Many has been the times when I have either witnessed folk debate the circum­stances surrounding Allfather's oath of blood brotherhood to Loki, or been approached by seekers walking the Northern Road as to what constitutes appropriate etiquette wherefore offering Blót or Sumble to Odin is in regard. "Why would Odin swear such an oath to Loki?" "Must we offer Loki a draught as well?" "What if I don't want to offer Loki a draught?" "What's the big deal, anyhow?" And, "Isn't offering Loki a draught the same as honoring him, or inviting his chaos and mischief into our lives?" These are just some of the most common queries I am posed with by these folk. There concern is just as valid as the question which they posit.

Let's begin with the first query, "WHY WOULD ODIN SWEAR SUCH AN OATH TO LOKI?" If one takes stock of the Northern myths and lore, one may descry that in the early days of the Gods "being", the heavens and worlds were yet becoming and progressing. In this beginning, Loki is merely the personification of a major component in that "becoming". He is the necessary chaos from which order will evolve from. Hávamál, stanza 47 has Allfather telling us;

I was once young, I traveled alone,

then I found myself going astray;

rich I thought myself when I met someone else, for man is the joy of man.

(Poetic Edda Larrington trans.)

The above stanza speaks to Odin's frame of mind regarding a traveling compan­ion, perhaps, Loki. Loki was indeed instrumental in large part in Odin's early travels as was Thor. In fact, Loki figures so prominently, that in the creation of man, it is Loki whom imbues Ask, the primordial ancestor, (and Embla as well) with circulating blood and the emotion of passion.

In consideration of the early days of the Gods in our myths, Loki is no bad guy at all. In fact, just the opposite. His every action leads to the very cause and effect of creation. His behavior is nothing less than advantageous to both the Æsir and early man. This is a probable causation as to why Allfather would enter into an oath of blood brotherhood with Loki at such a time in the evolution of the Gods.

Further on in the Hávamál, stanza 51, Odin alludes to a friendship turning sour;

Hotter than fire between bad friends

burns affection for five days;

but it dies down when the sixth day comes,

and all that friendship goes to the bad.

(Poetic Edda Larrington trans.)

Once again, could Odin be referring to Loki and his increased antics evolving as no longer beneficial to the Gods and Man, but rather, a liability now? Might this allude to Odin's exhibiting regret for having sworn a sacred oath with Loki?

So then, here we have a possibility as viable as any as to why Allfather would enter into such an oath with the likes of Loki, in addition to whatever regrets he might have assumed later on, for having done so.

MUST WE OFFER LOKI A DRAUGHT AS WELL? WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO OFFER LOKI A DRAUGHT? WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL, ANYHOW? Certainly no one must do anything which they do not feel comfortable with. And that would include offering Loki a draught, as well. However, here's the big deal, as it were, and something to consider. The concept of what we call the NINE NOBLE VIRTUES, in all of their carnations, are culled from our myths, by our ancestors. That is to say, that if we are going to draw upon an example of say, Svein's reputation for adhering to his word and oath with an iron grip, circa 975 Common Era, we too then should illustrate how Svein had learned about such honor for that and the other virtues, as a boy by listening to the heroic tales of our Gods in what we today call the myths. That considered, one of the paradigms for the virtue of honoring an oath, and in all probability, the most predominant paradigm at that for this virtue, would be that of the shared oath twixt Allfather and his blood brother, Loki. The lesson of primacy being twofold in my educated opinion. First, that one would do well to consider the future, not just the moment, when one is considering entering into a sacred oath. One should consider years into the future. After all, it is the very gift of Loki himself, the emotion of passion, which plays havoc with the moment, when one is feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, which will nearly always become the agent which blinds one to the further considerations of weighing the common sense factors and the ramifications that may be attached to hasty decisions and such oaths sworn. An oath should always be fully weighed and considered prior to swearing it and assuming the long term burden of responsibility associated with said oath!

Two, that the power of the oath sworn should not, must not be forgotten nor abandoned! Unless the two (or more) avowed parties to the oath agree to come together and consent to mutually dissolve the oath between them, the power of that oath must not be disregarded, lest they become oath breakers! The oath was sworn with the participant’s blood, and so too must the mutual dissolution be consummated with their blood. This was/is done by both parties washing their hands with their own blood before a Gothi/Gythia. Ergo the old phrase: "I'm washing my hands of you."

Short of such a mutual dissolution, the power of the oath remains in tact and the one whom disregards it is the oath breaker.

Let's consider the oath between Odin and Loki;

Odin! dost thou remember

when we in early days

blended our blood together?

When to taste beer

thou did'st constantly refuse

unless to both 'twas offered?

(Saemund's Edda, Thorpe trans.)

And from Lokasenna (Loki's Quarrel), stanza 9, Loki said:

Do you remember, Odin, when in bygone days

we mixed our blood together?

You said you would never drink ale

unless it were brought to both of us.

And in stanza 10, Odin said:

'Get up then, Vidar, and let the wolf's father

sit at the feast,

lest Loki speak words of blame to us

in AEgir's hall.'

( both stanzas Poetic Edda, Larrington trans.)

No matter how distraught with Loki Odin may be, he honors his Oath with Loki! From this tale, our ancestors gleaned the power of an oath as exhibited by our Allfather Odin, and it has survived to set the tone of Aryan man adhering to the bond of his word. This is why it is so important to offer Loki a draught when making an offering to our Allfather. It is not in honor Loki. It is in honor of Allfather's oath and to constantly serve as a reminder to us, his descendants, just how sacred an oath is and what it means to honor, or violate that oath!

To say otherwise is not a simple matter of semantics. It is an unwilling­ness to accept the standard which Odin has passed down to us. How and why would any among us expect Odin to accept our offering to him if we will not respect and honor his oath? Of course, we cannot expect him to either accept our offering, or afford us his blessing, when we would, by proxy, encourage and promote oath breaking!

On the other hand, to reiterate, as earlier stated, one should never be persuaded to do something one is not comfortable with. On the other side of that same coin, such differences among associating folk should always be taken into account wherefore assembling to conduct Blót and Sumble are in regard. For example, if one espouses an aversion to offering Loki a draught while making an offering to Odin, it should be made known to all expected participants prior to assembling so as to avoid embarrassments or hard feelings among folk. For just as one's rights must be respected if one elects to omit any offering to Loki as part of the offering to Odin. One whom does make such a gesture in an endeavor to honor Odin's oath and the power of honoring oaths, should not and cannot very well be expected to attend services with others whom do not share in the common beliefs of our ancestors, in one's own perspective. Incidentally, the latter perspective is the general consensus of our faith/folk within the Odinist and Ásatrú community the world over.

On a more metaphysical and Theosophical level, the Loki draught portion of an

offering to Odin, may be viewed as reminder that while one is offering Blót or Sumble to the 'Higher' self, one must also remain vigilant and aware of one's 'Lower or Base' self. And that the mastery of one's self only occurs via the acknowledgement of the lower self (Loki) by the Higher self (Odin) and the balance or Dagaz, between the two and thereafter synthesized by the Eihwaz which each of us are wherefore our polar opposites are in regard. In the teachings of my own mentor, the late and beloved Folk Mother, Else Christensen, Loki's Quarrel/Flyting is anti-Odinist based upon the afore asserted postulation.

Here at the HNO, it's understood that there will always be those, 'Devil's Advocate' arguments against our position, and that we do not espouse them does not render them invalid nor without total merit. Albeit, to afford such any consider­ation would most certainly leave the door ajar, per se, for further such considerations in the future wherefore our rules, regulations and liturgy are in regards. Say, like for instance the validity of homosexuality, or the like. And that, I can assure you, will never happen so long as any among our current spiritual and administrative bodies, are alive!

I hope to have illuminated some of the shadowy confusions surrounding this subject. Always remember when all has been considered at the end of the day, your personal spiritual growth advances our faith and folk community as a whole. Promoting and serving that ideal is the mission of the HNO, no matter where you may reside at this leg of your holy journey back home to the Gods from whence we have descended.

Ves Heil ok Fara meth Odin. Megi Gothanum blessi thig. Heil Allfather Odin!

I remain in service to the Gods and Folk of the Holy Nation of Odin, with fraternal solidarity.

"But what measure might we calibrate the strength of a man's character, if not initially by the iron bond of his word?" - Casper Odinson Cröwell, Ph.D., DD