#trickster
Hermes is one of my favorite gods, as I’m a world traveler, and he’s the patron god of Travelers. I think he embodies the joyful, serendipitous nature of wandering and discovery in a new land.
Hermes, God of diplomacy, commerce, travelers and trade. He was the only one with the power to enter the underworld. Initially he was portrayed as middle aged with dark beard and long locks, but later he was portrayed as a beardless youth, which is what i went for. He created the first musical instruments, the LYRE and FLUTE, and, interestingly, was the father of Goat legged PAN. He also invented the alphabet and numbers. He was also the god of sleep, and could put mortals to sleep or wake them up with his wand.
The son of a celestial goddess Pleiad, he has connections to astronomy, (as can be seen in the constellations above), and astrology, (as can be seen in the zodiac signs surrounding his herald’s wand). As a psychopomp, he is tasked with leading dead spirits to the underworld, making him a true ally to humankind. His golden wing-tipped helmet and sandals, fashioned by Hephaestus the weaponsmith god, allow speedy travel on his errands. On the earth below are stone landscape markers, called Herma.
#timelapse for this bad dude. Swipe for his hand without effects and some other close ups. #demonfaun #faun #monstercharacterdesignseries #trickster (at Sant Cugat del Vallès)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYDq1-hlNA/?igshid=1wsugzos03tvi
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Community Altar for June 2018: Loki, the Father
Since June is the month we celebrate Father’s Day here in the US, this month’s community altar celebrates Loki in his role of Father.
If you’ve read the myths, you know that Loki has children. Many children. He is also portrayed as a protector of children, especially in the Loka Táttur. This delightful Tumblr post explores Loki’s affection for children of all kinds, whether or not they are directly his.
The children pictured above:
Sleipnir: the child of Loki’s dalliance with Svadilfari, the stallion. (Technically, Loki is Sleipnir’s mother, but this is also Pride month, so let’s celebrate gender fluidity as well!)
Jormundgand, Hel, and Fenris, children from his marriage to Angrboda. Angrboda is in the background.
Einmyria and Eisa, daughters from his marriage to Glut.
Narvi and Vali, sons from his marriage to Sigyn.Loki had no real relationship with Farbauti, his biological father, for reasons not explained in the myths. Surt, the ruler of Muspelheim, gave shelter to Laufey, Loki’s mother, and she gave birth to Loki in Muspelheim, and Surt was his foster-father for many years. This would partly explain Loki’s devotion to his own children—both that he would want to do right by them and that he would follow Surt’s example, and also to try to make up for the lack of parenting from his own father. This is a common pattern; my grandfather was estranged from his family, so my father grew up without his own father, and it made him highly conscious of being present for us and trying to be the best parent he could, to make sure we did not experience the loss he did as a child.
While it’s easy to think of Loki only as a Trickster, and to call on him when we need cleverness to get out of a tight spot, or eloquence to make a good impression, we can call on him as a Father figure to fill those emotional needs, just as we can call on any of the fathers in myth.
Hail, Loki!
Father of beloved children,
Father of deep magic,
Father of difficult truths,
Father of sweetest lies.Hail, Loki, and hail the fathers!
Fathers of blood,
Fathers of affinity,
Fathers of choice,
Help me to properly honor the fathers in my life.Hail, Loki!
Son of absent Farbauti,
Missing a father you did not know,
Help me to heal my own hurts
With the fathers in my life.Hail, Loki!
Foster-son of Surt,
Wild fire youth, learning wisdom and wiles,
Help me to learn wisely and well
From the fathers in my life.Hail, Loki!
Loving father of magical children,
Adoring, proud, gentle, and strong,
Help me to feel such love for myself
When I am small and tired.Hail, Loki!
Father and friend,
Wild and wise,
Provocateur and healer,
Help me to properly honor the fathers in my life.“Sure,” I hear you say, “that’s great if you had a good dad. But my dad was absent/terrible/abusive, and I don’t want to honor him.” You do not have to honor someone who has done you such harm. In such a case, focus your energies on healing yourself, and letting go of the toxic emotions connecting you to that person and that relationship.
You can instead choose to honor other kinds of fathers in your life: an uncle, a mentor, a teacher, a writer or artist whose work inspires you—anyone who fills a fatherly role, however small, can be honored for their positive influence in your life.
Image Credits
Top image: “Kissed by Fire”, Paige Carpenter. The piece is not currently on her site, so you can see a larger version of the artwork here.
Children images, left to right:
Sleipnir image: Icelandic rock carving
“Loki’s Brood” by Emil Doepler, 1905, featuring Jormundgand, Hela, and Fenris. Angrboda is seated in the cave at the far back of the painting.
“Brown and Red Hair Sisters”, Claudia Tremblay
“Two Boys, an Illustration for ‘Daisy’ by Hans Christian Andersen”, Illustrated London News, Volume XLIII, December 19, 1863
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Lecture \ Yale University \ Tomorrow 6:30 EST \ Registration link in bio \ Trickster is excited about the Ivy League gig! #architecture #lecture #yale #indigenousarchitecture #bipoc #archdaily #archilovers #installation #trickster #cornelius (at Yale School of Architecture)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLaNYzcsovG/?igshid=1gt512mmuxbar
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Everyone has a Trickster moment. // Zoom in // #architecture #installation #art #trickster #berniesanders #indigenousarchitecture #cornelius #instaart #instaarch #sculpture #architectureporn #thearchiologist #soarch #critday #superarchitects #archdaily #architects_need #visualarts
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUicyUsKFy/?igshid=mx33jy31qnag
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After ~2.5 years, I finally got my tablet working again. I had forgotten how smooooth it was to draw with one. Doodled some tricksters while chattin’ on the phone with lovely A.R.
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