Thou's Beliefs art Mine, and Mine are Thou

Religion and mythology are found across the world and differs vastly from location to location. Norse mythology originates in Scandinavia, Tarot originates from the mixing of Jewish and Egyptian beliefs, and Shintoism originates in Japan. All three of these regions are separated by vast distances, but the “Shin Megami Tensei” (SMT) series of video games and its tarot themed spin off “Persona” show how Norse mythology overlaps with both ancient western and eastern culture in its teachings and beliefs and how certain values are present in all beliefs. The SMT series is a long running franchise about fighting with and against deities and demons of all cultures, where almost every game has a moral based Chaotic, Neutral, and Lawful route. From Hinduism to Aborigines, everything is represented. Across all SMT games, the Norse gods are among the strongest beings in the games. Three, Surt, Norn, and Loki, epitomize the overlap between cultures through the immense amount of symbolism packed into every aspect of the SMT franchise.

Loki was the first ever antagonist of the series, being the main antagonist of “Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei” which was the first book in a trilogy that serves as the source material for the SMT franchise. Loki was the first antagonist and first ever demon to appear in the series. Even in the video games where Loki is not plot relevant, he usually has a notable role. In the Persona games Loki is a powerful Fool arcana persona; in fact, in Persona 4 he is the ultimate Fool arcana persona. In Tarot readings, the Fool arcana represents unpredictability, tricksters and explorers, and the idea of unlimited potential. Loki fits this well as he helps the gods as much as hurts them and is the one to set into motion the events of Ragnarök. In Persona 3 his nature as a trickster and unpredictable is reflected by his ability to act as the most powerful “Jack of all trades” in the game as he is able to learn the all most powerful elemental spells and physical spells, barring unique skills. In Persona 4 his skillset more reflects his connection to Hel and he specializes in ice magic, being the only persona able to use the Nifleheim, the most powerful ice spell in the series. In Persona 3 he can use a combination attack with Susano-o, the trickster storm god of Japanese mythology. The popular belief is that Loki is blood brothers with Thor due to things such as comic adaptations and the like, but Persona specifically details Loki as Blood Brothers with Odin. Similar to how Loki is somewhat of an outcast among Norse gods and sentenced to lower realms, Susano-o was banished from the realm of the gods after one too many insulting pranks. Both embody the Fool arcana’s trickery, wandering, and potential for both salvation and Armageddon.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, yet the very next arcana after the Fool, is Surt/Surtr of the Magician arcana. In his first appearance, Surt is a boss, one of the most powerful bosses in fact, in the neutral and lawful story routes, but an ally in the chaotic route; in most if not all his portrayals in the series Surt’s role as a destroyer is the most highlighted quality. In one of the games Surt is encountered regularly in the tower of Kagutsuchi, who is the fire god and destroyer of Japanese mythology who parallels Surt to a T and even has a similar role in Persona Arena that Surt had in SMT. In Persona 3 you can fuse him with what is called a nihil weapon to create his sword Laevateinn. In Persona 3 and 4 he is the only persona to learn Ragnarök, the ultimate fire attack. In Persona 3 he is also the ultimate persona of the magician arcana. The magician arcana represents imagination, creativity, potential, beginnings, and power; it’s very fitting for one of the beings who created all things such as Surt. In Persona 4 the character corresponding to the Magician arcana has Susano-o as his ultimate persona. Persona 4’s version of Susano-o highlights his immense power and life bringing abilities that saved the earth from the serpent Yamata-No-Orochi. Yes, that IS quite similar to Jormungandr, isn’t it?

The last of the three best examples is Norn. While the norns are a species in Norse mythology, the entire species is personified by a single being in SMT. Norn plays a major role in one of the many stories of “SMT: Strange Journey,” where Yggdrasill has been corrupted with malevolence. By helping three Dis sisters, Dis being the goddess of fate in Norse mythology, fuse into Norn, Norn creates a time paradox loop where Yggdrasill is forever prevented form causing havoc and the Norn watches over it, similar to how the norns of Norse mythology live under the tree itself. Norn is always the ultimate persona of the fortune arcana, which represents luck and fate. In almost every game she appears in, Norn is created by fusing the three Fates of Greek Mythology, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. In Persona 3 she wields the ultimate wind skill Phanta Rei, although in Persona 4 that was given to Odin to give him mastery of wind in order to make him more separate from Thor’s abilities. Norn represents more than just fate; the wheel of fortune is specifically about destinies intertwining with one another. There are many cases of three norns being depicted together; one might assume it represents the past, present, and future and leave it at that. Things are complicated, however, by the fact that old Norse mythology does not use future tense. The third norn of the trinity represents what a person SHOULD do, not what they will do.

The tarot cards are meant to represent all aspects of life, but even when they are so inclusive it’s still notable how may beings in other religions represent a single arcana perfectly. Loki and Susano-o of the Fool arcana are both tricksters who represent the potential to shape the future of both gods and mortals forever. Surt and Kagutshuchi of the Magician arcana are lords of flame who harbor potential for bringing life or destroying it completely. Norn and the Fates are near identical in their roles of their respective mythologies and embody the Fortune arcana. The conflict over religious belief is an eternal one that has perpetuated throughout humanity’s history, but in a scenario like the SMT and Persona games, where all religions and belief systems are portrayed alongside one another, one can see undeniable similarities. The way all the deities and demons are categorized with a tarot arcana system allows an easy analysis of how religions inherently associate certain concepts with one another. SMT is a series that has always been plagued by accusations of being heretical, satanic, etc. Perhaps people are simply afraid of it for making them consider that there is plenty of common ground among seemingly dissociated religions. If Judaism, Old Norse, and Shintoism can be so inherently similar, there’s no reason to assume the same can’t be said of a great many other religions.