Superhero movies are a favorite in my household. Thor is one of several that we've enjoyed in the past few years.
When Thor was first released, my daughter had just finished a main lesson in school on Norse mythology. The movie seemed quite true to the myths, so it was a nice complement to her studies. I enjoyed the film for many reasons, but especially because it gives such a great illustration of the essential problems with Mercury, aka Loki.
As John Frawley explains in "The Moon as Mind" from The Real Astrology Applied (p. 108):
In the traditional model of the ordered mind, Mercury has more to do with articulation than understanding. Mercury is the messenger, not the message—and we most surely do not give the messenger license to make up the message himself. Particularly if he has the dubious character of Mercury. No matter how strong he may be, he remains a shifty little so-and-so, and as such is to be treated with caution; if we doubt this, let us look at the Norse myths and the trouble caused by Loki (Mercury).
The truth is that Mercury cannot be trusted. At best he is a good messenger and loyal subordinate to the King (the Sun). But he should never be in charge himself, because he'll make a horrible mess of things. This is precisely what Loki does in Thor.
Soon after the movie begins we get a taste of Loki's skill at deception and manipulation. The frost giants had been let into Asgard (by Loki himself as we later discover) with the intent of sabotage. When Thor finds out, being the hot-headed warrior that he is, he wants revenge. With a few choice words Loki is able to trick Thor into defying his father's will. With Loki and a group of his friends, Thor sets off for Jotunheim to start a war.
Once in Jotunheim and as the battle ensues, we see that Loki is also a master of illusion. More than once he dodges a blow by seeming to be in one spot when he is really in another. This magical trick is just one of his many slippery talents.
Odin finds out what has happened and travels to Jotunheim himself to set things right. But the damage is done. Furious at Thor's actions, Odin casts him out of Asgard. This is just what Loki wants, as only one of the two brothers can succeed to the throne.
Our trickster then picks a fight with Odin. He so upsets the King that the latter takes ill and falls into a mysterious slumber, leaving Loki to take over in his place. With no moral compass and interested only in himself, Loki makes all the wrong decisions. Things quickly go from bad to worse.
For more on Mercury and its role in the natal chart, read the above essay from The Real Astrology Applied. Then go rent the movie to get a real flavor for Loki/Mercury and why he must never be King, not in the outside world nor within us.
First published on Sept 2, 2012 on silvestreastrology.blogspot.com.
IMAGE CREDITS
The photo above is by Jorge Figueroa, "Thor, The Dark World" (Flicr: CC). Cropped by me.
Below:
1) Loki Leaves the Hall - By Lorenz Frølich - Published in Gjellerup, Karl (1895). Den ældre Eddas Gudesange. Scanned from a 2001 reprint by bloodofox (talk · contribs)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6251406
2) Children of Odin - By Padraic Colum (author) Willy Pogany (illustrator) - The Children of Odin The Book of Northern Myths, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27846503
