Loki-mistletoe-spear/Odin-twig-spear

[Juniperberry]

This isn't another "lets argue about Loki" post. (Though if anyone's up for it, Im always game. ...kidding. Sort of.)

I was checking something in Simek's DoNM, and came across something in the death of Balder that made me curious.

Simek states that the mistletoe thrown at Balder changed in flight into a spear, becoming fatal. This is reminiscent of the attempted mock sacrifice of King Vikar to Odin, where the twig in play also transforms into a deadly spear.

Im curious what the connection is here. Can we wonder if theres some sort of ritualistic sacrifice in the myth? Or does it simply illustrate the ability of the gods to manipulate the physical world?

Just as Odin was owed the sacrifice of Vikar to keep the oath, was Balder's death 'owed' to some concept of fate (I realize wyrd is questionable)? Like Vikar and his mock ritual,  Frigga did try to find a way to avoid Balder's premonition, and both were unsuccessful.

Anyway, I thought it was an interesting coincidence and am wondering if this has been discussed anywhere and what the thoughts are.

[Garm]

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Well, if you take the rock hard poly approach, who do you think taught Loki how do that trick?