Campfire Friday, how do you honor gods of oathbreaking? ?

Question

i.e. Loki

Answer 1

answer: I thought you were going to say Odin as an oathbreaker (like another answer here) and was about to get grrrr. LOL.  Odin doesn't break oaths, he holds to higher oaths to protect the gods and the realms.  He chooses warriors, makes an oath to watch over them and he does, until he's ready for them to join him in Valhalla - at their prime. That means he helps ensure their early death.  Not quite a breaking of an oath but it didn't endear him to the common man either.

As for Loki - I've given thanks to him for some kicks in the tail that got my creative streak going but not in a blot or sumble honoring the other deities and I wouldn't.  

The gods may decide to have Loki at gatherings or to hang with him - I think it's chancy for humans to do so. Sometimes you don't mix fire and water.

Answer 2

Some heathen groups are more welcoming to Loki than others, in the ones that are less welcoming, during  the ritual toast (Sumbel), If someone raises a horn to Odin (who, I might add, also broke a few oaths) then I might be inclined to offer a toast to "Son of Laufey" or other kenning that may be considered less offensive, than out & out drinking to Loki.   Otherwise I would probably spill when serving (we  always called spilled liquor "Loki's share")

As for myself when  honoring Loki,  My answer is mischievious acts, usually within the realm of the law, and with great frequency.

Edited to add:

As for Loki's godhood... there is no evidence to support he had any following in ancient times, but as a "character" in the lore, I consider him  an "ancestor" as I do all of the gods...I can't help it if he is the one who comes when I call.

As for Odin being an oathbreaker (mead of poetry)

Havamal stanza 110 Hollander translation

An oath on the ring did Othin swear;

how put trust in his troth?

Suttung he swindled and snatched his drink,

and Gunnloth he beguiled.

Patrica Terry translation:

Odin didn't honour the oath on the ring-

    what good is any pledge he gives?

    Suttung died of a poisoned drink,

    and Gunnlod grieves.

And I believe there was troth broken in the completion of the wall around Asgard, although I am short of time & memory as to a citation.  Even if these acts were for the good of mankind, they were still  broken oaths none the less.  That Odin is a sly one.

Answer 3

the Atheati takes care of oathbreakers ;)

Answer 4

I wouldn't.

I suppose that's crappy sounding, but I wouldn't.

Answer 5

Loki was not a god.  Though he is honored today by miscreants, degenerates, and mentally unstable, social rebels.

In fact, there is much argument as to whether Loki is anything more than a literary creation.

Answer 6

Hope you don't mind if I post a question to you Tahuti, but it's been a while since I've been on the R&S and I know your a fellow Steeler fan. I was wondering what you think this year holds for our men-of-steel?

Oh, and I know it was a pre-season game, but how about that win last week? Not bad huh?

Thanks!

Elder Greg

(((SFCU)))

Answer 7

Well first you would have show my suitable evidence that Loki was EVER considered a god before 1970. As the South says "Just because a cat has kittens in the oven, that don't make them biscuits."

So just because Loki hung out with gods, doesn't make him one.

Odin "broke" (I use the term loosely as I will demonstate) a few oaths and we get a long all right. Odin is crafty, sly and bloody brilliant. If one examines most of his actions he never out right breaks the oath. He's just that smart. LOL Sorry I can't but like the Terrible One. No matter how much I don't wish to be impressed, I just am. I don't trust him, but I like him.

Answer 8

We don't.  Oaths are very serious business in our tradition and honoring a god that would break an oath is the equivalent to saying it's ok to break an oath - when it isn't.

Answer 9

First off, there are no gods of oathbreaking.  But in terms of Loki, since Odin swore an oath of blood brotherhood, and that he would never drink unless a horn was also in Loki's hands, you can get away with it.  Sometimes, when an toast is offered to Odin, someone would go and do a small libation to Loki.

But if you are taking part in a group of heathens, be mindful a lot of them may not appreciate your toast.  And there is a trend of people toasting and honoring Fenrir, and Angrboda, and a mirad of other Jotuns and gods of Chaos and destruction in Asatru.  You'd quite possibly get your *** kicked in if you do that....