It's time to move on

[Sakura Blossom]

Alright, I know I've posted this before, but... I've reached a new level, and it's time to move forward. I've reached the point where I feel comfortable enough to start reading more about Loki, though I've already read quite a bit and am familiar with myths about him. Of course, with my memory not being great (we actually JUST tested this with neuropsych and I have problems storing information) I obviously can't remember everything, but Loki Himself told me He understood and didn't mind.

Thanks to Loona, I saw I'm already doing a lot of the stuff that she listed. (: Which makes me happy! I thought I was missing a lot! I'm going to try doing some art, though, to represent him. I was told once in a reading, he really would like it because another good offering for him would be doing something that takes skill, and that the offering would be my fulfillment and joy over completing the task and the knowledge I've received.

So! I'd really like to hear YOUR personal experiences, to get some ideas of what YOU do. I know it's different depending on who you work with, HOWEVER, if something speaks to me, it'd be nice to know and see if I can incorporate certain things within my practice. (:

And some other areas I'd love to look into, are more plant work and herbal work, aromatherapy once more, and some energy work with healing. I do some of these already, but my knowledge is very basic.

Thank you! (:

[Nightwatcher]

I'm going to sound very silly and ask; do what? I'm still new so I'm not sure what next step you're about to take (though it sounds very exciting and important). Could you explain if you don't mind?

[Sakura Blossom]

I'm going to sound very silly and ask; do what? I'm still new so I'm not sure what next step you're about to take (though it sounds very exciting and important). Could you explain if you don't mind?

Haha, I don't mind. (: I'm honestly not entirely sure what the next step will be, but for sure dedication to the God that I work with. More so saying that I am going to dedicate myself to this path, and I am going to work with it and work with Him daily. (: As for the rest... That's what I'm not entirely sure of. Haha!

[Nightwatcher]

OH! Thank you very much for explaining. Haha, sorry for my ignorance. ^//^;

[Sakura Blossom]

OH! Thank you very much for explaining. Haha, sorry for my ignorance. ^//^;

No problem. (: And it's alright! You're here to learn. (:

[Echo_of_shadows]

What books have you read, Sakura? There are books for solitary practitioners with examples of self-dedication rituals. Scott Cunningham has a self-dedication ritual in his book "Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner." That's one of my favorite books. Perhaps you can find a basic ritual outline to work with and then ask Loki if He'll help you work out some of the specific stuff: like your altar setup, food and drink for afterward, etc.
I don't have a self-dedication example to share, despite the fact that I've spent most of my time on my magickal path alone. I went through a group initiation when I was with my former coven, but I haven't re-dedicated myself since I've been on my own. I've thought about doing it, but it's one of those things that came and went; and here I am after about about 10 years on my path and I still haven't done it.

[Sakura Blossom]

I don't really read books, as it's something I personally don't feel is right for me. I usually let Loki guide me, but he's being quiet about this particular thing so I was curious how others do it. Haha! I've already got an altar, already drink and use food that's specific to him. (: I'm not Wiccan, though, as I've looked into the meanings and I'm pretty sure I don't fit within it. I don't like set religions, but that's just my personal opinion. (: I hope that makes sense. D: Maybe I put this into the wrong forum? It said Wicca and Witchcraft so I thought it'd be okay.

I kind of follow my own thing, so I'm thinking I might just make my own for him which is what I really do for everything in my spiritual path. I was just curious to see how everyone else did theirs, really, to get some ideas.

This is not to say, of course, I don't read. Haha. xD I just don't read everything.

Thank you for your input, though! I really appreciate it! I might look into that book, though. Just to see if it might give me some ideas.

[loona wynd]

If you are looking for daily practices I suggest you take a read through the Daily practice thread. While not everything mentioned in there will be appropriate to you or your practice there will be ideas and concepts that can provide a starting point. That is actually why that thread is there. To help people find different ways to have their spirituality be a part of their daily lives.

Some suggestions:
Do a small daily offering
Maintain the altar daily
Set up a prayer routine
Meditate
Study the lore more in depth-like read the myths in the Eddas and contemplate how they relate to your understanding and experiences with Loki
Create art in his name

An other idea I have is have you looked into establishing a relationship with his wife Sigyn? She plays an important role in the myth of his capture and torment as she is the one who tends his wounds and keeps snake venom from dripping on him daily. If you start working with his wife and or his children (I recommend Hella and Fenrir) you can get a better relationship with him.

Also in the Lore when you give an offering to Odin you are supposed to give an offering to Loki as well. I'm not sure if it goes the other way or not, but because Loki is Odin's blood brother (they have a pact of sorts) getting a relationship with the other Gods that Loki is connected to would be a good way to expand your relationship with him and understand the culture better. So maybe the other Gods may have insight as well.

I am not saying you need to become a Germanic Pagan or follower of any of the Germanic Pagan paths since you already said that you don't want to belong to a specific religion or path. However I do think studying them and exploring even if its a more casual relationship with the Gods Thor, Odin, Sigyn, Hella, and Fenrir you will find your relationship with Loki is even stronger.

You will find that many Germanic pagans don't like Loki, that doesn't mean those paths don't have value in helping you deepen your understanding of your relationship with Loki and his role in the culture. Understanding the culture will really help you understand the God, even if you decide to work your own interpretation of those paths.

[Sakura Blossom]

I'm pleased that everything on that list you mentioned, I already do. (: So I'm rather happy! I thought I was missing some things, but I guess not. (: I just have to start meditating a bit more than I usually do. And I've already been reading the Edda for awhile now, as well, actually, and have been reading about him now too with the myths he's put me into contact with. (:

I haven't met his wife, no, but I do believe I've encountered Freyja in a meditation with him once. She was the only one I could think of to fit the description of the woman in my meditation. I've been interested in the myth, though, with the venom from the snake as it's one of the first ones I was reading about. The one that I remember most at the moment, is the one with the Giant (I have a horrible memory) was building the wall for them, and Loki conceived Sleipnir. I haven't had enough time to really sit down and try to read the Edda, though, as I've been super busy. lol

I have been looking a bit into his rituals as well, but I'm still looking to make my own. I was looking more for others experiences with their own deities, to get ideas of what I could do for him, while taking the knowledge of him I have to turn them into rituals as well.

And I'm not really going to be looking too much into those traditions, but that's not to say I won't read a bit about them. I prefer to learn from Loki himself, as they did in the ancient times. After all, there had to be a way they got the ideas before there was even any books to read. Haha! So I feel confident with letting Loki just lead me where he wants me to go, as we've been doing. He has yet to mention looking into those paths, but I have been on and off studying them a bit.

Thank you for that information about Odin, though! I was considering doing something with him too, but I do offer to Loki. I'll drink something in his name most of the time, he really likes that, but I'll also give him candies. He tells me usually, which he's feeling that day. I have been meaning to bake him something sweet, but I haven't had the chance to with how hot it's been.

And thank for that link! I've tried looking for something like that, and I must have missed it. (:

thanks for you help!

[loona wynd]

I'm pleased that everything on that list you mentioned, I already do. (: So I'm rather happy! I thought I was missing some things, but I guess not. (: I just have to start meditating a bit more than I usually do. And I've already been reading the Edda for awhile now, as well, actually, and have been reading about him now too with the myths he's put me into contact with. (:

I haven't met his wife, no, but I do believe I've encountered Freyja in a meditation with him once. She was the only one I could think of to fit the description of the woman in my meditation. I've been interested in the myth, though, with the venom from the snake as it's one of the first ones I was reading about. The one that I remember most at the moment, is the one with the Giant (I have a horrible memory) was building the wall for them, and Loki conceived Sleipnir. I haven't had enough time to really sit down and try to read the Edda, though, as I've been super busy. lol

I have been looking a bit into his rituals as well, but I'm still looking to make my own. I was looking more for others experiences with their own deities, to get ideas of what I could do for him, while taking the knowledge of him I have to turn them into rituals as well.

And I'm not really going to be looking too much into those traditions, but that's not to say I won't read a bit about them. I prefer to learn from Loki himself, as they did in the ancient times. After all, there had to be a way they got the ideas before there was even any books to read. Haha! So I feel confident with letting Loki just lead me where he wants me to go, as we've been doing. He has yet to mention looking into those paths, but I have been on and off studying them a bit.

Thank you for that information about Odin, though! I was considering doing something with him too, but I do offer to Loki. I'll drink something in his name most of the time, he really likes that, but I'll also give him candies. He tells me usually, which he's feeling that day. I have been meaning to bake him something sweet, but I haven't had the chance to with how hot it's been.

thanks for you help!

Like I said you don't need to follow those traditions, but getting some idea about the culture that he came from the the virtues that they held may do a lot. It will also help understand his role with the other Gods in the culture and the pantheon a bit better. I also mentioned that most Germanic Pagans avoid Loki unless they are making an offering to Odin (I did this for a while as at the time I felt that I'd rather not invoke or invite too much more chaos into my life).

Even just glancing at a few websites to get a basic idea of the ritual structure that the Norse used, and the virtues may give you a balanced idea. I don't follow Asatru or any of the Germanic Pagan paths exactly, but I did use them for Inspiration. It helps to understand the worldview that the culture had where Loki (or in my case Odin and Frigga) were worshiped.

If Loki has been leading you than great follow through with that. I basically let my intuition guide me with Niord, though I had an idea of how the culture honored him through researching basic Norse rituals. With Odin I followed the structure a bit more exacting as he likes that sort of thing. Loki being a Chaotic God may like more freefom ritual. It wouldn't hurt to at least glance.

I mentioned Rökkatru specifically as that path deals more with Loki than Asatru or other Germanic paths. They also have a slightly different ethical concept than the other paths.

Here are two websites I found that deal with this path that you might want to look at. if only for inspiration

Northern Paganism-Rokkatru-Rokkatru ethics

Shadow light-Rokkr-an outline on Rokkatru

Like I said I suggest it purely for inspiration, not gospel, not this is how its done. These two sites have people who work with Loki and that may be useful for you.

I dont work with Loki at least not outside of an acknowledgement of his relationship with Odin.

Freya hates Loki-he stole her necklace and Thor had to dress up as Freya and pretend to marry a giant in order to get it back. Though that is one of my favorite tales of both Loki and Thor.

Sif-also hates loki as he cut off her hair

Sigyn is really the only Goddess that likes him. The Eddic poem LOKASENNA basically explains why the other gods dont like him.

[Sakura Blossom]

Thanks for the links! (: I appreciate it! And yes, I've read or heard of all of those myths. Haha. (: And actually, one of my tarot cards has the depiction of Loki cutting off Sif's hair and running off with it. It makes me laugh everytime it comes up.

And I haven't gotten to Lokasenna but I was thinking it was related to him, so I'm glad to know it is.

Thank you so much for the links again, I appreciate it. (:

[loona wynd]

Thanks for the links! (: I appreciate it!

No problem. I figured that a website might be more what you were looking for in terms of a resource than a book. Most Norse pagan websites have information on Loki, but its typically tainted with the typical Germanic dislike of Loki. Loki afterall is the one who leads the charge at Ragnarok which is the battle where the Gods and the world basically dies. So it make since that many wouldn't like him. Though honestly I find that he does have an important role in the mythos and in the culture.

And yes, I've read or heard of all of those myths. Haha. (:

I think my favorite myth though is the birth of Seliphnir. That to me shows that Loki really does serve a purpose and have a place in the myths aside from being a trouble maker. Granted his tricks and troubles are always fixed by his cunning in the end any way, and they always bring about a much needed change. Chaotic as it is, he is a God of change.

And actually, one of my tarot cards has the depiction of Loki cutting off Sif's hair and running off with it. It makes me laugh everytime it comes up.

While that myth explains why Sif hates Loki, it also goes into the treasures of the Gods which includes Sifs golden hair wig. Though there is strict symbolism in the cutting of a womens (goddess's) hair that was shameful to them. So again it makes sense to me. Sort of like how other cultures have Gods that serve the purpose of change that are not liked. Loki though to me seems to be different than others.

And I haven't gotten to Lokasenna but I was thinking it was related to him, so I'm glad to know it is.

Its the only myth that bears his name. It also is the myth where we are told of Odins blood-brotherhood bond with Loki, and how Loki is captured and tortured. Its an important myth for Loki.

[Echo_of_shadows]

I've thought of a different way you could approach this if you don't want to go the route of a traditional dedication.
Pick out an activity that you love, or you're really good at. Tell Loki "The next time I do (activity), I do it with you in my heart. May we grow closer because of it." Then go do it.
For example, let's say that you're good at cooking spaghetti. The next time you cook spaghetti, invite Loki to be with you while you prepare and eat the meal. Perhaps stop to pray to Him right before you eat, or thank him afterward. Then leave a bit of the spaghetti for him as an offering.
This can be repeated as many times as you want. For example, maybe you've got a green thumb. Every time you add something or remove something from your garden, you could say "I add these tulips bulbs to my garden. As they grow, let my bond with you grow stronger."
However you decide to approach this, make sure it's what feels right in your heart.

[BabyBear]

nice post echo ive never thought to do that, ive thought about praying to my god and goddess while my mom and them pray to "The Heavenly Father" but never thought about asking my goddess or god to come and join me in doing what im doing.

[Sakura Blossom]

Oh, that's a really good idea Echo! I LOVE IT! I do traditional offerings, and I've kinda formed my own way of doing it, but I absolutely LOVE THAT! I think that's a great idea! (: Thank you so much for that suggestion! I'm totally going to do that. I love to cook, I'm really good at cooking, so I'm going to do that. (: