Lea Svendsen - Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

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Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods 2022 by Lea Svendsen.

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First e-book edition 2022

E-book ISBN: 9780738769318

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

Cover illustration by Helena Rosov

Interior art by Llewellyn Art Department

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Pending)

ISBN: 978-0-7387-6931-8

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Dedication

For my champion and hero, Mom,
who raised me with all of the love and magic of folklore.

And for Steve, who exemplifies the best that Christianity has to offer, but still loves his crazy heathen daughter anyway.

In Memoriam

Frank N. Svendsen

19192004

Thank you, Grandpa, for keeping the gods
close to us and us close to the gods.

Contents

by Mortellus

: The Story Behind These Stories

: Loki and Sigyn in the Lore

: Loki and Sigyn in American Heathenry

: Living Heathen

: Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on the Syllabus

: Attributes for Devotional Practice

: Rituals and Celebrations

: Lokaor (Final Thoughts, or Lokis Words)

Acknowledgements

Kevin, stin mn : This book is your fault. If you hadnt launched into an impromptu lecture about the etymology of Sigyn and why it isnt Victory Woman, I wouldnt have reflected on why a devotional like this was needed. Your insights (and the help you gave translating obscure old Icelandic texts) have been invaluable and have deepened my own relationship with Loki and Sigyn. Im glad this project deepened our relationship, too. Thanks again for wading through five-page-long footnotes for Lokis sake (and for mine).

Erika, who likes tacos: ECT 18 changed my life forever what with being hit with one impossible miracle after another. One of those miracles was you. There she is, Loki whispered. Shes the one you need to talk to. I felt horribly awkward approaching you to babble thanks for the work you did with Lokis v, but if I hadnt been nudged to introduce myself, where would I be now? Ill tell you where: adrift and lost without my Star Dust Twin/Soul Sibling/Sister Wife/Whatever Weve Decided We Are. I just know my life is better with you in it. Thank you for contributing to this book for our boy. Go get you some tacos.

Mortellus: This book wouldnt be possible without you. I still cackle at the way we met mere hours after I declared my intention to write a devotional for Loki and Sigyn. Its like they said, Finally! Lets make the magic happen! And they did. They did this by bringing this Gardnerian Wiccan into my life, but Mortellus, you brought the magic. For that, I couldnt be more grateful! Its an honor to know you and call you my friend, Grammatically Precise Witch of the Morrigan.

Glitnir: I cant possibly tell you how much each of you mean to me. Its because of you that I met the rest of the NEHC, and its because of you that Ive been able to thrive. Im humbled and thrilled to be counted among you, and so proud to call you my kin. In spirit of our motto, Immolation is the sincerest form of flattery, I burn with love for each and every one of you!

Mom and Steve: I dont know how you put up with me and my constant nonsense. Weird journey doesnt come close to describing what Ive put you two through. As many twists and turns as my life has taken, Im thankful that youve both supported me every step of the way. Heres to the next adventure!

Northeast Heathen Community: I still cant believe Im lucky enough to be counted among such an incredible community of amazing people. My life is exponentially better because of the knowledge, humor, and friendship we all share. Im humbled by your support. Thank you for letting me be part of something so special. That goes double for my beloved Matt and Annie: I love you two always and forever.

And to my beloved Sigyn and Loki: Sigyn, despite your quiet nature youre certainly a powerhouse who isnt to be ignored. Thank you for teaching me how to bite, and to bite hard. And you . Truth-Forcer, World-Breaker. My world has certainly been broken, time and again. My body has been broken, and my heart has been broken. But thanks to you, my spirit has never broken. You have never left my side. While the course of my life has been chaotic and at times overwhelming, its with the greatest pride and gratitude that I start this devotional with a gleeful HAIL LOKI!

Foreword

I t was 2019 and I was in the throes of writing Do I Have To Wear Black? Rituals, Customs & Funerary Etiquette for Modern Pagans, and I was desperately looking for a Heathen as passionate about death as I am to pepper with questions. A mutual friend had introduced us, knowing that Lea was also a mortician, and I suppose the rest is history, but her style, writing, and love for the gods to whom she is devoted impressed me so very much. We were fast friends, and ultimately, I came to rely on her for feedback, content, and camaraderie during that projectand it most assuredly would not be the book it is today without her involvement. All that aside, I could not possibly have anticipated the strangeness and magic that Lea would bring into my life. Loki, it seems, delights in seeking out anyone close to her and making himself known. My best example of this is the time Loki decided to ask me to buy her a wedding ring.