Trickster Jumps Sides (Re-Issued for Tricky Times)

Trickster Jumps Sides (Re-Issued for Tricky Times)

From The Emerald by Joshua Schrei

April 2, 2025 · 1h 15m · Season 1 · Episode 92

About this episode

This episode explores the role of tricksters in global mythology and their impact on culture and societal change.

Tricksters and culture disruptors populate global mythology. From Loki to Coyote to Èṣù and Hermes, they bend rules, cross boundaries, commit deliberate and unintentional offenses and generally mess with established orders. Yet they are often seen as indispensable to these orders — they are renewers and cultural innovators and often pave the way for great change. So in many cultures, Tricksters, despite their shenanigans, are seen as sacred. In modern society, we have no such ritualization of...

People in this episode

Host: Joshua Schrei

Topics covered

  • tricksters
  • mythology
  • cultural innovation
  • societal change
  • sacred figures

Keywords

  • trickster
  • mythology
  • cultural disruptors
  • Loki
  • Coyote
  • Èṣù
  • Hermes
  • sacred
  • innovation

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Loki, Coyote, Èṣù, Hermes

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