Whether exchanging the sugar for salt, refilled Oreos with toothpaste (I found this one on Reader’s Digest), or plastic wrapping a toilet seat, we all enjoy a good prank. Pranks have been around before humans existed. In many cultures, the Gods themselves were tricksters.
He is tolerated by the gods, perhaps because his stratagems and plans save them as often as they get them into trouble.
Loki makes the world more interesting but less safe. He is the father of monsters, the author of woes, the sly god.
Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology
April Fools Day may be the modern day version, but humanity and their Gods have been playing tricks for years.
Patricia Briggs reminded me of Coyote and his importance as a trickster god in West Coast Native American lore. He embodied the idea of chaos and pushed the limits of expectations and social rules. By flaunting the rules through his self-indulgence, Coyote reminds us to push boundaries. To see what rules are worth keeping and the others we need to change. It began with him playing with the stars and ends with him tricking Gods and humans alike. His stories are cheeky, full of amoral choices, but he usually learns a lesson, or we do through him. I own a few wonderful books with Coyote stories, but there is plenty to enjoy online as well. You can find a few of them here.
The Story of Coyote and the Monster
A long, long time ago, people did not yet inhabit the earth. A monster walked upon the land, eating all the animals–except Coyote. Coyote was angry that his friends were gone. He climbed the tallest mountain and attached himself to the top. Coyote called upon the monster, challenging it to try to eat him. The monster sucked in the air, hoping to pull in Coyote with its powerful breath, but the ropes were too strong. The monster tried many other ways to blow Coyote off the mountain, but it was no use.
Realizing that Coyote was sly and clever, the monster thought of a new plan. It would befriend Coyote and invite him to stay in its home. Before the visit began, Coyote said that he wanted to visit his friends and asked if he could enter the monster’s stomach to see them. The monster allowed this, and Coyote cut out its heart and set fire to its insides. His friends were freed.
Then Coyote decided to make a new animal. He flung pieces of the monster in the four directions; wherever the pieces landed, a new tribe of Indians emerged. He ran out of body parts before he could create a new human animal on the site where the monster had lain. He used the monster’s blood, which was still on his hands, to create the Nez Percé, who would be strong and good.
Nez Perce Tale
I chose this quote as it is a marvellous example of how Coyote and Raven have similar stories but different executions to their mischief.
Raven, another trickster for many tribes, held a similar role to Coyote, was a transformer. Whether on purpose or accident, his stories hold transformation at their centers. He was a creator and light bringer, his primary goal feeding his never-ending hunger, using deception and guiles to those around him. Intelligent and mischievous, ravens brought food to humans and taught them how to thrive. Sometimes, Raven decided life was too pleasant for the humans, so would put a little chaos in their way. In the end, though, it all turned out okay.
While Coyote moved the stars to create outlines of his friends, Raven stole the light and released it to the world. While mischievous, he usually helped the humans thrive.
Raven used to live high up in the upper Skagit River country. He was very lazy. In the summer when the other animals were busy gathering food for winter, he would be flying from rock to stump and stump to rock making fun of them. Raven just laughed when Crow (his cousin) urged him to follow squirrel’s example – but Raven never prepared for the cold months, when the snow would drift over the ground and cover all the remaining food.But now Raven was in trouble. Winter had come and the snows were deep. He was hungry – and Raven loved to eat. He had to find someone who would share their food with him.
Raven went to see Squirrel. He had a huge supply of pine nuts and seeds and other food hidden all over the place. Raven poked his head in squirrel’s nest in a old fir tree. Squirrel had lots to eat. Raven politely begged for some food. Squirrel scolded him – that was always Squirrel’s way – “You refused to work and save for winter – and you poked much fun at me – you deserve to starve!”
Raven went looking for Bear. But Bear was sound asleep in his cave and could not be wakened. Raven looked around for some food, but it was all in Bear’s belly – Bear had already eaten it all and was sleeping till spring.
Raven was now very hungry. He thought: “Who can give me something to eat? Everyone is either stingy like Squirrel or sleeping like Bear and Marmot, or they have gone South for winter like the snowbirds.” Then he thought of Crow – he would be easy to fool!
Raven flew to Crow’s nest. “Cousin Crow, we must talk about your coming potlatch!” Crow answered. “I have not planned a potlatch”
Raven ignored his response. “Crow, everyone is talking about your potlatch – will you sing at it?” “Sing?” Crow had not known that anybody really cared for his singing voice – though in those days, Crow’s song was much more like that of Wood Thrush than it is today.
Raven continued to talk of Crow’s potlatch. “You are very talented and possess a beautiful voice – everyone will be so disappointed if you don’t sing at your potlatch!”
“What potlatch? . . . You really like my singing?”
“We love your singing, Crow,” Raven answered. “The Winter’s cold has chilled the forest and we’re cold and hungry and singing will help us forget our cold feet and empty stomachs. Now you get started fixing the food – looks like you have plenty here – and I will go invite the guests to your potlatch. You can practice your songs as you cook!”
Crow’s hesitation now overcome, he began to prepare all the food he had collected for winter, and as he prepared it, he practiced his songs. The more he thought the feast and how everyone wanted to hear him sing, the more excited he got about it.
Meanwhile Raven was offering invitations to all the animals of the forest. (Of course Marmot and Beaver were sleeping like Bear, and Robin and Goose were gone South) To each he said the same thing: “Come to My potlatch! I have worked hard to prepare it. There will be much food at Raven’s potlatch and Crow is helping and will sing for us. There will be fern roots and wild potatoes, dried berries, fish and meat. Come to My potlatch! It will be a great occaision.” Raven did not invite Squirrel however since he had refused to share his food with Raven. But all the rest of the animals were invited to Raven’s Potlatch.
When he returned to Crow – he was busy singing and cooking. Raven told him – “Everyone is coming – be sure and fix all your food – they will be hungry after their journey. And your songs are sounding so good! Crow’s potlatch will be a great feast!”
As the guest arrived, Raven welcomed each one to his potlatch. There was deer and mountain goat and mouse, rabbit, ptarmigan and jay. The guests were seated and the food was brought out. Crow started to sit and eat – but Raven asked him for a song first. “It’s not good to sing on a full stomach, Crow”. So crow began to sing. Every time he would stop to eat – Raven would insist he sing another song. “You can’t sing with your mouth full, Crow!” Encouraged again and again by the guests – who were busy stuffing themselves with Crow’s food – Crow sang song after song after song – all day until night – and Crow’s voice became hoarser and hoarser until all he could do was “Caw – caw”.
As was the custom – the left over food was collected by the guests and taken by them for their homeward journey. Even Raven had taken his share and left as Crow was cleaning up. Crow had nothing left to eat. ” At least,” Crow thought, “I won’t go hungry – I will be invited to their feasts.” For it was the custom that having been entertained, each guest was now obliged to return the favor and invite the host for a return potlatch.
But the invitations never came. Since all the guests thought it was Raven who hosted the feast, Raven was invited to enough dinners to keep his stomach full for several winters – and he never went hungry.
But Crow, who had been fooled, had been reduced to starving, and never regained his singing voice either. He was destined to spend his winters begging in the camps of men for scraps of food. And that’s where we find him today – squabbling over scraps in grocery store parking lots – Caw! Caw! Caw!”
Skagit Raven tale
While the Norse Gods appreciated the cunning and intelligence of ravens, the rest of Europe considered them a dark portent. Ravens were scavengers, and in Celtic mythology believed to be gods and goddesses transforming, bringing portents of death.
Odin had a pair of ravens, Thought and Memory, who brought Odin information from around the world. Odin also used them as messengers and connections to the supernatural. The intelligence of the ravens and their presence at battlefields led them to be considered as Odin’s ravens and accepting of the sacrifices of the dead to Valhalla. It is not the ravens that I am focusing on in Norse Mythology. It is Loki.
I have siblings and this quote reminds me of how my siblings were there for me when I needed them but bug me mercilessly the rest of the time
While there are many books, movies, television series, and comics based on Norse Mythology, it is Neil Gaiman’s book I will refer to today. I have featured the book previously, so it should be no surprise to you it is the one I am choosing. Loki was a known miscreant and used his whiles to reach his goals. Yet, despite that, Thor recognized his cunning.
There were things Thor did when something went wrong. The first thing he did was ask himself if what had happened was Loki’s fault. Thor pondered. He did not believe that even Loki would have dared to steal his hammer. So he did the next thing he did when something went wrong, and he went to ask Loki for advice.
Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology
The perfect explanation for family. Supporting you when you need them, causing you trouble the rest of the time. Loki had many skills, but his fundamental skill was that of a trickster. The creation of Thor’s hammer is because of one of his tricks. Loki cuts off Sif’s hair. Thor, enraged, threatens to break every bone in Loki’s body, so Loki pleads he will fix it. He will provide hair even more beautiful.
One day, Loki the trickster found himself in an especially mischievous mood and cut off the gorgeous golden hair of Sif, the wife of Thor. When Thor learned of this, his quick temper was enraged, and he seized Loki and threatened to break every bone in his body. Loki pleaded with the thunder god to let him go down to Svartalfheim, the cavernous home of the dwarves, and see if those master craftspeople could fashion a new head of hair for Sif, this one even more beautiful than the original. Thor allowed this, and off Loki went to Svartalfheim.
There he was able to obtain what he desired. The sons of the dwarf Ivaldi forged not only a new head of hair for Sif, but also two other marvels: Skidbladnir (“Assembled from Thin Pieces of Wood”[1]), the best of all ships, which always has a favorable wind and can be folded up and put into one’s pocket, and Gungnir (“Swaying”[2]), the deadliest of all spears.
Having accomplished his task, Loki was overcome by an urge to remain in the caves of the dwarves and revel in more recklessness. He approached the brothers Brokkr and Sindri (“Metalworker”[3] and “Spark-sprayer,”[5] respectively) and taunted them, saying that he was sure the brothers could never forge three new creations equal to those the sons of Ivaldi had fashioned. In fact, he even bet his head on their lack of ability. Brokkr and Sindri, however, accepted the wager.
As they worked, a fly (who, of course, was none other than Loki in disguise) stung Sindri’s hand. When the dwarf pulled his creation out of the fire, it was a living boar with golden hair. This was Gullinbursti (“Golden-bristled”), who gave off light in the dark and could run better than any horse, even through water or air.
Sindri then set another piece of gold on the fire as Brokkr worked the bellows. The fly bit Brokkr on the neck, and Sindri drew out a magnificent ring, Draupnir (“Dripper”[5]). From this ring, every ninth night, fall eight new golden rings of equal weight.
Sindri then put iron on the hearth, and told Brokkr that, for this next working, they must be especially meticulous, for a mistake would be more costly than with the previous two projects. Loki immediately stung Brokkr’s eyelid, and the blood blocked the dwarf’s eye, preventing him from properly seeing his work. Sindri produced a hammer of unsurpassed quality, which never missed its mark and would boomerang back to its owner after being thrown, but it had one flaw: the handle was short. Sindri lamented that this had almost ruined the piece, which was called Mjollnir (“Lightning”[6]). Nevertheless, sure of the great worth of their three treasures, Sindri and Brokkr made their way to Asgard to claim the wages that were due to them.
Loki made it to the halls of the gods before the dwarves and presented the marvels he had acquired. To Thor he gave Sif’s new hair and the hammer Mjollnir. To Odin went the ring Draupnir and the spear Gungnir. And Freyr was the happy recipient of Skidbladnir and Gullinbursti.
Daniel McCoy, NOrse Mythology
Exploring the Trickster tales for several cultures was a lot of fun. If you have a favourite, I would love to hear it.
Happy Reading!
