Book Review: Loki and Sigyn

Lea Svendsen, Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter, & Loyalty from the Norse Gods. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2022. ISBN: 9780738769318.

Genre: Norse heathen

Subgenre: religion studies, pagan, mythology

Format: e-book galley

Source: Netgalley

 

This book takes a look at Loki and his at times contentious presence in the Norse heathen community. In heathen circles, the trickster god was often best avoided, his name not even spoken. His spouse, Sigyn, goddess of loyalty and compassion, is even more neglected than Loki. The author strives to give a broader picture of Loki and his spouse and to at least get reader to reconsider Loki's place and role not just as a trickster but also as a good husband and a problem solver. 

The book features a foreword, an introduction, seven chapters, a list for further reading, a glossary, and a bibliography. 

The book has strengths and weaknesses. Let's start with the weaknesses. Some of the history on heathenism and the various spats and feuds over Loki and other issues were just not that interesting, especially to an outsider. It's not quite like airing dirty laundry, but it got close at times. I just wanted to learn more about Loki and Sigyn and could not care less about the in group gossip and politics. 

In addition, if you are expecting a collection of tales of Loki and Sigyn, this is not really the book for that. The stories are often very condensed with a lot more author commentary and interpretation. The commentary can go from serious to snarky in a hurry. Also, the book goes back and forth from academic to informal. For example, some of the linguistics material may be a bit too esoteric for some readers. I will note I've studied linguistics as part of my graduate work. Not a field I find exciting, so the linguistics stuff here was material I dragged myself through to get to the better parts of the book. 

Once you get past the first two chapters, the book starts getting interesting as we gt to focus more on Loki and Sigyn. Later in the book we learn some basics of heathenism and how Loki and Sigyn fit into that pantheon. We also get some lessons these deities offer. Later on we get to practical things such as setting an altar and examples of devotional practices readers can consider and try out. 

The further reading list offers five books to explore including editions of the Norse tales and the Edda. If you are curious like me and want to learn more, this list can be a good starting place. You may also want to check the bibliography for additional reading. 

One thing that comes across strongly is the author's passion and commitment to Loki and Sigyn. Her devotion is strong; she is clearly knowledgeable, and thus she is a good guide for the topic. I feel I got learn more about Loki and Sigyn as well as a bit about other Norse gods and the folks devoted to them. Despite some initial issues, most of the book is accessible.

Overall, I liked the this book. This may be a good option for libraries, especially if they collect Norse heathenry and mythology materials as well as pagan materials in general. There are not many books on this topic, so it does fill a gap. I'd consider adding it to our library collection. In the end, I am glad I read it and got to learn more. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

 

On Scandinavia mythology: 

"Scandinavian mythology is not a guide for morality in the way of Abrahamic lore. The God of the latter is an omniscient, omnipotent force of great, infallible power, and his word is law. The gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon are flawed beings, every last one of them, and they endure harships and trials and the threat of mortality. As such, their stories are just that: stories. The Eddas aren't a blueprint for how to love a god-honoring life. That's actually a relief when it comes down to it, because there is quite a lot of events and relationships that probably shouldn't be emulated in modern human society" (10).

To be honest, Abrahamic lore is not really a guide for morality either, and it is also full of events and relationships that definitely should not be emulated in modern society. But that is a separate story. 

On lessons and being careful with knowledge: 

"Ultimately, if we try to avoid a certain outcome, we may well be setting into motion the very chain of events that will ensure the unwanted conclusion. Be careful with the knowledge you receive and try not to upset the order of nature" (28). 

On the mostly closed nature of heathen communities: 

"I am not alone in that regard: heathen communities as a whole were vaguely intimidating for newcomers to approach. Our communities tend to consist of lots of tight-knit spiritual families, and regional gatherings are more of a 'family reunion' than the typical public convention" (55). 

To be honest, many pagan groups can feel that way. For me that is another reason I follow a solitary path. 

On dealing with your baggage: 

"Baggage is baggage, and somewhere along the line we've all got to take stock of what we're carrying and discard the old clothes for new as we grow and our needs and styles change" (56). 

For me, that is very much a work in progress. 

The author's take on Loki: 

"So when I regard the lore, my take on Loki is that he's the opposite of abusive--- he owns up to his behavior and does what must to resolve matters and offer restitution to those he's wronged. He's not a patron of the damaged, he's a patron of personal accountability. He doesn't abide by people sowing discord and conflict without reason. The chaos he brings is the sort that paves the way for better things. The worlds he breaks aren't utopias, they're built on the lies and conveniences with which we've grown complacent, urging us to face the truth and fix things. He wants us to do better so we can be better. But of course, your response to the Loki myths will vary depending on your own background. It's all a matter of perception, especially with the things lost in translation from the original tellings and languages and cultural relevance over the centuries" (59). 

The LGBTQ+ community roles in Loki progress: 

"We owe, in no small part, some of this progress to the LGBTQ+ community. Pagans and new heathens who identified as trans or bi or otherwise queer were drawn to Loki in growing numbers. He was the shapeshifter who blurred the lines of binary gender. He was the Jotun trying to adapt to the Aesir community. He was an outcast, and his experience as the shunned and ignored made him a beacon of compassion and understanding for those rejected by their own families and their own social networks" (61-62). 

In a way, that reminded me a bit Santa Muerte, who also often draws outcasts including the LGBTQ+ to her. However, Santa Muerte also shows that strong impartiality. 

 

 

This book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenges: