Fall                                                                    Samhain Moon

Loki immersion continues.  I only have Loki in Scandinavian Mythology for three more days so I’ve given it priority in my day.  The book sucks me into matters not relevant to my purpose in reading it.

As folklore scholarship, it intrigues me; especially since I see an exact correlation between the higher criticism of the bible I learned in seminary and the folklore study methodology:  textual criticism, tradition criticism, sitz im leben (what role did the story play in its place of origin), redaction criticism (how have editors and/or compilers influenced the text) and work with the original languages.

(Baldrs-death-killed-by-Hod-helped-Loki)

So, instead of following themes that help me flesh out Loki as a chief character for Loki’s Children, I get seduced by the influence of Orphic tales on the Baldr Myth.  Having a limited time to work with the book helps, it has to go back to the University of Minnesota this Friday, no renewal.  Even so.

Overall though the book has been even more helpful than I imagined.  It was the only text solely to focus on Loki that I could find, the only academic text.  It has made forming a picture of Loki, his skills and his character and his backstory, much easier.