Are you a Trickster?

[music]

I have found the energy of the Trickster archetype to be very relevant and active within me lately.

The Trickster appears in all traditions, and is often associated with manipulation, deceit, and, well, trickery.

But what of the positive aspects of the Trickster?

The Trickster defies convention, is a lateral and creative thinker, challenges morally depauperate authority, confounds to enlighten, mediates between heaven and earth. Tricks that may seem cruel when veiwed in isolation become kindness when veiwed from the higher perspective. The positive Trickster never lies nor deceives, but rather, sows seeds of alternate possibility.

The difference between the negative Trickster and the positive Trickster lies in the intent. The negative is self-serving, the positive serves all.

We all know of the Trickster archetypes in Native or other traditions, but the large monotheistic religions also contain the Trickster.

Al Khadr (Khadir) appears in the Qu'ran as the intermediary between Allah and humanity. He is known as "the Green Man", or "the Verdant One.", and in Islam is considered either a prophet, or a "wadi" (one who is close to the Divine). The Sufis see him as immortal, or the “hidden” man, which enhances his connection to the divine because the Qu’ran is quite emphatic that every soul (man/woman) will taste of death. He is often to be found bringing hardship and confusion to people, but the end result is to bring these souls closer to God – to facilitate the transition from the corporeal to the spirit. Al Khadr is the lush green of Love.

The colour of the heart chakra is green, and like the Trickster, the heart mediates between humanity and divinity. We can see the lower three charkas (root, sacral, solar plexus) as being analogous to the three dimensions of physical reality, while the throat, third eye and crown relate to the higher dimensions. In the Hindu and Sikh traditions, the throat chakra is the gateway to time and space, and is our starting point for accessing the higher dimensions. Thus our heart mediates within our bodies between 3D and the higher dimensions.

What of the heart? We all know the difference between the heart that is closed and lost, and the heart that is open and in touch with the divine. Are these not analogous to the negative and positive Trickster respectively? The closed heart serves itself only, the open heart serves all. There are, however, times when the open heart must confound to enlighten, appear cruel to be kind, for example, when providing boundaries and instruction to children. The more advanced the heart, the more obtuse its actions may seem, but when we view the actions of the spiritually advanced heart from the higher perspective, we find that all is well.

The positive Trickster is rooted in the heart, and its driver in all things is Love. It comes as no surprise then, that the greatest bearer of Love in Western society – Jesus – is also an expression of the Trickster archetype. Less clear to see is that Judas is also an expression of the positive Trickster. The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was pre-ordained, and was essential for the enactment of the Passion. Confound to enlighten, cruel to be kind, if there was true awareness within Christianity, Judas would have been beatified long ago. St Judas played his role in the game, and sometimes our roles cast us as villains while we work for the cause of Love.

[shadowstalker]

Hmm, my daughter and I have been talking about tricksters as of late, I think she would enjoy reading your thread.
It may help her with her research.
Yes 20 yrs old and she does research, I am so proud of her.
Of course she mainly uses it for her writings and short stories but at least she has some back up when she dose write.

[Fred Steeves]

Thanks for that music, what a nice little morsel to chew on while doing some very mundane chores round the house here this afternoon.

Also, welcome to Avalon! Looking forward to what you come up with next.

Cheers,
Fred

[music]

Hmm, my daughter and I have been talking about tricksters as of late, I think she would enjoy reading your thread.
It may help her with her research.
Yes 20 yrs old and she does research, I am so proud of her.
Of course she mainly uses it for her writings and short stories but at least she has some back up when she dose write.

Loving and engaged parents pave the way to a better earth. Thank you.

¤=[Post Update]=¤


Thanks for that music, what a nice little morsel to chew on while doing some very mundane chores round the house here this afternoon.

Also, welcome to Avalon! Looking forward to what you come up with next.

Cheers,
Fred

Thanks Fred, I'm looking forward to playing here :)

[laughs-last]

Tricksters here, on Avalon, well I never ;) . welcome to avalon, hope you enjoy yourself here. tricksters hmmmmm, interesting topic, not that i'd know anything about 'them' good for nothing so and so's. i heard you should be polite to them as even though they seem to be oblivious to rules, they often act protectors of boundaries; that they are not rule breakers, that rather act as referees; for them what at first seems to be breaking a rule, like damaging a boat, might in fact be part of a bigger plan.

The trickster is working within you at the moment, interesting, enjoy the fun that brings; remeber not to take yourself too seriously, because trickster doesn't like those boring fuzzy-duzzy types. Trickster is a great teacher, be prepared to have an 'interesting' time.

Is there a particular trickster archetype coming through or a general one?

ONE LOVE, BIG HUGZ and BARRELS OF NEUROTIC GERBILS :jester:

[RMorgan]

Well, you can call me a trickster for sure. My friends call me Coringa (joker in Portuguese) since I can remember! :)

[Camilo]

I guess there is little of a trickster in all of us.

[christian]

I have found the energy of the Trickster archetype to be very relevant and active within me lately.

Please feel free to share your recent experiences. :)

[music]

I have found the energy of the Trickster archetype to be very relevant and active within me lately.

Please feel free to share your recent experiences. :)

I must head off for work now, but briefly, one that springs to mind is the general presentation of challenging information to people in these interesting times. I often intrigue people by things I say, many draw close, many of these take fright and flee, but always take with them something of value (whether they realise it or not). Very general I know, but linear time has a tendancy to snap at us at times :)

[christian]

An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Paopa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’ s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie

:biggrin1:

[RMorgan]

An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Paopa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’ s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie

:biggrin1:


Oh man!!! Thanks!!! That one was awesome!!! :)

[music]

An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Paopa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’ s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Papa, Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie

:biggrin1:

That is excellent! I once employed a similar tactic. A few years back, I was in charge of a crew of guys. A new guy started, an older guy, and one of the youngsters took a dislike to him, and started victimising him. Not in my sight, but how to ensure all was fair out of my sight? The youngster said to me one day "I can't get X on his mobile phone". I replied "Oh, that would be the steel plate in his head". "The what?" replies the youngster. "Well" I said, "He took a hit of shrapnel in Vietnam and they had to put a plate in his skull. He's OK, except for the occasional flashback episode". Problem solved.

¤=[Post Update]=¤


Well, you can call me a trickster for sure. My friends call me Coringa (joker in Portuguese) since I can remember! :)

Best thing about the Joker? It can be anything. Keeps us on our toes!

[laughs-last]

nice one music, some times there are lies, then there are white lies....... and then there are the stuff legends are made of, telling a good tale is like breathing; mr.adapatle for the win (like we care to keep score <yawn>) if in doub't cheat but best do it for the right reasons, as it only comes and bites us back extra hard with a side order of relish :P

ONE LOVE, BIG HUGZ and PURPLE HAZE :jester:

[Referee]

Thank You and Welcome to Avalon Trickster! lol :p

[toothpick]

Hi music, welcome, great thread.
Very interesting subject, tricksters.
Likely, most of us have had an interlude with a trickster at one time or another.
Personally, I have two tricksters, one on each shoulder, one helps me a lot, the other one is a little so and so.

"The closed heart serves itself only, the open heart serves all", right on brother.

[music]

nice one music, some times there are lies, then there are white lies....... and then there are the stuff legends are made of, telling a good tale is like breathing; mr.adapatle for the win (like we care to keep score <yawn>) if in doub't cheat but best do it for the right reasons, as it only comes and bites us back extra hard with a side order of relish :P

ONE LOVE, BIG HUGZ and PURPLE HAZE :jester:

Yes, it's all about intent. In the example of Al Kadhr as Trickster, the 18th Surah, Al Kahf (the cave), is full of little white lies. I note that even the Prophet, channeling the words of the divine, tells us this is not wrong: the opening line of Al Kahf is "Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness."

But beware, because the Verdant One also tricks the wrong-doer as punishment! Also, Moses is instructed in Al Kahf not to question the actions of the Trickster, and my interpretation of this is that in an earlier event in Al Kahf, Kadhr demonstrates that even the great Moses is not sufficiently in touch with his unconscious (the divine, the authentic heart, whatever) to make this kind of judgement. Our lesson from that is treat those who operate at a higher level of consciousness than ourselves with a modicum of trust and respect (at the very least).

[music]

Is there a particular trickster archetype coming through or a general one?


I guess I would say Tricksters that equate to the Green Man are the most relevant to me. The Green Trickster is full of Love, but can turn around and bite you in the arse if that is what you need!

[laughs-last]

so true (rubs sore bum) ;) the size 11 boots marks will fade eventually

ONE LOVE, BIG HUGZ and SWEETCORN ADVERTS :jester: