The Myth of Loki

An important feature of the Myth under consideration is the enduring notion of the unity and mutual permeation, despite their distinctness, of the Worlds.

Spheres of being are perceived as separate, yet still forming a unity.

A shared potential reality lying at their base connects them; however, manifestation is possible only through differentiation.

At the same time, this unified yet divided existence of the worlds is upheld by two key mythological figures — the god-Keeper of order (Veles among the Slavs, Heimdall among the Scandinavians) and the god-Disruptor of that order (Semargl, Loki). The god-Keeper prevents mixing between the worlds, while the order-disrupting god, conversely, protects them from stagnation.

Examples include Annun, Gwinvid and Abred of the Celts, the worlds of Yggdrasil among the Scandinavians (considered a threefold triad), and Yav/Prav/Nav of the Slavs. Regardless of how these spheres are understood (and they are interpreted very differently, we will discuss this later), a constant exchange takes place among them.

The figure of the disruptor who facilitates exchange is an extremely important mythological figure. It is the trickster who carries out all kinds of exchange — of values and beings, exchange of information.

Let us briefly consider these types of exchange.

Exchange of information is the most obvious kind of exchange. Moreover, knowledge increases with distance from the center: both the higher and the lower Worlds are considered more knowledgeable than the middle, embodied world.

Exchange of beings is also very important. This can be voluntary (when, for example, a being of one world marries a being of another — many examples exist in Celtic and Germanic mythologies), or violent (for example, the abduction of children or even adults by beings of another world, changelings — that is, the forcible replacement of children, and so on).

Exchange of values also contributes to the unity of the worlds. Most treasures of the Germanic gods and the Celtic gods originate in other worlds. This is understandable: the intrinsic energy of any world, when confined by its own laws, can only sustain it, and cannot drive transformation or transcendence. When worlds need a ‘shake-up,’ new energy or value is brought in.