic. Most famously he was a mare when he gave birth to Sleipnir, but Odin also tells us Loki has taken the form of a human woman many times so he could sleep with men (and get pregnant) which suggests Loki likes sleeping with men but prefers to do it in the form of a woman (Loki then says Odin has done the same so he has no right to judge). Godmundr for example is called out for “being a man acting like a woman” because he likes to bottom so much but still in his male/intersex form.

And the stories are pretty clear on wether someone is a man, a man transformed into a woman, or a trans person. In one story we’re told Freyr’s house is filled with “men dressed and behaving like women”. Also the fact that Loki use his mother’s name as his last name could mean a million things. Maybe it’s because she was an Æsir goddess so he’d get more respect from the Æsir by taking her name. Maybe his mother was actually his father Fárbauti who gave birth to him. And maybe Loki isn’t intersex because he’s only half jotun.

It’s all just fun speculation but if jotuns were turned into a high fantasy race like elves and dwarves the mythology provides a ton of interesting implications about jotun biology.

#heathenry

[melianisnothere]

The more I examine the Norse Myths, the clearer it becomes which tales likely don't actually reflect the worldviews of the Norse people.

Like...there are a few tells. The first and most obvious is the fact a few stories were added/changed in order to make it seem like they are proto-versions of the stories found in Christian mythology (Ragnarok being analogous to Armageddon, Loki being portrayed as the Norse devil, etc).

But there are subtler things as well.

I'm beginning to notice there's a difference between the way stories present information. The function of some stories is to describe how something happened, whereas the function of others is describe what something is.

For example, it is said that Thor throwing down his hammer mjolnir on the heads of giants is what created the mountains and the valleys.

This is an example of a story that describes how something happened.

This stands in comparison to the story of Loki being bound beneath the earth. It's said earthquakes happen because Loki is writhing from getting snake venom in his eyes.

This is an example of a story that describes what something is (in this case, what an earthquake is).

Now, it's really easy to think of these two stories as being identical, but the "tell" is that first story actually describes an event that can be witnessed: You can watch storms pass through the mountains and strike them with lightning. You cannot, however, see Loki punching and kicking beneath the ground.

Between the two belief systems, Christianity is the one that focuses heavily on describing worldly phenomenon through abstract concepts. We don't actually see this in most of the Norse stories, which are either for entertainment, or are an allegory for a felt experience.

I don't know, I'm just going to keep chipping away at this and see if it gets me anywhere, but I'm fascinated by this perspective so far.

#heathenry

[melianisnothere]

🏳️‍⚧️

#trans

[melianisnothere]

To anyone who believes fairy tale romances never happen in real life, may I remind you that JRR and Edith Tolkien met and experienced a forbidden love in their youth, and then were separated for five whole years because of his guardian’s rules that he could not date till he was 21, and she got engaged to someone else only because she assumed he’d forgotten her and lost hope that she could ever be with him, but then on his 21st birthday, he wrote her a letter saying he still loved her and wanted to marry her, she responded basically saying ‘if I’d known you hadn’t left me on the shelf, I would never have said yes to anyone else,’ then a week later she greeted him at the train station and then immediately dumped her fiancé, and they got married and she converted to his religion and danced for him in a flowering field far away from the trenches into which he was drafted, which left such an impression that he crafted an entire story about the most beautiful maiden in the world who danced in the woods and made enormous sacrifices to be with the man she loved, and they had four kids and remained faithful to each other and blissfully grew old together and their gravestones are now marked with the names of that same fictional couple that he created, who broke every rule and overcame every possible obstacle to be together and get a happy ending, who only did all that because he based it all on their own real love story.

#tolkien

[melianisnothere]

Thórr’s hammer from Gärsnäs, Skåne, (Sweden) dated to the 10th century.

#heathenry #archaeology

[melianisnothere]

Not everything the Christians do is stolen from some anonymous pagan culture. I'm sorry y'all but the Christians did actually come up with a bunch of shit on their own.

[melianisnothere]

🔥 Subtle Loki Worship 🐎

Sitting around a bonfire or campfire, especially with loved ones

Being kind to children; playing with them if offered

Supporting organizations focused on marginalized groups; spreading the word, donating, volunteering, etc.

Supporting organizations focused on children and children's safety

Volunteering at a homeless shelter or an animal shelter

Teaching yourself that it's ok to ask for help, even if you don't receive it at first

Seeking out a community you can join; this will help with creating a support system as well; LGBTQ+ support groups, gamer groups, fandom groups, etc.

Having horse, snake, raven, or wolf imagery around; having skull imagery is also cool, but may not be acceptable in all households

Engaging with your childhood media or toys

Having literally any stuffed animals

Keeping a list of jokes and quotes that make you laugh

Supporting animal conservation efforts

Learning to accept yourself for who you are; embracing unique aspects of your identity, especially those that are looked down upon by others

Showing support for marginalized groups, such as being an LGBTQ+ ally or purchasing from POC small business owners

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses; finding healthy ways to acknowledge them both

Learning new ways of coping with emotional turmoil, including mental illness related situations

Embracing the chaos of life

Listening to scary stories

Having a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)

Collecting shiny or interesting things, especially lost objects (so long as it's not reclaimed first lol)

Being a little mischievous/silly with loved ones, such as playing a harmless joke or doing something unexpected to make them laugh

Finding little ways to express yourself if you can't do so openly (e.g. wearing a bracelet with the colors of your gender identity, wearing shoelaces with pride flag colors that aren't easily recognizable, etc.)

Being kind to yourself when you're having a difficult time

Learning to forgive yourself for past mistakes you've made; accepting that everyone had both "good" and "bad" in them, including you, and that's ok; all people are grey, not black and white

Sleeping with comfy blankets

Drinking hot chocolate

Eating candies and sweets or spicy foods

-

May add more later! So far, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Loki. Hope this helps, and take care, y'all!

#loki #norse heathenry

[melianisnothere]

A Letter to Loki

I apologise, dear Loki, for I have misjudged you for so long. My own fears have kept you at bay when they needn’t have.

I saw you in the bullying disguised as pranks, done by those with malice in their hearts. When instead I should have seen you in the pranks of my grandfather, fueled by laughter and love. In the mischievous twinkle in my father’s eyes that I am proud to have inherited.

You have been with me for such a long time, patiently waiting for me to see the truth. Reaching out even though I rebuked you time and time again, out of misplaced fear. Yet you’ve always respected my boundaries, and with it, respected me. For even though I honoured you with flame and breath, I did not let you in.

I heard you loud and clear yesterday: “you weep for they don’t see you as you are. We are not so different, you and I.” And I felt your arms close around me in a loving embrace.

Perhaps that is also a part of the problem; I see too much of myself in you. In the lengths you’re willing to go to protect those you love, and avenge them if needed. To resort to trickery and manipulation to get someone to open their eyes and see the truth. Even if that truth might be one only you think is right. Perhaps it is not only you I feared, but also myself.

I see this now, my eyes now opened. This is me reaching out, conquering my fears and inviting you into my life. I will see you in the creative spark. In the fire that can both warm and destroy, but will make place for new things to grow. I will see you in joy and laughter, especially when they want us to be silent. I will see you when I look into the mirror, the twinkle in my eyes and the queerness of my being. I will see you, as you will see me.

Hail to the Change-bringer Hail to the Bringer of Gifts Hail to the Mother of Monsters Hail to the Protector of Outcasts Hail to the God of Punk Hail to you, Loki

#loki #heathenry

[melianisnothere]

[melianisnothere]

Learn to listen to yourself, to hear the Gods speaking through you. I’ve realized that the quiet, desperate longing to be in nature, to get far from the city and simply exist in the arms of our mother Nature is Lord Freyr calling to me. The sudden need to tell a loved one that I cherish them is Frigg giving me a gentle nudge to foster loving bonds. The Gods guide us without our knowing so.

#heathenry

[melianisnothere]

On animism

Within the perspective of animism everything is sacred and alive, even the profane and the ordinary. Everything is holy. Every action is holy, no matter how seemingly mundane: gardening, berry-picking, fishing, spinning, weaving, cooking, house-cleaning… Every plant, animal, river, mountain, rock, moonrise and sunset is holy. Every living thing is a conscious spirit, a little god, with its own powers, knowledge, and purpose in the web of life. Every living thing is treated as one human should treat another; with respect, with awareness of existence and individual rights, and with honest communication. The land is asked for permission to hunt, travel, forage, or build structures and is propitiated to gain favour. The river is politely asked for its fish, the tree for its wood, the deer for its meat, the bush for its berries, the clover for its roots… and all are given thanks and offering in return.

-Sarah Anne Lawless

#animism

[melianisnothere]

“Where are your pagan gods now?”

Gardening

Comforting your abandoned dead

Reclaiming

Rerooting

#animism

[melianisnothere]

I find that so much of Heathenry comes from participation with the immediate, physical world around me; from being part of the landscape of nature.

I went for a walk today and found a spot with a nice view. The flat landscape opened up the world and the sky before me, and I just sat there and looked/listened to what the phenomena I experienced told me about themselves.

The wind shares things from miles away. She keeps no secrets. My guess is that it's a big factor in how this region talks to itself.

The weather front along the distant mountains seemed restless, like a restless old man. My guess is because of the oncoming snow. Maybe he's the one brewing it.

The mountains themselves remain intentionally enigmatic. I've seen them move plenty of times (owed to the changing of the light and other atmospheric conditions, if you want to be technical about it) but they seem to speak rarely. I get the sense they don't open up to people just for showing interest.

I learned that on most days, the clouds let sunlight shape their bodies from the inside, even as the wind shapes them from the outside. I want to try this practice myself sometime.

Even the cold had something to share with me. I learned that by not resisting the sensation of cold, you can fully accept feeling the heat from your core.

Here's where I'm going with this: Our spiritual beliefs exist in the context of how we view the world. And how we view the world is based on what is used to shape our understanding of the world.

For the Norse people, their views of the world weren't shaped just by ideas and feelings like the way ours are today; their views were first and foremost shaped by the world itself, by what the world (not books or people) said about the world.

(And naturally, the world says something different in different places, because it's different in different places.)

So for me, the heart of Heathenry is about understanding the world the way the world shows me, and to let that understanding shape me.

Now that I know the wind speaks, I'm curious to listen to what she's saying.

#heathenry #animism

[melianisnothere]

Prayer to Loki

[[ A prayer I wrote to Loki as I attempt to find purpose and joy ]]

Loki, turn my sorrow to laughter 'Til the hopes of younger days return.

Loki, change my woe to excitement As the pains of hurried nothings burn.

Loki, turn my grief to happiness. While the aches of missing pieces heal.

Loki, change my fear to blissful mirth Until I know joy: loving and real.

Hail the Smiler, Hail the Knot-Maker, Hail the Storyteller, Hail Loki!

#loki #heathenry