The Purpose of the Trick(ster)

Based off of the brilliant but misguided views of this essay, I'd like to tell you all about my personal views of trickology.

Many people look at being tricked as some form of mischievous troublemaking based on malevolent adolescent fantasies. Nothing could be farther from the truth. A trick is not meant to spark anger, revenge, or hinderance of any form. A trick is mean to reveal hidden truths and bring enlightenment to those who are lucky enough to be tricked.

We have all tricked ourselves. We trick ourselves to believing that we own the clothes on our back and the shoes on our feet. We trick ourselves in to believing the necessity of things like fashionable tables, expensive shirts, and high dollar cell phones. We trick ourselves into a state of comfort we in which we are content to just be.

Then along comes the Trickster. He knows his role well. He knows the part he must play. He will never be awknowledged for his wisdom, and they will hate him for his deeds, but he that which keeps the world doing instead of just being. He turns your world upside down so you can see your own hidden truths, truths even the wise fool Trickster knows are meant just for you. Then, just as oddly as he arrived, he hobbles away in a manner most strange for one of his power. But that is the Trickster. He knows his role and loves his job. In truth, he would have no other.

In this carnival dance of life, there is no role more sacred than the clown. He'll show you hidden truths whilst you are non the wiser.

And God and Goddess willing, I'll keep playing the Trickster until that fateful day that I'm called to do something else.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ivy on August 20, 2008 at 9:35am: In a lot of Native American belief systems, the Coyote IS the trickster, but he is also one of the Creators. The two aspects go closely together, especially in what I know of Navajo cosmology. The Navajo have an almost-Zen-like belief in the importance of balance and non-materialism, so the Creator/Trickster archetype really fits.

You ol' archetype, you!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Howl Coyote on August 20, 2008 at 10:12am: Aww, shucks. You know me. Always fittin' in the mold.

^_^; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Olwynn Coyote on August 21, 2008 at 8:15pm: Trickology! You're the best! From one coyote to another, could you add a chapter in your book about Counting Coup? This is one of my favorite tricks! There are many ways to do it and it all requires total Coyote ingenuity. I'm reading the essay right now.
Coyote knows you can’t buy who you are. People have confused creating with buying. Humanity has a destiny to stop worshiping the hammer. Technology and money are tools to use not to worship; they should never be the goal. Our destiny is to see and feel more deeply and to move past the culture traps our ancestors set for us.

As someone who follows the Mayan calendar this is truly profound. Right now, we are nearing the end of an epic battle between materialism and ethics. Materialism is on the way out, ethics and spirtuality are on the way in.... "Coyote" is on the way in!

Let's Count Coup on the materialistic regime!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Coyote Morningstar on August 21, 2008 at 9:18pm: Hi everyone! I'd like to chime in on this...Coyote is here and has always been here! The more hunted, the more prolific! Spread from coast to coast into Canada and Mexico! All hail the Great Trickster, Coyote! It's time to pull back the curtain and expose the emperor's new clothes! (I borrowed that one ;)

The trickster has always been in my life. From the humor integral to my family to all the various tricksters gracing me with their presence and tricks. Coyote was the first. She came to me in a dream and told me to run with her, so I turned into a coyote and followed her as she ran over hill and through wood. Later Mama Coyote let me claim the name. Manannan made His presence known to me in ways I could not pretend were just in my head. He is my Patron god. Eleggua has been in my dreams as well.

I am careful when grouping all the various tricksters into one group. Each one truly is different and sometimes cover vastly different areas and concerns. Some of them have been so vilified they seem forever doomed to be seen as evil demons. Loki, the Fire Giver, comes to mind.

I offer a poem I wrote to coyote hunters. Blessings fellow tricky tricksters!

To All Coyote Hunters
by Coyote B.

You can use snares
and poisoned meat,
And every kind
of toxic sweet,
You can take our hides,
and leave us bare
And nail up our corpses
to rot in the air,
Every pit, every trap,
every arrow and shot
Makes us stronger!
and breed longer!
Our loins are red hot!

So bring it on, hunter,
do your best every day,
You'll need more
than you've got
to conquer this prey.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Olwynn Coyote on August 22, 2008 at 6:19am: Great poem of perseverence! I like the stories and poems of this website too: http://www.indigenouspeople.net/coyote.htm The Trickster may have always been here, but I think there is a new Renaissance of Coyote medicine coming our way as we break from the bonds of our Materialistic chains and blossom as individuals with minds of our own! Coyotes run in small bands. I think as long as self-expression is honored we could work well together in magical ways! :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by odis on August 21, 2008 at 9:13pm: http://www.mwg.org/production/websites/jacktales/who/index.html

Jack and Mustmag as we know them in the Appalachian region is from the ancient Celtic tradition. These characters fit into two categoreis - - a trickster figure or a fairytale hero. They are in their brightest aspect as Tricksters. They overcome hardship by their wits and integrity. As fairytale heroes they survive with the help of the natural world and using their innate "supernatural powers" or their relationship with the animals and plants. Jack and Molly can both communicate with the natural world. In Appalachia Jack Tales, the stories usually center on poverty, harsh working conditions and being "on their own." Jack and Molly always triumph and are generally rewarded with gold.

The figures of Jack and Molly have many aspects and are the brightest aspect of Trickster. Trickster has his own lore and literature in many cultures. Jack and Molly are rooted in a tradition that is a grand world tradition.

A Trickster is an archetype found in many cultures and spiritual traditions around the Earth. They appear as spirits, gods, animals and people. They usually appear when a person or community is stuck psychically or materially. This entity arrives or even rises out of our own midst to act as a catalyst for change. This catalyst may be tricks played on us, asking the right question at the right time; calamities that make us act in a different way; introduce new ideas or energy into a situation. Trickster can be a dangerously cunning, mean, sometimes foolish, jokester and troublemaker. He is one who can force us to turn our "lead into gold."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Renee Spacher on August 21, 2008 at 9:17pm: You're sounding just like Loki. He is the mischief maker and the prankster, also called the Trickster :). One of the reasons my son bares his name :P; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lady Kate on August 21, 2008 at 9:51pm: We trick ourselves into a state of comfort we in which we are content to just be.

That's the smartest thing I've read all day!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by DodiaFae on August 21, 2008 at 10:20pm: {{{{{HC}}}}} You're awesome. Thanks for posting this. :^)
Coyote is also my son's guide... He's already showing signs of being a bit of a joker at 15 months... quite a sense of humor, too!

Years ago, I started noticing Coyote, so I started researching him. I learned in my travels that Coyote and Badger have been known to work together to hunt, which I thought was very interesting. A Cherokee friend was very adamant that Coyote was not good to have around, but I was constantly debating her on this. She said that the Cherokee don't really care for Coyote. I said that was a shame.

I'm very glad you posted this, because in reading the responses I was reminded that Spider is also known as a trickster (Africa), which sort of explains some recent experiences I've had (and some very cool spiders I had never seen before!); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Coyote Morningstar on August 21, 2008 at 10:31pm: Iktomi is a Lakota spider trickster from the Great Plains...he's here too. :) Anansi, I think I spelled it right, is the African one. Iktomi has a wife, Spider Woman, but I don't know if she's a Trickster, as much as she is a Weaver.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by DodiaFae on August 21, 2008 at 10:46pm: Wow! I did not know that. ^_^ Thank you!
I was thinking of Anansi, but so very cool that the Lakota have a trickster Spider as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Olwynn Coyote on August 22, 2008 at 6:23am: Blessings to you for your Coyote baby! Being a Coyote myself, I am very happy to have my 17 month old mostly free of the "Trick" medicine, though she will be raised in the tradition of it. My husband, who also has some Coyote in him, is grateful as well. I don't think there is a household on the planet who could withstand three Coyotes at once!! *and all Aries to boot* We work well together and are very close-knit, but some days it's chaos! *LOL*; ▶ Reply to This