#loki's children and the binding of fenrir

[derangedrhythms]

Even in a crowd of a thousand women, Hel's looks were quite likely to single her out: her face and neck and shoulders and breasts and arms and back, they were all pink; but from her hips down, every inch of Hel's skin looked decayed and greenish-black. Her expression was always the same: gloomy and grim.

Kevin Crossley-Holland, The Penguin Book of Norse Myths; from 'Loki's Children and the Binding of Fenrir'

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

Norse Mythology Re-Imagined: The Children of Loki and the Compassion of Odin

Loki never cared about his children with Angraboda. They were, like all things, a temporary amusement at best. He left, his fiery and flighty spirit carrying him away, leaving the giantess with her children, born with the blood of Gods and Kings in their veins. Children she is completely unprepared to raise alone.

But Odin's All-Seeing Eye spies them, these children, and he shall not let this stand. So he sends forth his most valiant sons, Thor and Tyr, to retrieve them and bring them to Asgard, as it is their birthright as well.

They are brought before him, the Grim girl, and the monstrous boys, and the other Aesir shrink back in fear, but Odin, wise and learned, looks upon these children, for that is what they are, and feels his heart moved to mercy and compassion. Besides, the children of Gods and Giants are always... exceptional.

He takes Hela under his wing, for in her he sees the most of himself. A budding wisdom and potency of spirit. He teaches her all he knows of lore and magic, the Runes and the workings of the world. She thrives under his teachings, and he bequeaths to her an entire Realm to rule, where she might do the most good.

He even betroths her to his son, Baldur, and they are wed beneath boughs of mistletoe. Frigga weeps openly, as do all other things for Baldur's passing to the Land of the Dead, where he might do the most good.

For Jormundgandr Odin sees boundless potential. So he sends the serpent into the sea, where there is no limit on size. And Jormundgandr grows and grows in might, ruling the abyss in the crushing depths, where few others could dwell. The serpent who threads the realms, binding them together like a thread through the seas.

And Fenrir? The most lively and wild, the one who most closely carries the fiery spirit of Loki? That savage wolf who's potential strength sways even Thor's heart to uncertainty?

Odin gives Fenrir the thing he truly needs.

He gives Fenrir to Tyr. The boy receives a father to love him, and the man receives a son to love.

Fenrir's rage never fully cools. His strength only waxes. He breaks every chain, every boundary, every restriction. Even Tyr can only do so much to tame his wild spirit. And the promise Odin saw in his eyes, the destiny to slay the All-Father, never deserts his mind.

So Odin commissions the dwarfs to craft a ribbon, stronger than any chain, and he gifts it to Fenrir, who wears it as a sash about him, binding his soul, cooling his rage when it wakens to wrath.

And so Odin's compassion shapes the fates of the Children of Loki. And so they are fated to be, ever and anon.

[themodernwitchsguide]

the norse gods

WYRD: destiny, the past that led up to the present

ORLOG: the relationship between actions and outcomes, the things in the present that affect the future

our primeval chaos this round,

GINNUNGAP: an area of abyss in between Niflheim (ice) and Muspelheim (fire). when these two regions grew in power and clashed, water was created

for once we only have one creation myth,

YMIR/AURGELMIR/BRIMIR/BLAINN: ancestor of the jotnar, he was born from venom that dripped from the rivers in Ginnungagap. fed on the milk of Auðumbla, Ymir bore a male and female out of his armpits and a six-headed being from between his legs. Odin, Vili, and Ve created earth from his flesh, oceans/rivers/lakes from his blood, mountains from his bones and teeth, trees from his hair, clouds from his brain, heavens from his skull, and Midgard from his eyebrow

AUÐUMBLA: primordial cow that was created from the fluid of melting ice in Ginnungap, she fed Ymir and licked the god Buri out of a salt rock over the course of three days

BURI: ancestor of the Aesir gods, fathered Bor

BOR: married the daughter of a frost giant, Bestla, and bore three sons, Odin, Vili, and Ve. these three grew tired with the unruly jotnar and killed Ymir, causing an avalanche of blood that killed all the giants except for Bergelmir and his wife

BERGELMIR: the ancestor of all "new" giants, resettled his race in Jotunheim

clan Aesir

ODIN: god of poetry, wisdom, war, and magic. Odin crowned himself king of the gods as he was the first one to decide to kill Ymir. he allowed himself to be hung from Yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights in order to understand the secrets of the runes and sacrificed one of his eyes in order to see the cosmos more clearly. some stories claim he could shape and understand Wyrd and Orlog. he had wolves named Gerki and Freki, ravens named Huminn and Muninn, and an eight legged horse named Sleipnir

FRIGG: once may have been the same goddess as Freyja, she is queen of the Aesir and goddess of beauty, love, and fertility, she was gifted with the power of foresight

BALDUR: son of Odin and Frigg, he was the pinnacle of beauty and likeability. his only weakness was mistletoe

HODR: son of Odin and Frigg, the blind god, he is tricked by Loki into shooting a mistletoe arrow, which kills Baldur

VALI: in some stories he's the son of Odin and the jotun Rindr, in others he's the son of Loki, but it makes more sense for him to be a son of Loki so let's just go with this. conceived to avenge his brother Baldur, which he did by killing Hodr and binding Loki with the entrails of Narfi

VIDAR: son of Odin and the jotun Gríðr, he is the god of vengeance, and is fortold to avenge his father by killing the wolf Fenrir at Ragnarok

HEIMDALL: son of Odin and "The Nine Mothers" (nine sea giants), god of keen eyesight and hearing, sometimes foresight. guardian of the Bifrost

TYR: son of Odin, god of war, justice, and order, he lost one of his arms to the wolf Fenrir

BRAGI: son of Odin, god of poetry

IDUNN: wife of Bragi, goddess of youth and fertility, her apples rejuvenated the Aesir gods and reversed the effects of aging

JORÐ: personification of the earth, consort of Odin, sometimes considered to be a jotun

THOR: son of Odin and the goddess Jörð, he is the god of lightning, storms, strength, fertility, and the protector of humankind. he wields the hammer Mjolnir

SIF: Thor's wife, goddess of faith, family and fertility

THRUD: daughter of Thor and Sif, goddess of strength

MAGNI: son of Thor and the jotun Járnsaxa, god of wrath

MODI: son of Thor, god of might

MIMIR: god of knowledge and wisdom, in some stories he is the advisor of Odin. he is sent either as a peace maker or hostage to the Vanir, where he is decapitated. Odin preserved his head and keeps it to guard a well on one of the roots of Yggdrasil

LOKI: god of mischief, wealth, and chaos. his children often caused trouble for other gods, Fenrir being the great wolf of Ragnarok, Jormungandr being the arch enemy of Thor, and Hel, who ruled Helheim

HEL: daughter of Loki and the jotun Angrboda, goddess of the underworld, she was tasked with taking care of the souls that ended up in her realm (since some ended up in Odin's Valhalla and some ended up in Freyja's Folkvangr)

NARFI: son of Loki and the goddess Sigyn, killed by Vali

clan Vanir

NJORD: patriarch of clan Vanir, god of wind, water, and fortune, he was the patron of fishermen and sailors

NERTHUS/NJORUN: although possibly just a female aspect of Njord, some theorize this is actually the sister-wife of Njord, mother of Freyja and Freyr. goddess of peace and prosperity

FREYR: son of Njord, god of peace, prosperity, male virility, and fair weather, ruler of Alfheim. after the conclusion of the Aesir-Vanir war, he was brought to Asgard as a hostage where he climbed his way up the ranks with charm and a good personality

FREYJA: daughter of Njord, goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and blessings. she is said to have introduced the gods to a form of magic called seidr, which was a form of seeing or changing the future

ODR: husband of Freyja, god of madness, wit and poetry. could also be an aspect of Odin, as they bear good similarities

HNOSS: daughter of Freyja and her husband Odr, her name means "gem"

GERSEMI: daughter of Freyja and Odr, her name means "treasure"

the goddesses of destiny, the Norns,

URD: "fate"

SKULD: "being"

VERANDI: "necessity"

[the-mortuary-witch]

FENRIR

WHO IS HE?

Fenrir is a wolf in Norse mythology, who is one of the sons of Loki and the giantess Angrboða. In Norse mythology, Fenrir is the wolf that is fated to devastate the world during Ragnarok. He is a powerful and dangerous creature, whose strength is surpassed only by Odin. In some versions of the story of Ragnarok, he is fated to be the one who kills Odin during the war of the Gods.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: Fenrir is a giant wolf who is the son of the god Loki and the giantess Angrboda. He is said to be a monstrous and destructive force of nature, and he is a major figure in the story of Ragnarok, which is the ultimate battle between the gods and the forces of destruction. His appearance varies depending on the source, but he typically is described as being a huge, black wolf that is full of wrath and fury.

Personality: he is described as being a mighty and fierce wolf, full of rage and fury. He seeks revenge and destruction against the Gods, and he is said to be a major threat to the world during Ragnarok, the final battle between the gods and the forces of destruction. His personality is characterized by anger and rage, and he is known for being destructive and unpredictable.

Symbols: winter, yew, chains, fire, the Underworld, fire, the bind rune, ravens, and the moon

Pursuer of: Ragnarök

Culture: Norse

Plants and trees: wolf's-bane, mistletoe, and yew

Crystals: black obsidian, red jasper, smoky quartz, black onyx, amethyst, clear quartz, and black tourmaline

Animals: wolves, snakes, and ravens

Incense: frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood, and patchouli

Colours: black, dark grey, red, brown, and green

Numbers: 3 and 17

Zodiacs: Aries and Scorpio (not official)

Tarot: The Devil, The Chariot, Strength, and The Tower,

Planets: Mars and Venus

Days: Tuesday, Friday, Yule, Samhain, and full moons

Parents: Loki and Angrboða

Siblings: Jörmungandr, Hel, Váli, Narfi, and Sleipnir (Odin’s horse)

Partner: Angrboða (his mother…)

Children: Sköll and Hati

MISC:

• Rage and destruction: Fenrir is the consummate destroyer, bringing chaos and disaster where he goes.

• The underworld and the twilight: Fenrir dwells in the underworld, the realm between life and death.

• Blood and brutality: Fenrir is a bloodthirsty creature who craves the destruction of all in his path.

• Nature and wolves: Fenrir is closely associated with nature and wolves, as his wild nature and savage powers are seen as a reflection of the untamed wilderness.

• The end of the world: Fenrir is said to be the bringer of Ragnarok, the end of the world and the destruction of all things.

• Transformation and renewal: Fenrir's role as a destroyer and his connection to the underworld represent a cyclical view of death and rebirth, and he is seen as a necessary part of the cycle of destruction and renewal.

• Instinct and survival: Fenrir is known for his raw nature and instincts. He is a primal force of nature, and his destructive powers are rooted in his instinct for survival.

FACTS ABOUT FENRIR:

• Name: Fenrir is named after the Norse word fenrr, which means "destroyer."

• Role: Fenrir is a giant wolf that is said to be the enemy of Odin and the other gods.

• Origin: he was born from the marriage of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, and is also the brother of Jörmungandr and Hel.

• Description: described as a giant wolf with iron fangs and a burning mouth, who is bound by the chains Gleipnir and is destined to kill Odin and unleash Ragnarok.

• Connections: he is connected to the Norse Goddess Skadi, as Skadi was the one charged with tying up Fenrir with the chains Gleipnir.

• Relationship with Odin: Fenrir and Odin have a complicated relationship, as Fenrir is destined to kill Odin but Odin also provides food to Fenrir.

• Relationship with Jörmungandr: Fenrir Is said to be the father of the snake Jörmungandr and the half-sister of Hel, making him the grandfather of the world-serpent.

HOW TO WORK WITH FENRIR:

Start by setting out an altar and dedicating it to Fenrir. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like, but it's important to have a specific space reserved solely for him. Offer a prayer to him, and make sure to be genuine and sincere. Show humility and appreciation for his wisdom and guidance. Leave an offering that is meaningful to you, such as a piece of jewelry, food, or drink. Make it genuine and personal. Meditate on his energy and try to connect with his presence. Read up on his myths and legends, or research his associations and symbols, and finally, be mindful of your behaviour and ensure that you are acting with respect and reverence toward him.

PRAYER FOR FENRIR: 

“Great Fenrir, guardian of the Underworld, destroyer of all things, I call upon you to guide me in this journey of self-discovery and transformation. I seek your protection, insight, and guidance as I walk my own path.”

“I thank you for your presence and guiding hand, Great Fenrir, I give thanks and praise for your wisdom and protection. Hail Fenrir.”

SIGNS THAT FENRIR IS CALLING YOU:

• A sensation of warmth, protection, or guidance that you feel around you.

• Experiencing a boost in intuition or creativity.

• Having thoughts or ideas that seem to come from a higher power or a divine source.

• Feeling inspired to explore new paths or ways of thinking.

• Seeing signs or coincidences that seem to be connected to Fenrir's energy or a reminder of his presence.

• Having an increased interest in nature, wolves, survival, or self-reliance.

• Having dreams or visions involving Fenrir that seem significant and meaningful.

• Seeing or feeling connections between things that would normally seem unrelated.

• Feeling like you are being guided or led to certain places or experiences.

• Having a sense of deja vu, as if you have been in this situation before, or that it is familiar in some way.

• Feeling a sense of peace, calm, or harmony around you, as if you are being protected or supported.

OFFERINGS:

• Tobacco

• Bread

• Incense

• Booze: wine, beer, mead, and other alcoholic beverages.

• Fruit

• Crystals

• Music

• Bones

• Things associated with wolves: raw meat, animal skins, and wolf teeth, fur, and claws.

• Plants

• Water

• Metals like platinum and gems

• Swords

• Blood

• Fire

DEVOTIONAL ACTS FOR FENRIR:

• Rituals: following a specific pattern or structure to honor and connect with Fenrir's energy and presence.

• Dress up in neutral, dark colours.

• Leave out offerings of meat and bone.

• Listen to music. (He seems to like metal and rock music, if not norse pagan chants like Loki, so far but it could be different for other followers)

• Eat meat (ethically sourced, of course)

• Spend some alone time in a quiet place or set a time in the day to just revel in the quiet.

• Feel and then release: Fenrir in his core is primal. He is a wolf and he responds to his natural instinct and emotions. Followers of Fenrir are asked to learn how to feel even if it is what others call negative emotions such as fear, anger, pain, sadness, etc.

• Master your rage: rage is a primal emotion that Fenrir rules on. It is chaotic. Keyword here is chaotic. He asks his followers to be angry but the hitch is that they reign in their anger and not let it loose.

• Light a candle to his name.

• Burn earthly incense like sandalwood.

• Toast to his name when you drink.

• Talk to him through meditation.

• Choose your battles wisely. Sometimes not all battles can be fought, some are best won by walking away from them.

• Forgive but do not forget.

• Respect others even if they have wronged you (unless they do not deserve the respect to be merited).

• Always keep your promises.

• Honour him and his family.

• Live life to the fullest. Do not shackle yourself with ideals and whatnot. The sky’s the limit.

• Adopt a furry friend or wolf: there are wolf centres and sanctuaries that allow people to adopt wolves (like be a friend or be a sponsor) to help with the protection of these creatures.

• Studying the history, mythology, and legends associated with Fenrir, as a way to gain a deeper understanding and connection to him.

• Creating symbols or icons related to Fenrir, such as drawing or painting images of him, composing poetry or writing about him, or carving his symbol into wood or stones.

IS IT SAFE TO EAT OR DRINK AN OFFERING I GIVE TO HIM?

Consuming offerings given to Fenrir is not recommended because he is a powerful being of destruction and the underworld. His energies are not compatible with human consumption, as he is not aligned with the human energy of life and death but rather the energy of destruction. Consuming offerings given to Fenrir may disrupt the connection with the deity and cause an imbalance in energy. It is always better to avoid consuming offerings given to Fenrir.

[templeofoccultpractices]

Fenrir

Other names: Fenrisúlfr, Hróðvitnir, Vánagandr

Parents: Loki , Angrboða

Siblings: Hel, Jörmungandr

Consort: Angrboða

Offspring: Hati Hróðvitnisson, Sköll

Mythology

*As a disclaimer with mythology. A lot have been lost to time. There are theories and attempts to reconstruct things although we may not truly know. A lot of lore has been Christianized like the Poetic Eddas.*

The Binding of Fenrir

The binding of Fenrir have many iterations and telling. The general story goes that the gods found Loki's children. They feared Fenrir because of his rapid growth. Some instances that Odin feared his fate and trying to delay it. The gods decided that they would bind Fenrir. As in Ragnarok Fenrir would kill Odin.

They threw Jörmungandr into the sea and Hel into Helheimr but they took Fenrir with them to keep an eye on him. Tyr was the only one who approached and fed him. As Fenrir grew the gods decided that he would not stay and tried to trick him into fetters. Fenrir broke every fetter until Skirnir went to the dwarves challenging them to make a chain that he could not break. The dwarves answered this challenge. They made a chain from the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, bear's sinews, fish's breath, and bird's spittle. They named this chain Gleipnir.

The gods challenged Fenrir to break Gleipnir but he knew this was a trick. He said that he would do so only if one of the gods would place his right hand in Fenrir's mouth as a pledge to free him if he failed to break the chain. (In Germanic culture, your right hand was used to swear an oath, and oaths were very serious. "oathbreakers" were sent to Náströnd as long with murderers and adulterers.)

Tyr was the one who stepped forward and placed his hand in Fenrir's mouth. But when Fenrir couldn't break free and the gods didn't keep their oath. He bit Tyr's hand off.

Járnviðr

A forest located east of Midgard, inhabited by trollwomen who bore jötnar and giant wolves. 

Gylfaginning

Þá mælti Gangleri: "Skjótt ferr sólin ok nær svá sem hon sé hrædd, ok eigi myndi hon þá meir hvata göngunni, at hon hræddist bana sinn."

Þá svarar Hárr: "Eigi er þat undarligt, at hon fari ákafliga. Nær gengr sá, er hana sækir, ok engan útveg á hon nema renna undan."

Þá mælti Gangleri: "Hverr er sá, er henni gerir þann ómaka?"

Hárr segir: "Þat eru tveir úlfar, ok heitir sá, er eftir henni ferr, Skoll. Hann hræðist hon, ok hann mun taka hana. En sá heitir Hati Hróðvitnisson, er fyrir henni hleypr, ok vill hann taka tunglit, ok svá mun verða."

Þá mælti Gangleri: "Hverr er ætt úlfanna?"

Hárr segir: "Gýgr ein býr fyrir austan Miðgarð í þeim skógi, er Járnviðr heitir. Í þeim skógi byggja þær tröllkonur, er Járnviðjur heita. In gamla gýgr fæðir at sonum marga jötna ok alla í vargs líkjum, ok þaðan af eru komnir þessir úlfar. Ok svá er sagt, at af ættinni verðr sá einna máttkastr, er kallaðr er Mánagarmr. Hann fyllist með fjörvi allra þeira manna, er deyja, ok hann gleypir tungl, en stökkvir blóði himin ok loft öll. Þaðan týnir sól skini sínu, ok vindar eru þá ókyrrir ok gnýja heðan ok handan. 

Then said Gangleri: "The sun fares swiftly, and almost as if she were afraid: she could not hasten her course any the more if she feared her destruction." Then Hárr made answer: "It is no marvel that she hastens furiously: close cometh he that seeks her, and she has no escape save to run away." Then said Gangleri: "Who is he that causes her this disquiet?" Hárr replied: "It is two wolves; and he that runs after her is called Skoll; she fears him, and he shall take her. But he that leaps before her is called Hati Hródvitnisson. He is eager to seize the moon; and so it must be." Then said Gangleri: "What is the race of the wolves?" Hárr answered: "A witch dwells to the east of Midgard, in the forest called Ironwood: in that wood dwell the troll-women, who are known as Ironwood-Women. The old witch bears many giants for sons, and all in the shape of wolves; and from this source are these wolves sprung. The saying runs thus: from this race shall come one that shall be mightiest of all, he that is named Moon-Hound; he shall be filled with the flesh of all those men that die, and he shall swallow the moon, and sprinkle with blood the heavens and all the air; thereof shall the sun lose her shining, and the winds in that day shall be unquiet and roar on every side

Völuspá

40. Austr sat in aldna í Járnviði ok fæddi þar Fenris kindir; verðr af þeim öllum einna nokkurr tungls tjúgari í trölls hami.

In the east sat the old woman in Iron-wood and gave birth there to Fenrir's offspring; one of them in trollish shape shall be snatcher of the moon.

Thursatru and Rökkatru

Anticosmic Norse Paganism or Thursian sorcery venerates the Thursian giants. This is a Left Handed Path tradition. In the Thursian tradition Fenrir represents primal forces and chaos.

Definition of Anticosmic

Anti-Cosmic Satanism, also known as Chaos-Gnostic Satanism and Anti-Cosmic Gnosticism, is a belief system that believes that the Demiurge imprisoned humans with Cosmic Chains, holding us back from our true freedom in Chaos and Limitlessness. It believes that through the liberation of our mortal chains, we will once more return to Tohu/Ain - nothingness

The Aesir representing the Demiurge powers. Ragnarok freeing the chains and bringing everything back to the Ginnungagap.

The Thursar, the Old Norse primordial Giants, are seen as the more destructive forces raised against that cosmic order of the creation even into the given final culmination of Ragnarök or Ragnarökkr.

Abby Helasdottir coined the term Rökkatru. This is separate from the Thursian path.

Rökkatru's primary focus was the third pantheon of underworld Gods. These include Hela, Loki, Angrboda, Sigyn, Fenrir, Jormundgand, Narvi and Vali, Surt, Mordgud, and Mengloth, among others.

Working with Fenrir

*Please know basic protections and energy work before attempting any deity work.*

Offerings: Blood (when making oaths), Dragonsblood, Frankincense, Meat,

Rituals

⬩ Some practitioners can do a ritual to Fenrir to initiate under him when ready. This is not recommended for those not ready and or those who have any doubts about it. Breaking this oath as with any oaths for other deities will result in consequences.

⬩ A blót for Fenrir. Offer him the finest of meat.

⬩ Ritual for strength

⬩ Thursian rituals

Altar

Set up an altar/sacred space for performing rituals or giving offerings. Items may include

⬩Altar cloth

⬩Candles (color doesn't matter, black is fine)

⬩Cup or chalice

⬩Incense and incense burner

⬩Offering bowl

⬩Statues of Fenrir, wolf statue. Carvings of his name in runes. ᚠᛖᚾᚱᛁᚱ

For more information on basic deity work and altar setups check out the deity work post

Experience

In my personal experience in talking to people who worked with Fenrir. I've met a practioner who didn't think Loki was Fenrir's father. That Fenrir is not bound. He doesn't appear to be bound. He answers those who are strong and come in time of need. He is distant and quiet at first but will become more vocal over time.

I have also come across ideas of a priest and priestess of Fenrir. Priestess having deep connections with him. This tied into the concept that priestess had intimate and deep connections to gods and those of primal and primordial nature. Priest had deep connections to goddesses. This concept is in Greek mythology and heiros gamos.

Fenrir the one of primordial fire, chaos and the primal current. The one who is a shapeshifter. Father of wolves. Looks for those who are strong for he sees true strength. A test, a trial for those who are true. He is a serious deity. He sends a storm in his blessing.

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[elennalore]

Loki associations in Tolkien's legendarium, part 3

[Part 1: Preface]

[Part 2: The Bound God: Loki’s similarities with Melkor]

The final part is here:

The Cunning God: Loki’s similarities with Mairon

Again, this post includes personal and fannish interpretations on the characters.

Mairon, like Loki, has many names. He is known as Gorthaur, Annatar, the Necromancer, and of course, Sauron. His original name Mairon means the Admirable One, either because of his good looks or his excellent skills in crafting and making. In Prose Edda, Loki is also described as pleasing and handsome in appearance. His cunning nature and an ability to create tricks for every purpose are also noted. Both Mairon and Loki are clever beings who offer their help to others – for a variety of motives. Both of them are willing and able to construct an elaborate plot to get what they want.

Early in the history of Arda, Mairon left the home of the Ainur and joined forces with Melkor who had already become the enemy of the Valar. Loki stayed in Asgard longer and only during Ragnarök he joined the opposing forces. Mairon becomes the lieutenant of Melkor and fights for him in many wars of Middle-earth, whereas Loki takes fire giant Surtr’s side during Ragnarök and leads the army of jötunn (giants), monsters and the dead into battle.

Mairon doesn’t want to destroy Middle-earth, though. He wants to shape it according to his own ideas. Loki, too, enjoys wandering in Midgard, the realm of humans in Norse mythology, and in many tales, he helps its inhabitants to thrive. Only after a series of ill events he joins the destructive forces.

Both Mairon and Loki are often pictured as a good-looking male with flaming red hair, linked to the element fire. Loki’s transformational aspect is connected to a flame of a candle, or fire in a hearth. Mairon is linked to the creative fire of a forge.

Mairon and Loki are known shapeshifters; they can change their appearance at will or become different animals. Mairon is known to become a (were)wolf and a bat. Loki in lore has taken the shape of a fly, salmon, and a mare for example. Usually they both use shape-shifting as a means to an end. Mairon is able to fly as a bat. Loki can fly with his sky-walker shoes or by borrowing Freyja’s hawk-feather cloak. In the end, both of them lose their shape-shifting abilities. Mairon loses this ability partially after the fall of Númenor and totally after losing the One Ring. Loki is not able to transform himself anymore when the Æsir capture him and bind him underground.

Loki is not hesitant to change his gender or to use seduction as his weapon to achieve the wanted result. He happily dresses as a bridesmaid and plays the role 100% if the task needs it. As a mare, Loki seduces a magical stallion in order to prevent a disaster in Asgard. As a result, Loki becomes pregnant and gives birth to an eight-legged horse Sleipnir. It is hinted that this is not even the only time he gives birth. Mairon in fanon is also heavily genderfluid. There are fan fics where Mairon becomes pregnant and gives birth to a child with uncommon traits.

Both Mairon and Loki are described as sexually attractive and often using seduction. Loki is said to have slept with everyone in Asgard. In fanon, Mairon is most often shipped with Melkor or Celebrimbor, but also with various others, and seduction is often present at some point in his relationships.

Loki is a father of three monstrous children with his jötunn lover Angrboda. One of these is a giant wolf Fenrir. In the First Age, Mairon lived on an island called Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves where he bred werewolves for his army. Sauron’s messenger Thuringwethil (“woman of secret shadow”) who lives there reminds somewhat of Fenrir’s half-corpse sister Hel.

Loki is skilled in crafting; he is said to be the creator of the fishing net – a crucial invention in ancient times. His trademark is creating solutions to problems (which he may or may not have caused himself). He can also enhance the creativity of others. Spiritually he is often connected with creative fire. Many of the most valuable tools and weapons of the Æsir are courtesy of Loki. Loki’s interaction with the Svartálfar, the best smiths of the nine worlds, leads to the manufacture of those treasures – with some deception from Loki’s part. The Æsir are very happy with the end result, anyway, and Loki deserves a byname “Bringer of Gifts”.

Mairon, too, is extremely skilled in crafting and making. He’s connected to the forge fire. He used the name Annatar, “Lord of Gifts” while living with the Elven-smiths of Eregion and enforcing their creativity, inspiring them to create the Rings of Power – with some deception included.

As the Lord of the Rings, Mairon has a powerful rival in Gandalf who, like Mairon, is a Maia. Gandalf and Odin (especially in his wanderer aspect) share many characteristics, and Gandalf’s fight to end Sauron’s dominion is not far from Odin’s desperate efforts to prevent Ragnarök where Loki has a major role in the opposing side.

At first glance Loki’s trickster aspect is not prominent in Mairon's character, but I think we can see glimpses of it. Mairon is said to laugh at his own tricks, which is shown especially malevolently during the downfall of Númenor. However, it may be that by the Elf-smith Celebrimbor’s influence Mairon’s trickster traits become apparent. In my personal view, Celebrimbor enhances Mairon’s latent trickster attributes, which is sometimes seen in their fanon portrayals. I can imagine various pranks they must have made together. In Eregion, Mairon could have chosen a different path and evolved into a trickster figure, but sadly, it didn’t go like this in canon. Still, based on Mairon’s other similarities with Loki, I dare to think there is potential for a different story.

[lokiinmediasideblog]

ooh here's a question (and a follow-up statement). do you have any hot takes / unusual interpretations / etc of myth loki (or norse myth in general?) if not, what are the coolest and/or wildest (relatively harmless) ones you've heard?

my favourite is that apparently at least one scholar argues that loki was originally a spider god. i sadly have not been able to track down and read the paper on it so IDK how good the overall argument is (and yeah i know loki isn't exactly a god and norse gods aren't exactly gods OF things), but i still find it kind of intriguing bc i can imagine why you'd argue that. birthing an eight legged horse, inventing the fishing net, and an eternal punishment involving being tied up and poisoned like a fly in a web... it does make a kind of sense?

I've heard of that one ^_^ Spider horse spider horse. Does whatever a spider horse does. I've also seen it pointed out that many tricksters across different cultures/continents have some relation to spiders, and it's interesting the motif is rather geographically widespread.

I'm intrigued by the myth where Loki eats a witch's burnt heart and gives birth to the first Troll (Loki is the Mother of Trolls). A huge question is why would they eat a witch's burnt heart? I've seen it hypothesized that Loki likely ate the heart to attempt to cleanse the "evil." It was a magical practice to eat animal hearts in rituals. Loki tried to be a biohazardous waste container in a way and got pregnant with a troll instead (I have to track down the source because I don't remember where I read this, so take that into consideration).

I also find it interesting that Loki's "monstruous" Children embody the punishments Loki's subjected to. Jormungandr=snake dripping poison on Loki's eyes, Hel=being trapped in the Earth's core, Fenrir=Narvi was killed by Vali in wolf form, and his entrails were used to bind Loki.

I also think people sleep on the possibility that Loki is associated with Air rather than Fire. Fire is mistakenly associated with Loki (mostly due to Wagner's confusion of Logi and Loki). Loki fails to light fires, which wouldn't be something you'd expect from a Fire God, and loses an eating contest to Logi (Fire itself). OTOH, Loki can walk on Air and is called "Skywalker" (I'm convinced Luke's name was based on Loki, it's too similar, lmao). His Father and brothers have names that would be associated with storms. Farbauti="Dangerous Striker" (believed to be associated with lightning, Byleistr="Violent Storm." I can see how the Fire theory is tempting with Farbauti (lightning) + Nal/Laufey (trees)=Loki.

[runningw-thewolves]

Stray Kids X Fenrir Post (LONG POST)

(Cause why the Hell not?)

Today I found out that 1) someone made a Fenrir based tattoo sleeve design for Bang Chan and 2) not only has Bang Chan seen it, he has stated he might possibly get it. Now, I am a STAY, a Norse Pagan and a follower of Fenrir. I think you can figure out what my brain was doing processing all this.

(Also; THERE HAS BEEN HINTS TO NORSE MYTHOLOGY IN STRAY KIDS MUSIC VIDEOS!? STAY, do a wolf some assistance and pinpoint me to the videos and moments cause I NEED MY STRAY KIDS NORSE/VIKING CONTENT. Anyways...)

I am very Autistic when it comes to several of my favourite things coming together and creating a *chef's kiss* moment. This is no exception. It's why INK are my favourite band (metal, Emo and horror together? YES PLEASE) and now I have Stray Kids, Norse mythology AND LITERALLY MY FUCKING RELIGION? Holy fuck! *insert brain melt moment from Indiana Jones here*

So, I figured; let's talk about some of Stray Kids past works and Fenrir at the same time. Yep, a Stray Kids Fenrir themed playlist in the format of a Tumblr post by someone with Autism currently losing their damn mind.

Before we begin, let's get everyone acquainted who may be unfamiliar.

The Binding of Fenrir

'The Binding of Fenrir' is arguably the most famous tale involving Fenrir. Fenrir is the eldest child to Loki and Angrboda, his younger siblings being the Midgard Serpent, Jormungandr (who has beef with Thor, to keep it brief) and the future death Goddess, ruler and caretaker of the dead and arguably an important figure in Baldur's tragedy, Hel (or Hela).

Why was Odin interested in Fenrir? For one simple reason; he had been told a prophecy where a large and powerful wolf would kill him. I should point out this part of Odin and Fenrir's story is a very medieval trope of the paranoid king and his son destined to kill him. This case is no different; the downfall of the king is because of his own paranoia. Everything he does to try and prevent his downfall only solidifies it into existence. It's a common belief among many of us Heathens that Fenrir might have never considered going after Odin if Odin had just left Fenrir alone the whole time. Hell, there was the distinct possibility that Fenrir could've likely been an ally to Odin and the Aesir if it weren't for their fear and paranoia.

So, how does Fenrir get bound? Odin and a few others ride to the Iron Wood, the home of the Jotunn and Chieftess of the Chieftains of the Iron Wood, Angrboda, and forcefully take her children from her. Jormungandr strikes and either Odin or Thor (heavily debated) throws Jormungandr into the oceans of Midgard. Hel is immediately exiled from Asgard and sent to what is often dubbed 'Helheim'. Fenrir was kept in Asgard, primarily to keep an eye on him. He was scorned and mocked and treated with fear by the Gods, and no one dare approach him to feed him. Aside from one God; Tyr, the God of Justice. (Also a God of War himself but ssh.) Tyr befriended the young wolf and fed him.

Naturally, Fenrir grew. And very quickly. He soon domineered over the buildings of Asgard and the Gods grew paranoid of his strength and size. It was then decided for him to be bound. They tried on three separate occasions, telling Fenrir it was a game. The first time was some normal, ordinary chains. Fenrir broke those with a single movement of his paw. The second was a reinforced chain. These were a little tougher but they too were shattered. The Gods then got in contact with the Dwarves to create for them a special chain, named Gleipnir. This chain was presented to Fenrir, and its appearance - similar to that of a ribbon or thread - immediately made Fenrir suspicious. He only agreed to have himself bound if one person were to lose their hand should they go back on their word. Tyr was the one who offered (this is a HUGE deal, as Tyr is basically associated with business transactions, oaths and the likes. Loki even goes on to call this out in the poem 'Lokasenna' (Loki's Flyting)). Naturally, Fenrir is bound, he can't break free, Tyr loses an arm. Fenrir snaps at the laughing Gods' ankles and Odin shoves a sword through Fenrir's jaws. Fenrir will only be freed by the violent thrashing of his brother come Ragnarok, to which Fenrir will kill Odin. Some sources also say Fenrir eats the sun and moon, however this is a tricky subject as that act is often attested to two other wolves. There's plenty of theories but for this post, they are irrelevant.

Stray Kids Everywhere All Around The World

Stray Kids first became known by a survival TV show in late 2017. At the time, there was nine members. (For the sake of avoiding drama and cause the matter is done, I will be talking about Woojin but sticking to the facts. Everything from the drama was false (which I learned the hard way and am still trying to learn from); do not attempt to bring up the controversy in reblogs or replies or I will block you.) The members included (in order, starting with team leader then oldest to youngest); Bang Chan, Kim Woojin, Lee Minho, Seo Changbin, Hwang Hyunjin, Han Jisung, Lee Felix, Kim Seungmin, and Yang Jeongin. The group would debut in 2018 with the track "District 9". Upon debut, most of the members would continue using their names except for the following; Minho (would debut as Lee Know), Jisung (would debut as Han) and Jeongin (would debut as I.N.). Kim Woojin left the group in late 2019 around the time of the "Double Knot"/"Levanter" promotions. (Hence forth, Woojin is irrelevant. This is where we shall leave any mention of Woojin hence forth.

Stray Kids would go on to become a pretty big deal, even winning the competition TV show 'Kingdom' (let's not go over the whole MAMA bullshit, that would take a whole tray of paracetamol to get through), leading to the band being noticed by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. In the past year, several of the members have appeared or modeled for various designer brands (ignoring the politics of this for now; good on them for their success however).

Bang Chan and Fenrir's Connection

As was mentioned in the TikTok I linked earlier, Bang Chan is the member of the group who was a trainee for the longest amount of time. Chan had been training under JYP Entertainment for seven years by the time of the pre-debut TV show. Chan has mentioned several times in the past the anger and sadness he felt, connecting with other trainees only for them to leave (either from being fired, changing career paths or debuting before him - this was especially noted to be the case with groups TWICE and GOT7, where Chan is friends with members of the groups and even shared a dorm room with members of GOT7). It's not hard to imagine the amount of pressure Chan was under to debut on the survival show. Or the amount of pressure he put on himself and the rest of Stray Kids. This amount of pressure would rear its head when members Lee Know and Felix were eliminated (but would be brought back later and debut with the group). A clip from Felix's elimination gives a glimpse into how hard Chan was on himself.

I will not speculate Chan's thoughts or feelings, but if you dig into it, you can come to some conclusions quickly based on the surrounding context and what we know about Chan and Felix's friendship post-debut.

Fenrir is bound and thus cannot be free to show his true strength and power, held back by the Gods for fear of what or who he could be. In essence, some could argue that this is what made Fenrir stronger and the wolf we know today but that comes with the ridiculous amount of pain and torture the wolf felt. Sure, he became stronger, but at what cost? I would say this is the same question to consider when talking about Chan and Fenrir. Sure, Chan is a wise and strong leader now, but what was the cost? He's made it clear that at one point before debut (and other members have backed this up), he actively avoided connecting with people cause of how many friendships he watched crumble for one reason or another. There's even a clip from a livestream where Chan was noticeably angry with staff and you can see the visible fear and awkwardness from the other members. Again, will not speculate on what any of it could mean, but it does point to something Fenrir and Chan may also have in common. When they are angry, they are

PISSED.

However, it's also important to keep in mind the sort of things Fenrir teaches and encourages from a Norse Pagan/Heathen perspective, so...

Fenrir in Norse Spirituality

A common name attributed to Fenrir is "breaker of chains". When we're talking about what this means from a spiritual standpoint, it means to free yourself from your past, free yourself from expectations or demands of others that holds you down and to let go and live free. For many, this can meaning learning how to cope with mental illness and trauma, learning how to manage (not control) one's anger, how to fuel emotions into actions and remain within the present and not think about the past or the future.

I've also heard many people describe Fenrir as a special kind of 'military boot camp' strict. This is the best way I can describe it; imagine, if you will, that you are a house. Fenrir is the property surveyor (the person who checks houses for faults). Fenrir will go around and tell you everything that isn't sturdy, that has cracks or other faults. Not out of malice, but because if you don't fix this, all it takes is one bad day and your self-worth comes crashing to the ground. Fenrir will even go out of his way to test these parts of yourself, again not out of malice but to make sure you can withstand it. Going back to the house metaphor; imagine Fenrir pointed out your foundations were made with weak cement, so you redo the foundations. Fenrir isn't convinced until he can push into it or stand on it and find it can withstand the weight. (This doesn't go into how our emotions fluctuate daily, but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.)

Fenrir is also oftentimes seen as an example of justified rage. The rage of youth being mocked by their elders for simply being young. The rage Black people feel when another officer shoots yet another unarmed Black person. The rage LGBTQIA+ people feel when one of their own is killed or assaulted for simply being in love or expressing who they are. The rage women feel when men try to take advantage of or gaslight them into accepting lower. The rage of Indigenous people watching as their lands get bombed, farmed, and in general colonized and ripped of all its worth until nothing remains.

With all these factors in mind, let's finally get to the meet of this. The Stray Kids songs one (like myself) can associate with Fenrir. I will include lyrics, and you're more than welcome to reply or reblog with songs I may have missed. So, without further ado; let's get cracking! (Please note I will be using OT8 songs primarily for this post, again to avoid drama or anyone dogpiling about the controversy.)

'Placebo' (3RACHA original; 2017, Stray Kids original; 2018, re-recorded; 2021.)

"The positive belief that will even heal my wounds Keep going, the Placebo that works on me Honestly, there’s no need to be negative Trust myself, throw away those extra thoughts"

'Placebo' is a song essentially about relying on yourself to get through your challenges, while acknowledging what is currently making you feel weak. The fear and worry about wondering if you will actually make it, but telling yourself you can despite your worries, being your own friends in your darkest moments. Felix's verse I think is almost entirely applicable to Fenrir (Felix even says "drop these rusty chains" - remember, Fenrir was first bound by chains before Gleipnir.)

"Miroh" (original; 2019, re-recorded; 2020)

"Poison, trap, toadstool you can set them up I'll survive in the end, whatever it takes I know your traps, you set them up And I stomp on them tougher There's only one answer, you just have to open it"

"Miroh" (Korean word for 'maze') is an EDM-style song about persevering through the challenges you face, head held high, trusting your instincts and knowing that one way or another you have prepared for this moment and you will make it out the other side. The chorus starts with a line explaining that the narrator (Stray Kids) decided to go into the city (the challenges) themselves and know what is coming, are ready for it and know they can make it through the trial. The song also uses various animal sound effects, including a tiger's roar in the chorus, a hawk's caw and a bird-filled jungle soundscape. (Fenrir is often reported to be associated with swamps and mountains, so the inclusion of wild animal noises fits perfectly here.)

'Red Lights' (2021)

"No matter how hard I try to escape, there's no answer Until I fall asleep in the sun, even deeper I really wanna know, yeah I've already lost control"

This song is performed by Bang Chan and Hyunjin, and according to Genius the song "about compulsion and confusion of ego and about obsession about doing something". One would think, with the sexy sound and concept of the track, it would imply something of a sexy nature. However, it can also be about anything that someone can grow obsessed with. Another person, a feeling, an action, a moment, etc. The line "Tell me you hate me" makes me think of Fenrir talking to Tyr. The music video for the track also heavily features Chan and Hyunjin in chains, so one could also argue the obsession to be the desire to escape from their chains.

"MANIAC" (2022)

"The real self has been released (Yup, yup) Barely holding on (Yup, yup) After blinking once, back Again, back to cosplaying as what society Defines normal to be pow"

'MANIAC' is a song with a visible influence from Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' as it explores one's individual uniqueness, the expectations of society (which can delve into toxic perfectionism/happiness, conformity etc) and how we as a people have hidden our inner 'maniac' to fit in with the world. Even when in Asgard, surrounded by the Aesir and Vanir, Fenrir was always gonna be Fenrir. Just by his mere nature, he was deemed an outcast for being a larger and stronger wolf than they had encountered before, something that within itself isn't a crime. Fenrir would likely always be looked down upon if he showed discomfort, anger or any sort of negative emotion. In this song, Stray Kids basically asks the listener to open up their true self, live their authentic selves and enjoy the life they've been given, essentially; "shed the chains society has forced upon you."

"BEWARE" (original; 2018, re-recorded; 2020)

"My current state, the way I talk, my actions I know I shouldn't be like this But everything goes the opposite way I want you to understand me I don't know what will happen Again today, I'm barking"

Remember when I talked about Fenrir and justifiable rage and I brought up youth being angry with elders being condescending with them? This song is my 'case and point'. Going back to what I mentioned in 'MANIAC', no matter what Fenrir did the Aesir were likely not going to view him in a positive light. Ask any person who has tried to get on the good side of someone who couldn't care for them and you'll often find descriptions of growing tire, frustration and rage. Sometimes, we are going to encounter this in life - whether it be a boss who treats us poorly, a colleague/acquaintance/friend gossiping or lying about us behind our back, a family member who has expectations for you that you can't reach no matter what you try etc. Fenrir is no stranger to this; he experienced it firsthand living amongst the Aesir. That rage one feels in these moments is a healthy rage, a voice, which you will find is either being encouraged by Fenrir or is Fenrir himself, screaming at you "This isn't right, I shouldn't be treated like this!"

"SCARS" (2021)

"I'll never cry because I know that it'll never change I'll stay standing and endure it in an unknown place There will be many times I'll almost fall, but Alone, I reach out my hand, alone, I stand back up"

Sometimes, when we face hurdles in our lives we will feel sadness, sorrow or despair. If there's one thing I want to end this made tangent about, it's this; you will face challenges and it's OK to not be happy about it. It's alright to cry, to scream and wail and sob, to shed tears, feel fear, embarrassment, etc. It's alright if you need to punch a pillow or cry yourself to sleep. Remember; Chan probably did the same. For seven years. Fenrir probably did too, stuck within his personal Hell. But if there's one thing you should take from both of them, it's that you are stronger than you think you are. You can survive, you will survive. You will see the light on the other side one day; all it requires is fighting through the pain, even if that means crying from the hurt. We don't leave this life unscathed; we all will die with countless scars, both physical and mental. Be kind to yourself, know you are worthy of being alive right now, and you have the strength to push onwards. Carry the strength of Fenrir - and the strength of Bang Chan and Stray Kids - with you and remember you aren't alone fighting against the chains you've found yourself bound in.

(TLDR; an Autistic Norse Pagan loses were mind when were discovers a Fenrir tattoo design for Chan, goes on a long Stray Kids and Fenrir rant.)

[kinfriday]

Savagery

It’s hard to know how to feel as I’ve been going through the history of the Viking age peoples.  

On one hand they were profoundly inclusive, traveling the world, inviting other cultures to trade, and even including some of them. People with Persian DNA have been found in graves, along with rings with Allah inscribed upon them.  

What’s more we have written firsthand accounts, some of the only surviving, of Viking funerary rites from traders, and many historians now believe that the ancient Silk Road had its western terminus in Scandanavia. 

While gender roles seemed to have been strictly enforced, women still had the ability to own property, or serve as warriors. There even seems to be evidence, though it would be easy to read too much into it, that the Vikings were comfortable with a type of non-human identity in some.  

In a vacuum all of this sounds amazing. Here we have a warrior culture, that also traded and welcomed others and had at least some degree of respect for women as they ventured across the world.  

Truly, they must be a model of 9th century progressive values and ideals.  

Not so fast...  

While, to a degree welcoming, worldly, and inclusive, our spiritual ancestors were also, at the very same time, terrible people. A bulk of the slave trading in Europe came from the Viking World. Rape, and the murder of children was an acceptable war tactic, and virtually anything could be done to a person one owned, even up to murder, with little to no consequence.  

Human sacrifice to the Gods was common and means of justice were shockingly brutal.  

None of this existed in a vacuum. The Christian kingdoms of this era were at least as bad, and in some ways worse, as were the Romans. You aren’t going to find a human society that is without its horrors, and if you read the legends, even the Gods do reprehensible things.  

As I’ve grown in my knowledge of the legends, I find it interesting that, from my perspective, Ragnarök was a preventable tragedy. Loki’s three monstrous children are bound, but the why is at best hazy, and with Fenrir it’s an outrage.  

The Gods feared the great wolf, but nothing that survives ever indicates he was a threat. Perhaps we should trust the wisdom of Woden here, perhaps he had some foresight, but all we have from the legends is fear, and it is his binding that sets up the great cascade of events that culminate in the death of the Gods themselves.  

I wonder if one of the reasons Loki went after Baldr, was a result of Woden binding Loki’s son unjustly.  

One might be surprised to see such sentiment from me, but the Gods call me to be honest, and the one thing they never claim to be in all the legends is perfect, nor do they claim to be unchangeable.  

As said, they even face death, which is an ultimate form of change, perhaps the most necessary kind.  

I say this because I realize I am not so different from the ancestors. While many might see my actions as progressive, or even virtuous as a vegan, as someone that strives to go fair trade with her clothing, chocolate and bananas etc. Striving isn’t good enough, is it?  

I’m writing this on a computer that was built with conflict minerals, it’s unavoidable. Most likely some ten year old child working his fingers to the bone mined the cobalt for my fancy electronics.  

Migrants denied any pathway to legal or easy immigration into this country are exploited to grow my food. Some of my clothing was most likely made in sweatshops.  

We like to think that we’ve come far as a society, and we have. We now keep our slave labor, our exploitation of others firmly out of sight while we pat ourselves on the back for wearing hemp and shopping at Whole Foods, judging those that came before us with a type of virtuous horror.  

And it’s not fair to them, and it won’t be fair to us when, five or ten generations down, they look at us as brutal savages either.  

I don’t think anything can make many of the actions of our ancestors right, or understandable, but I think to honor them properly we must look at them with honesty and as lessons of what not to do, how not to be, as much as how to be.  

I see this with the Gods too, and the chronicling of their savagery and past mistakes recorded in the mythology. Woden is not the same God that he was a thousand years ago, he has grown and changed. I am deeply convinced of this. What’s more, the culture that interpreted, or misinterpreted his actions is now gone, and we’re left with our, in some ways, more progressive time where we can forge new relationships with these High Ones.  

Nothing is static, nothing will ever be perfect, but in every era, every time, there were at least a handful, some known, some unknown, that bucked the trend, that sought to be better than the world they were raised in and went beyond what they were given.  

There were people who freed their slaves, fought for justice, or never kept another human being because it just felt wrong. There were noble warriors who never harmed a child or violated a woman in a village.  

They may have been few, they may have done their good deeds under a cloak of eternal anonymity, but we have the same choice.  

I can’t stop it all, but I can stop some. I can’t keep myself from benefiting 100% in the privileged position I exist in, but I can use that privilege to shout from the rooftops and intervene for those that have none.  

We are our deeds, in totality. Much is made of being a warrior in many modern heathen paths. Well, I feel my war is within, and against every systemic cruelty that exists in the world.  

It may be my Jörmungandr, it may be the end of me, but as long as I’m working to do better, and be better, than I feel I am honoring the Ancestors and the Gods.  

[tyrannuspitch]

been thinking about the dearth of actual movie adaptations of norse myth, which is of course partly down to the fact that what we have is fragmentary and episodic and not movie-shaped at all.

so um. here are a few preliminary thoughts on how you might be able to make it work.

focus on ragnarok, since that's where we have the most continuous/connected material, and make it a tragedy, because that's the whole point.

focus on the relationship between loki and odin, since they're going to be leading the armies at ragnarok.

make them both tragic, complex, morally grey figures, and draw out their similarities. either could be the protagonist, but let's say odin for now.

invent a little bit of backstory for how and why loki and odin became blood brothers - a connection, and either genuine personal loyalty or common cause. give us something to root for, even if it's small, and then spend the rest of the film slowly destroying it.

open by telling the audience exactly what's going to happen at ragnarok, so it can hang over the whole of the film.

take your time introducing the characters to the prophecy - maybe we start with hints or fragments, and we try not to believe them, so when odin gets the full thing it's a major plot point. and yet the distrust and decay has already set in; it's already inevitable.

finding a plot point to take us from the lead-up to ragnarok, to ragnarok itself, is going to be difficult - but maybe we don't actually need to.

the baldr's death/failed rescue/snake torture sequence could work as a climax. once everything is in place, we could end on "waiting for ragnarok" and leave it hanging.

some other thoughts:

odin sacrificing his eye and loki getting his lips sewn shut could be parallel steps towards ragnarok - odin is growing paranoid and obsessively seeks knowledge, while loki is growing bitter and vengeful.

odin imprisons loki's children (fenrir/hel/jormungandr); loki kills odin's son baldr and keeps him trapped in hel; the aesir kill loki's sons vali and narfi and imprison loki using their entrails. this could be a cycle of vengeance!

loki and odin don't actually directly kill one another at ragnarok. maybe you'd want to change this, or maybe there could be a kind of tragic disappointment in it, a sense of loss...? i burnt down the world to kill you and i didn't even get to do it myself!

(<- although i'm not sure how being blood brothers plays into that. are blood brothers allowed to kill one another? oaths in myth tend to be binding, so if that is part of it, it's possible they literally can't.)

odin built the world, and loki burnt it down. odin is a king/chief of the gods and loki, his blood brother, is an outsider and scapegoat among them. at least from loki's perspective, power and injustice will probably be central to their conflict.

odin is endlessly preparing for crisis, while loki is reckless and impulsive. but they're both willing to kill and let countless people die for them. from odin's perspective, their conflict is probably still essentially about personal survival and personal (or familial) grudges - i don't think myth!odin would necessarily see a need to justify it via a greater good, although he would probably deflect as much of the blame as possibly onto loki.

this is a fun thought experiment. i might come back to it later.

[wyntairs]

The Justice Card:

It was not by Tyr's direct FAULT by which Fenrir was bound. No, the ultimate tool behind his binding was Odins inability to accept the unknown, and an inability to accept any of the grandchildren fathered by Loki. He feared rather than encouraged their greatness. For not even Gods are forever. As we should do our UTMOST to ENABLE and ENCOURAGE the next generation, with an open mind understanding that they will soon understand the world at a greater capacity than we can ever ourselves reach.

Don't chain the future by gaslighting it either as Odin did to Fenrir when his grandchilds greatness became more than he felt he could "CONTAIN," by chaining him with "all that which does not exist."

UPRIGHT: Live Authentically, in your word, in your deeds, in your intents. Know all actions have consequences that could vastly shift the entirety of reality. TYR knew he would loose his arm after the wolf lost the will to fight anything else thrown at him for a time. Gaslit by the games of men to prove needless strength, Odin would later pay the consequences when the SELF EMPOWERED Fenrir came back to exact revenge on his abuser. Tyr is considered the God of Justice for his understanding sacrifice, at the cost of Odins fear of the unknown. Do not make others or yourself have to exact that level of consequence for your actions.

INVERSED: Even with the foretelling to Odin by the great Seeress/(Völva), there was not an exact time-line, and no injustice truly goes unpunished, even if it's the Children or Grandchildren that pay the cost. In Odins case, he and his entire family paid a high cost at Ragnarok for his Fear. Do not let yourself become corrupted by fear of the future, instead understand where you can't change fate and move on unencumbered.

[mask131]

Cold winter: Fenrir

FENRIR

Category: Norse mythology

For Magical Summer, I covered Loki. For Deadly Fall, it was Hel. Now, for Cold Winter, we’ll talk about another member of the little apocalyptic family: Fenrir, the most famous wolf of mythology.

  If we look at the Poetic Edda, we actually don’t have much info about Fenrir, who stays quite mysterious… Fenrir, the wolf, also called “the beast of slaughter”, only appears in a prophecy delivered by a völva (see my post about seidr in the Magical Sumemr series) to Odin, about the end of the world, Ragnarök. In it, it is said that Fenrir will fight with Odin, and that the wolf will win and devour the god, but in return Odin’s son, Vidarr, will plunge his sword into Fenrir’s heart, killing the beast to avenge his father’s death.

The Poetic Edda also adds a few additional details. We know who is the father of Fenrir, a certain “Hvedrungr” – and “Hvedrungr” is another name of Loki (more specifically it is the name used for Loki as the father of both Hel and Fenrir). We also know that apparently, at Ragnarök, Fenrir is destined to devour Alfrödull, the sun goddess, but that Alfrödull’s daughter will take her place as the new sun of the world. Finally the same völva who delivers the prophecy to Odin about Ragnarök also mentions that Fenrir has a “brood” raised in the east by an old woman in a forest known as “Jarnvidr” (Iron-Wood), and apparently one of these children of Fenrir will become in the future the “snatcher of the moon” (the same way his father will be the devourer of the sun), but he will do it in “monstrous form” or “in troll skin”, “in troll form”.

Most of what we actually know about Fenrir comes from the Prose Edda, which took a long time to explain everything about the wolf.

 According to the Prose Edda, Fenrir is one of the three children Loki had with Angrboda, alongside Jormungandr the snake and Hel the half-dead, and who were raised in Jötunheimr, the “land of the giants”. When the gods learned of the existence of these children, and of a prophecy according to which they would cause great troubles and disasters in the future thanks to the evil nature of their parents, they summoned the children. Odin got rid of Jormungandr by throwing it deep into the sea, and he also got rid of Hel by casting her into Niflheim (see my post about Hel in Deadly Fall) and appointing her the keeper of the dead there. But when it came to the turn of the wolf, the gods rather decided to keep him in their domain (maybe as a pet? After all, Odin had pet-wolves…), and one god named Tyr was appointed to feed the beast because he was the only one brave enough to approach the fearsome wolf. However as time went by the gods noticed that from a regular size, Fenrir kept growing and growing abnormally fast, becoming a true giant. So they decided that the beast needed to be chained to avoid the prophecy coming true.

They first prepared a bind called Leyding and tricked the wolf into being tied to it by pretending it was a game: they brought the fetter claiming they wanted Fenrir to test his strength against it, and the wolf agree because he was certain he was stronger than it. And turned out he was, snapped it right in two! The gods then created stronger bonds, a fetter named Dromi, and they again proposed a “test-your-strength game”, this time claiming that if Fenrir were to break it he would become famous for his prowess. The wolf agreed, not only because he wanted to become famous across the worlds, but also because his strength had grown since the last game – and again he broke the bindings of the gods (though not before struggling a bit first). The Aesir became fearful, as they realized they couldn’t chain up Fenrir, and so they asked for help in Svartalfaheimr, the land of the dwarfs – and the dwarves agreed to create a fetter named “Gleipnir”. A mythical and magical bond made out of the rarest ingredients in the world: the spit of a bird, the breath of a fish, the sinews of a bear, the roots of a mountain, the beard of a woman and the sounds of a cat’s steps. Gleipnir was as smooth and light as a silk ribbon, and yet was extremely strong and extremely firm – Fenrir himself wouldn’t be able to break it.

The gods met with Fenrir on the island Lyngvi, in the middle of the lake Amsvartnir, and once again they proposed a “game” – this time the gods showed Fenrir they themselves could not break him, and convinced him that if he could break Gleipnir he would become famous as the one stronger than the gods. Fenrir at first refused for two reasons. 1) The ribbon looked so slender he thought he would gain no fame from it and 2) he suspected it was made by “art and trickery” and refused to be bound in it. The gods said “What, you broke big great iron chains and you’re afraid of a little silk ribbon?”, plus added that if Fenrir couldn’t break Gleipnir, it would mean he wasn’t stronger than the gods, and that as such they would set him free. But Fenrir knew that if he couldn’t break Gleipnir the gods wouldn’t help or free him, so he asked for one of the gods to put their hands in his mouth, as a proof of “good faith” and to ensure the fairness of the deal. Only Tyr was brave and courageous enough to agree to this. So Fenrir was bound with Gleipnir, realized he couldn’t break it, and upon the gods refusing to free him he bit Tyr’s hand. The gods tied the bound Fenrir to a rock deeply anchored in the earth, and as Fenrir tried to bite them, they placed a sword in his wide-opened jaw, with the hilt on the lower part and the point on the upper. The wolf, forced to have his mouth constantly opened, howled horribly, and from his dripping saliva an entire river was made, named “Van”. And ever since this day Fenrir lies trapped, only to be set free at Ragnarök ; and Tyr the brave god is now one-handed ; and the wrist, where Tyr’s hand was cut, is now known as the “wolf-joint”.

Interestingly, the texts do wonder why the gods didn’t simply kill Fenrir – and the answer is that the gods respected their holy places and their sanctuaries too much for defiling them with blood, even if it was the blood of the one destined to kill Odin.

Finally, the Prose Edda gives its own version of Ragnarök, where it is not Fenrir who eats the sun, but rather a son of Fenrir, a wolf named Sköll who will devour the sun, while another wolf-son of Fenrir, named Hati, will swallow the moon. After that there will be a great earthquake that will snap all of the binds – including Gleipnir, setting Fenrir free. Fenrir will roam the world, with his mouth so wide his upper jaw will touch the sky and his lower jaw the ground – and flames will come out of his eyes and nostrils. He will join all the enemies of the gods, and he will fight Odin in a duel, only for Fenrir to swallow and kill Odin, before Vidarr kills the wolf in revenge. But he won’t be killed by a sword to the heart, unlike in the Poetic Edda, no… According to the Prose, Vidarr will put one of his foot on the lower jaw of the wolf, and take the upper jaw with his bare hands, and tear the wolf’s maw apart, killing the beast in the process.

- - - - - - -

Fenrir isn’t actually the only name of the beast. In the Prose Edda he is also regularly called “Fenrisulfr”, which is usually translated as “Fenris-wolf”, though another translation could be… Fenrir’s wolf, which interrogates as to what “Fenrir” designates. He is also known as “Hrodvitnir” (fame-wolf, because as we see Fenrir is a literal fame-whore), and “Vanagandr/Vanargand” (the monster of the river Van). Fascinatingly, the most common etymology for Fenrir wants it to mean “fen-dweller”.

[emeraldxphoenix]

information on my Loki and how they link into the original Norse mythology below the cut

While I mostly follow the MCU set up for Loki and Asgard, I do incorporate some elements of Norse mythology into Loki’s backstory, which will be standard unless otherwise stated:

Parentage

Very different from the mythology. Loki was rescued stolen as a child during the sacking of Jötunheim, and raised by Odin and Frigga as a prince of Asgard. Their father was Laufey, king of Jötunheim, and their birth mother remains completely unknown to them while they live on the timelines. 

In my verse associated with the Loki TV series, the god searches the timelines after his ascension and discovers that his birth mother was a witch named Fárbauti, a witch from Nornheim.

Note that the surname Loki claims as theirs varies depending on the verse and point in their life, but in all later verses they take up the name Friggason, after the only parent they respect and want to be associated with.

Sigyn

I love Sigyn far too much to leave her out of Loki’s story. Sigyn is trickster’s lover and fiancee, and mother to two of their children. When Loki is bound in the mouth of a cave under the dripping of a serpent’s venom, Sigyn faithfully stays by their side to catch the venom in a bowl so it will not harm them (as per mythology). However, (unlike mythology) Loki’s escape from their binding does not result in Ragnarok, but in the escape of the serpent, who consequently kills Sigyn. Loki blames themselves for Sigyn’s death for the rest of their life.

Children

Since Hela and Fenrir are already accounted for in the MCU, I will not be including them as Loki’s children, but I will include their four others:

Jörmungandr, the world serpent. Conceived accidentally (and not in their Asgardian form) with the giantess and witch Angrboda, Loki does their best to keep this child a secret. Only Odin knows of Jörmungandr, and he elected to banish the serpent to Midgard before he could grow large enough to be a threat. He is still alive, but Loki has no contact and rarely thinks about him.

Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse. Note that Loki is Sleipnir’s mother, not father. In order to trick a travelling builder into losing a wager, Loki shapeshifted into a mare to lure away the builder’s horse, Svadilfair, and prevent him from completing his work. As a result, Loki birthed Sleipnir, a horse with significant speed and stamina, who can cross realms with ease. Due to his usefulness and the desire to keep this story quiet, Odin takes Sleipnir as his steed. Although Sleipnir was only a dumb beast, Loki remains bitter that he was treated in this way.

Vali, Loki’s eldest twin son with Sigyn. As punishment for Loki’s misdeeds, Odin transforms Vali into a wolf. Although the spell was intended to be for a short time only, the punishment backfires when Vali in wolf form kills his brother. Vali then continues to attack other Asgardians, and is killed as a consequence. Loki stole the body away to put to rest in private, fearing Vali would not be permitted a normal Asgardian funeral. Loki never forgave Odin for his part in this.

Narfi, Loki’s youngest twin son with Sigyn. Narfi was killed by his brother, Vali, after Odin turned him into a wolf. Loki stole the body away to put to rest in private, fearing Narfi would not be permitted a normal Asgardian funeral. Loki never forgave Odin for his part in this.

[butchviking]

your handle is butchviking but I never see you vikingposting anymore hmmmmm. fake. the people need to know what your favorite norse myth shit is.

ohhhh my god ok woagh. its definitely something about loki because surprise surprise i am obsessed with the morally grey genderbendy little trickster dude. this is crazy though why are ppl always trying 2 make me pick favourite things do people really have favourite things? i have so much i love and could never choose between.....

god. idk. i love the lokasenna even though it breaks my heart - 'remember when in ancient days we mixed our blood together, and swore we would not drink ale at any table unless it was offered to both?' and then you make his children rip each other apart in front of him and their innocent mother and bind him in their innards. i love the tale of ivaldis sons and oh my god that is SUCH a transformtive moment for loki's character - that, and the binding of fenrir, are truly the two events that set ragnarök in stone, i believe. what starts as a stupid little prank, cutting off sif's hair - mean, yes, but hardly evil - and then loki does a little bit of trickery, replaces her hair with fine gold AND brings many beautiful gifts for the gods - and what does he get for his trouble? everyone is willing to let him die. and when he once again wriggles out of it with a silly little trick of words, everyone is more than happy to stand by and laugh and mock while his mouth is sewn shut. the ending of that story is dark as hell i really do believe that changed things forever i don't think he ever forgot or ever forgave and i think that's the moment he realised these people were not his friends at all. ggrargh there's any number of things i could pick. for right now, if i had to pick just one line, one moment, i'd choose this - after baldr's death, when the deal is struck with hel that she will release him back to the living if everything in the realms will weep for him. the thought of the aesir's messengers spreading out on their journey, asking every flower and creature, every ant every lion every gazelle to please, mourn for him, it's their only hope.. and i always pictured frigg setting out on that journey too, & of those she encountered i wonder how many of them wept for him, and how many wept for her instead. and then she encounters thökk, one stubborn old giantess in a cave, the one being in existence who says "why should i weep for him? i never knew him. i never loved him." if i were 2 pick one line in the whole mythos, it would be "let hel hold what she has." i always wanted that on my gravestone. nd by the way i do NOT believe thökk was loki actually. i know thats what everyone assumes, but why? is it so hard to believe no-one else would ever refuse? whoever she was, she was right. let hel hold what she has. whats dead should stay dead. we can only go forward we can never go back.

[ivaldisonsforge]

Fenrir pendant

Fenrir (Fenrir, Fenrisúlfr, Hróðvitnir) is a huge wolf in Norse mythology, the son of Loki and Angrboda.

The enemy of the gods, Fenrir (the Terrible Wolf) was the second of Loki's children. Initially the gods did not consider him dangerous enough and allowed him to live in Asgard. The wolf grew up among the Aesir and became so great and terrible that only Tyr, the god of military courage, dared to feed him. To protect themselves, the Aesir decided to chain Fenrir, but the mighty wolf easily tore the strongest chains (Leding and Drommy). In the end, the Aesir cunningly still managed to bind Fenrir with the magic chain Gleipnir, which the dwarves made from the noise of cats' footsteps, a woman's beard, mountain roots, bear veins (in ancient times tendons were attributed the properties of nerves), fish breath and bird saliva. All this is no longer in the world. Gleipnir was as thin and soft as silk. But in order for the wolf to allow this chain to be put on him, Thur had to put his hand in his mouth as a sign of his lack of evil intentions. When Fenrir could not free himself, he bit off Tyr's hand. The Ases chained Fenrir to a rock deep underground and thrust a sword between his jaws.

[sigynfoxysworld]

🦊 Sigyn info 🥣

►Backstory:

Sigyn, the lesser-known daughter of Freya, bore the unique lineage of being born from the union of her mother and the skilled dwarf blacksmith, Ivaldi. In her early years, Sigyn lived among the dwarfs underground, only to later find herself relocating to Vanaheim, where she resided with her maternal kin.

Once there she was taught a important lesson: to never reveal the identity of her father. This really did make her wonder why growing up..

In the gorgeous surroundings of Vanaheim, Sigyn led a life of ease, receiving abundant assistance even for the simplest tasks, like dressing herself. Her daily existence was always controlled by her mother, who primarily instructed her in the use of her healing magic. However, an unexpected twist came about when, upon reaching a certain age, Sigyn and her sisters were abruptly relocated to Asgard.

Within this new world, the realm of Asgard, Sigyn came under the guidance of Frigg, who took it upon herself to teach Sigyn the art of combat and an expanded that of her spells. As the sands of time flowed, Sigyn's reputation grew, and she gradually forged a name for herself as the goddess of victory, perhaps even having assumed the role of a Valkyrie at one point.

But then, the arrival of Loki came into Sigyn's life, altering her destiny entirely and putting the life she knew upside down.

Her journey took an unforeseen turn as she soon became entwined with Loki, ultimately ending in marriage. Adding another layer to her complex story, Sigyn also found herself drawn to Loki's partner, Angrboda. However, these unions did not find favor with her mother, Freya, yet Sigyn remained detrimend in her decisions.

Ultimately, Sigyn made the difficult choice of severing ties with her familial connections, electing to live her life alongside Loki and their growing brood of children. From there she never looked back!

► Basics:

Full Name: Sigyn Freyadottir

Nicknames: Sig, Siggy, Siggy-Piggy, Meinsvarra.

Age: 3600 years (36 in mortal years)

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual and Demi-sexual

Species: Vanir (half-dwarf) 

Place of Birth: Vanaheim

Current residents: Asgard

Status: Aesir (asynjur)

► physical appearance:

Race: Caucasian (Scandinavian)

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Strawberry Blonde

Height: 1'59

► Famliy and freinds:

Freya (mother) Ivaldi (father)

Sons of ivaldi (brothers)

Hnoss, Gersemi, Syn, Lofn, Idunn, Var and Snotra (sisters)

Loki (Husband/Wife) Angrboda † (Ex wife)

Hel, Heldril, Moder (Daugthers)

Sleipnir, Fenrir , Jormungandr, Narvi & Vali (Sons) 

Freyr (Uncle)

Fjolnir (cousin)

Njord (grandfather)

► personality:

🟢 Positive Traits:

calm-patient-empathetic-determined-loyal

🔴 Negative Traits:

stubborn-very naive-forgetful-uses too much fake posetivity

► Other:

Hobbies: reading and studying, being outside, taking care of her famliy, being a housewife (keeping things in order at home)

►Abilitys:

Super strength, basic knowlage of self defense, healing, binding magic.