Offerings to Loki

by Del Tashlin

LokiOld20

 

Loki isn't a very picky God, so any offering made with a clean heart and sincere devotion is never rejected. However, He does have favorite things, as I have learned from talking to many of His devotees.

Alcohol: As it is traditional in Norse rites to drink and libate alcoholic beverages in the name of our Gods, alcohol is a pretty typical offering to make. From my experience, He tends to like bad Whiskey (especially a brand named “Old Granddad” - I do not kid), cinnamon-flavored or other spicy liqueurs, spicy rums, or mulled wine. Mead is also traditional, but sometimes He can get bored with it, since so many offer it to Him. He's never above a good beer, although I'd suggest staying away from the really light ales; I'd stick to heartier brews, and especially autumn-themed or flavored beers, like pumpkin ale. (And although He's usually cool with cheaper things, when it comes to beer, I find He gets angry when offered Keystone, PBR, Corona, and the like. Chip out a few extra bucks if you're going this route.)

Foods: Loki likes sweet foods, sometimes bordering on sickeningly sweet. Candy (Atomic Fireballs, Pez, Pixie Sticks, etc), cookies/pastries, caramel apples. Speaking of apples, He also seems to like red foods, like Red Velvet Cake. He also likes things with a lot of pepper-spice, or even just the peppers themselves; habeneros seem to be a favorite.

Objects: Loki has a love for cheap plastic toys, so every once in a while I'll get a Kids Meal at a local fast food joint and leave the toy on His altar. One of his sons had a love of the sea, so toy boats are particularly appreciated. He will bless your knives, but be careful, as they will seem blunt one moment and then razor sharp the next. And honestly, I think He loves found objects the best – something you stumble upon that just makes you think of Him in one way or another, be it a rock, a leaf, something from the dollar store, whatever. Unlike most Gods, He does not find inexpensive offerings insulting – in fact, I think He loves them all the more.

Incenses/Smells: I always think of Loki when I smell cinnamon, mulled wine, Dragon's Blood, Cotton Candy, or peaty whiskey. He seems to enjoy these scents best, but really anything that is strong but not overwhelming, alluring and androgynous (stay away from femme-y perfumes or super masculine colognes).

Acts of Service: Loki is particularly happy when you do work with children, especially those who have been through a disaster, are disfigured, or orphaned. He is also pleased when His devotees speak up and tell the truth when everyone else in the situation is avoiding it for whatever reason. He smiles upon work with the mentally ill, especially those who suffer because of trauma (PTSD, for example). Donating to causes that look after those society tries to hide or forget, like the homeless, addicts, veterans, the elderly – He is happy when someone remembers their suffering and does something to ease it, even if it's only giving a dollar to that beggar on the subway or spending one afternoon a year performing at the local retirement home. Loki especially appreciates those who emotionally support those who are reviled or outcast because they live in truth, whether it be about their religion, their sexual orientation/gender identity, their choice of career, or whatever else that sings in their heart.

It should be noted, though, that working with Loki for any period of time, will bring to light the truths you, yourself are not living. If you are hiding from something in your life, whether it be your true vocational calling, or where you really wish you could live, or the fact that your relationship was over three years ago, He will find those things and, in some cases, force you to confront them. He does not suffer well those who live in secret or denial, and you will find that attempts to do something other than your personal Truth, whatever that may be, will keep failing over and over again until you accept that Truth. If you find yourself in one lousy relationship after another, or thankless job after thankless job, Loki will help you figure out what Truth you're hiding from – sometimes in fairly spectacular and/or life-wrecking ways – and rub your nose in it until you accept whatever it may be.

I also find that doing deep work with Loki tends to put you in situations where you must be the Speaker of Hard Truths – it's something I've experienced myself, and other Lokeans I've spoken to as well. Whether it's a friend who needs to be told to stop dating “bad boys” if they want marriage and kids, or an organization that desperately needs someone to stand up and declare that it is no longer viable, or a group of people who are being racist/classist/genderist or prejudiced in some way, you may find yourself in the position of having to be the one who calls them out. Sometimes you can avoid it, but you will find yourself in conversation after conversation where your head will be ringing with that Hard Truth, until it gets too loud to ignore.

Finally, Lokeans are practically forbidden from taking themselves too seriously. If you can't laugh at yourself when you try to turn a public stumble into an awesome dance move, or when someone on the bus points out your pantyhose are dragging along because you forgot to put the other leg on, then you should probably find a different God to hail. Life is full of odd little moments, and sometimes what is really needed is a good, long, hard, laugh at the confoundedness of it all. In fact, one of the sacred roles of Tricksters in general is to break tension; to let out the well timed fart during the moment of silence that goes on for just a little too long.