Living Myth 2

Recommended Reading…

Anything by Jan Fries. Everything by Jan Fries. I say Jan Fries is required reading for Chaos Heathenism.

Raven Kaldera, Northern Tradition Shamanism Series. When I read Raven Kaldera, I definitely feel the Gods reading over my shoulders.

Galina Krasskova, Feeding the Flame: A Devotional to Loki and His Family. I could never call myself a Lokean. Because Lokean just sounds too silly. I’m a LOKO! Savvy? Other than that, I love this book.

Hail Chaos! Viva Loki! Aum Wotan!

Lois Tilton, Written in Venom The Norse myths retold from Loki’s point of view. Didn’t ring true, but totally worth it for the entertainment value.

Diana L. Paxson, Brisingamen. Definitely did ring true. Not surprising when you consider the source. I have more of Diana’s books on the way.

Brian Bates The Way of Wyrd. A novel that paints Anglo-Saxon sorcery as heavily shamanic and Wyrd as a concept similar to Tao, Dharma and Logos.

Mark Mirabello The Odin Brotherhood This one, I absolutely love. But rather than attempting to give you a bunch of reasons why, I’ve transcribed a few pages that you may judge for yourself.

AUTHOR: Let us return to your gods. Tell me, why single out these Eddaic deities from the countless gods that you say exist?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: To answer that question, I must tell you the story of a young sage named “Innocent-of-Conviction.”

AUTHOR: Very well.

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: According to an ancient legend, “Innocent-of-Conviction” decided to test the gods to determine which deities deserved the highest honor.

AUTHOR: And how did the sage test the gods?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: By being rude to them.

AUTHOR: Rude?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Yes, “Innocent-of-Conviction” decided to test the gods by uttering familiar blasphemies.

AUTHOR: An interesting idea.

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Indeed it was. Well, to relate the story, first the sage approached the deity we call “The-Adversary-of-All-Other-Gods.” A jealous god, he claims he alone is divine.

AUTHOR: And how did the sage insult this god?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: The sage called him a cruel and ill-tempered desert despot.

AUTHOR: And what happened?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: The deity so addressed erupted into a gruesome display of wrath and anger, and he bullied “Innocent-of-Conviction” into silence.

AUTHOR: The sage was not very brave.

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: He was not yet an Odinist.

AUTHOR: Please continue your story.

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Next the sage approached a second deity-the one we call “The-God-Who-Fears-Oblivion-And-Neglect.” Pale and dwarfish, he is the god who wants all men to know him and to love him.

AUTHOR: And how did “Innocent-of-Conviction” insult this second god?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: The sage made a reference to the second god’s past.

AUTHOR: What did the sage say?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: “Innocent-of-Conviction” said that any entity who had been born in an animal shed did not smell like a god.

AUTHOR: And how did the second deity react?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: The second deity was displeased and hurt. He lectured the sage-he reprimanded the sage with condescending words-and he concluded his remarks with these words.

You are forgiven. Go, my child, and sin no more!

AUTHOR: This sounds familiar.

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Some deities treat men as children

AUTHOR: Please continue your story.

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Well, finally the sage sought out the race of lords we call the Eddaic gods. In a remote mountain citadel, he found them indulging in a feast of pork and wine.

AUTHOR: And how did “Innocent-of-Conviction” insult these Eddaic gods?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Using a brazen voice, the sage denounced them as false gods who satisfied lusts and procreated monsters.

AUTHOR: And how did the Eddaic gods respond?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: At first there was a moment of silence (the gods were unaccustomed to such bold impieties), but eventually one of the revelers spoke:

Stranger, said the god, I give you this warning: if I draw my sword, it will not be sheathed again until it has your blood on it.

AUTHOR: And what did the sage say?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: After a brief pause, he intuited the necessary wisdom. He spoke these words:

Friend, replied the sage, I have found courage, and a brave man does not fear the wrath of the gods.

AUTHOR: And was he punished for his hubris?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: No. To the contrary, the audacity of the sage pleased the Eddaic gods, and all the revelers laughed.

AUTHOR: They laughed?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Yes. And the Eddaic gods invited “Innocent-of-Conviction” to join their feast, for they admired any man who dared to confront power. Such a man, they declared, was a natural confederate of gods.

AUTHOR: And so the sage had found his answer?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Indeed. And he had made a discovery as well.

AUTHOR: What discovery?

THE ODIN BROTHERHOOD: Beware of gods who cannot laugh.

Clint