nathanialroyale:

victorybringer:

So in rereading Krasskova’s Sigyn devotional for the first time in a few years, I have to say I’m pretty happy with how far my understanding of Sigyn has come since I first looked at it.

To the point where I can say, without much doubt, that Krasskova frankly just gets some shit wrong.

She praises Sigyn for not expecting praise for “doing what needs to be done without complaint, without boasting” and, while I think that’s true and fair to an extent (you don’t get cookies for being a decent person or doing decent things), I think if you take it too far you start to fall back into this sexist ideal of the “doormat mother/wife figure who bends over backwards for her family with a smile and without complaint and never expects anything in return”.

For a few years now I’ve been exploring the idea of Sigyn as someone who starts out as so utterly selfless/so without self-worth that she would literally lay down her life for her loved ones and brushes off praise and love as something she either a) doesn’t deserve or b) doesn’t want because she’s just “doing what she should be”.

And honestly, it’s just… it’s not a healthy way to be. Even for a goddess. Even for a goddess as implacable and strong as a mountain. 

Which, I think, is where Loke comes into the picture.

He makes her feel safe enough to be selfish, to expect something for the things she does, to listen to her when she’s heartbroken or furious or bitter or joyous, he lets her be the child she never had a chance to be.

Just as Sigyn gave Loke inangard, the sacred enclosure of the home, Loke gave Sigyn a sacred enclosure in his arms to be everything we don’t want women and mothers and wives to be: unlikable, demanding, vocal in their complaints and wants, and recognition that the things they do matter. 

Sigyn watched her family be torn apart and defied Odin to stay by Loke’s side through his torture. I think she’s earned a little right to be able to show her emotions and expect some kind of reward.

Don’t burn yourself alive just to keep someone else warm. Or if you’re gonna do it, make sure they damn well know about and appreciate it.

#also Krasskova is a racist xenophobic rape apologist so maybe don’t listen to everything she says#beloved of monsters and those unwanted (about sigyn)

^