Dealing with Trickster

[Chronata]

I have both the fortune, and misfortune to be attuned to Trickster Deities on my path.

As soon as Autumn approached, they began to appear more...in my dreams, my meditations, my messages from Spirit, and in daily weird happenings.

I realize that Fall and Winter is Their time, so I am not surprised that they keep appearing to me, but they have never appeared with such regularity before.

And unlike other Gods/Goddesses that I am attuned with, they seem to want something from me. A project I put on hold since last Winter, that now they seem to want me to drop everything and work on.

How do others deal with the Trickster in their life?

Do you give in to their madness and go along with their tricks? Do you just try to flow with it? Do you just chalk it up to momentary bad luck and clumsiness?
Would love to hear from you.

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

I don't know if they choose me or not, but I often gravitate toward Trickster deities as a way of coping....dealing with depression and anxiety, I tend to often be in the mindset of "if I don't laugh I'll cry." Seeing everything as a cosmic joke or blooper helps tip the balance in favor of laughing.

Tragedy is only a hairsbreadth away from dark comedy, and I tend to see a lot of Trickster stories as being able to be read both ways, especially where fellows like Coyote are concerned...:)

Don't know if that helps....like I say rather than them choosing me, my own perception is of me choosing them for their symbolism (but hey, invert that and wouldn't that be the ultimate joke, them choosing me by making me think I chose them....;))

[Chronata]

Thank you for your great reply Corvis Canis Latrans! (that name is so cool, btw!)

That makes a lot of sense to me too. When it comes to certain situations, I find I have to take a "laugh or die" approach as well...and that is definitely a Trickster attribute!

I like to think that when it comes to the "choosing" it was probably done by both parties...for as soon as you open the door to Them, They are happy to stroll right in and make Themselves comfy!

[Windsmith]

One of the first, and most fundamental things I learned in my Reclaiming training is "You are you ultimate spiritual authority." Not traditions, not priestesses, not even Deities. The same priestess who taught me that has a saying: "F--- you, you bastards." He says it to his Deities all the time. What it means is that, even though they're Deities, you are the one who ultimately has the final say in what you do. Tricksters' lessons are not always to humble or teach. Sometimes, like CCL says, they are just to show the world as one big cosmic joke - maybe even to be a little cruel.

By all means, as long as you're gaining something or growing in some way by acceding to Tricksters' requests, then do so. But remember that if they ever make demands of you that you are uncomfortable with, or that you perceive will do you more harm than good, then tell 'em where to stuff it and move on with your Autumn.

[Chronata]

Thank you Windsmith!
Indeed, you are so right.
I do forget sometimes that I have the free will to do as I please, regardless of the Call, or dream that seems to want to steer me to accepting demands.

I have said FU to one in particular, who seems to find it highly amusing that he can get me so riled up over nothing.

I tend to anthropomorphize(sp?) my bad luck, and blame it all on the trickster entities. Though they often are only too happy to take the blame.

The project I have put off since last winter is a Trickster tarot.
It's fully planned, but not yet finished. I have other tarot projects(and indeed many other projects) I need to finish before this one. And yet they nudge me with this urging to get it done.

I'll just have to be true to myself (and more firm!)

Thank you so much! This really helps!

[Incendia]

One of the first, and most fundamental things I learned in my Reclaiming training is "You are you ultimate spiritual authority." Not traditions, not priestesses, not even Deities. Not traditions, not priestesses, not even Deities. The same priestess who taught me that has a saying: "F--- you, you bastards." He says it to his Deities all the time. What it means is that, even though they're Deities, you are the one who ultimately has the final say in what you do.

Eh, I'd never tell my gods (or any deity for that matter) to "F-off," just because I find that extremely disrespectful - a simple "yes or no" will suffice.

That said, I agree with the rest of your statement -- free will, right?

[Fiamma]

By all means, as long as you're gaining something or growing in some way by acceding to Tricksters' requests, then do so. But remember that if they ever make demands of you that you are uncomfortable with, or that you perceive will do you more harm than good, then tell 'em where to stuff it and move on with your Autumn.

Refusing a god's request merely because you're uncomfortable with it seems like a good way to avoid growth.


Eh, I'd never tell my gods (or any deity for that matter) to "F-off," just because I find that extremely disrespectful - a simple "yes or no" will suffice.

This too.

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

Eh, I'd never tell my gods (or any deity for that matter) to "F-off," just because I find that extremely disrespectful - a simple "yes or no" will suffice.


I suppose that depends on familiarity. If a stranger or a person I didn't know that well told me to F-off, I'd probably be irritated but not really that bothered. In a professional setting, I'd be offended.

In a situation where I knew the person well, it would depend on how it was intended. An upset or angry F-off would probably generate the same emotions in me, but a humorous one would get a laugh out of me and a humored "same to you", with a cheerful smile and a bird. :toofless:

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

Thank you for your great reply Corvis Canis Latrans! (that name is so cool, btw!)

Thanks. I think you're also on a certain other message board where I'm still SphinYote, correct? You can see from the names I choose the draw to various tricksters...:D






The project I have put off since last winter is a Trickster tarot.
It's fully planned, but not yet finished. I have other tarot projects(and indeed many other projects) I need to finish before this one. And yet they nudge me with this urging to get it done.



Sounds very intriguing. :thumbsup:

[Incendia]

I suppose that depends on familiarity. If a stranger or a person I didn't know that well told me to F-off, I'd probably be irritated but not really that bothered. In a professional setting, I'd be offended.

In a situation where I knew the person well, it would depend on how it was intended. An upset or angry F-off would probably generate the same emotions in me, but a humorous one would get a laugh out of me and a humored "same to you", with a cheerful smile and a bird. :toofless:

I see what you're saying... but even in jest, it's still disrespectful. I mean, you're talking about gods, they are so much "bigger" and, well, better than us... even if they are what you term "tricksters." That superiority alone is worthy of respect.

Let me ask you this- would you speak in such a fashion to someone you dearly love - someone you treasure with all your heart? And how would you feel if your beloved spoke to you that way?

[Windsmith]

Eh, I'd never tell my gods (or any deity for that matter) to "F-off," just because I find that extremely disrespectful - a simple "yes or no" will suffice.It might help for me to reiterate, as I said in my first post, that this is specific to the Reclaiming tradition. One of our mother traditions is anarchist feminism. For those of us who work with deities, the element of rebellion is as central as an altar or a Sabbat ritual. If such a response would be disrespectful in your tradition, so be it, but many of us consider the ability to express that kind of displeasure an important part of our practice.


Refusing a god's request merely because you're uncomfortable with it seems like a good way to avoid growth.Not necessarily. Many of us were taught that saying "no" is selfish, and that we always have to be available whenever anyone asks anything of us. Sometimes, simply claiming our authority to refuse holds the biggest growth potential.

[David19]

Refusing a god's request merely because you're uncomfortable with it seems like a good way to avoid growth.

I agree with that, for the most part, but, at the same time, if a God, or whatever, were to tell you to kill someone, or leave your kids, and go off somewhere, then, I think that's a good time to tell them where to go. Not saying, a God would do that, but, I can see that there are good situations to tell Gods, and other beings, where to go.

[Fiamma]

I agree with that, for the most part, but, at the same time, if a God, or whatever, were to tell you to kill someone, or leave your kids, and go off somewhere, then, I think that's a good time to tell them where to go. Not saying, a God would do that, but, I can see that there are good situations to tell Gods, and other beings, where to go.


Not necessarily. Many of us were taught that saying "no" is selfish, and that we always have to be available whenever anyone asks anything of us. Sometimes, simply claiming our authority to refuse holds the biggest growth potential.

Okay, let me try that again...

Refusing a god's request merely because you're uncomfortable with it seems like a good way to avoid growth.

Not killing someone or abandoning your kids when a god asks you to probably has a little more behind it than refusing merely because you're uncomfortable with it.

Additionally, I never said that not doing something that a god asks is ALWAYS going to avoid growth.

*sigh*

[David19]

Okay, let me try that again...

Refusing a god's request merely because you're uncomfortable with it seems like a good way to avoid growth.

Not killing someone or abandoning your kids when a god asks you to probably has a little more behind it than refusing merely because you're uncomfortable with it.

Additionally, I never said that not doing something that a god asks is ALWAYS going to avoid growth.

*sigh*

Sorry if it offended you, I just wanted to point out, you (general you) should also your own brains and decide if it's something right for you to do, not just follow something 'cause a God appears to you and says "found a city, go on a quest, etc". Now, personally, I do think if something makes you uncomfortable (e.g. going on a quest), you should, at least, attempt it, 'cause, most likely, it help you grow as a person.

Hope that explains my point a bit better :).

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

I see what you're saying... but even in jest, it's still disrespectful. I mean, you're talking about gods, they are so much "bigger" and, well, better than us... even if they are what you term "tricksters." That superiority alone is worthy of respect.

Let me ask you this- would you speak in such a fashion to someone you dearly love - someone you treasure with all your heart? And how would you feel if your beloved spoke to you that way?

Yes, we do, then drop into a fit of giggles over it. :)

[Incendia]

Yes, we do, then drop into a fit of giggles over it. :)

Fair enough. :hahugh:

[Fiamma]

Sorry if it offended you, I just wanted to point out, you (general you) should also your own brains and decide if it's something right for you to do, not just follow something 'cause a God appears to you and says "found a city, go on a quest, etc". Now, personally, I do think if something makes you uncomfortable (e.g. going on a quest), you should, at least, attempt it, 'cause, most likely, it help you grow as a person.

Hope that explains my point a bit better :).


Wasn't offended, just a bit annoyed- it seemed like in one case, what I said wasn't being read and in the other, too much was being read into it. Thanks for clarifying :-)

[Shawn Cameron]

As someone who works with Loki on a semi regular basis my advice would be to talk to the tricksters, do some more meditation or divination. Loki for one would not pressure us to do something that would hinder our overall life/growth and he usually has a very good reason for poking us into doing something, and the poking wont stop till its done… and I wouldn’t test his patience. If you said you would do something a year ago and now they are poking you I would say reevaluate your other projects in an attempt to get this one done.

As far as telling a God to F-off… that topic has been discussed thoroughly so I’ll just say I wouldn’t personally do it, but to each their own.

On another note… I would find a way to confirm that these are Gods we are taking orders from and not voices in our heads saying what we want or think the Gods will say, or to be more specific… making sure nothing was lost in translation between them and our selves. I’ve heard of one woman who has a bowl full of different colored stones, and after each meditation she draws one and, depending on the color, it helps her know if it was a clear, muddled, or completely wrong message. I think such practices are very important for anyone who communicates with a higher or ethereal force where we communicate threw a medium (including our brains) rather then just thinking “it felt right”

Anyway done rambling now…

[Chronata]

Thank you Shawn! I really appreciate the insights you have tossed in here!

I think you hit upon exactly what I was feeling at the time I wrote this...

are these actual messages from a God, or are they just my own voices...my subconscious leanings, or my brain's pittiful justification for a lack of sleep?

For me Trickster has always been Shapeshifter. He/she comes in many forms, as many different gods or faeries...but all seem to show up with a similar message...or a similar way to get me to stop what I'm doing and think.

Whether it's moving my tools from room to room (or to another state), upending coffee on my current projects, dropping appropriate books from high shelves on my head...

it always makes me stop...
and figure out why things have upset me so...and how by revision and reworking I can continue to live in a newer...and often better direction.


The story about the woman using an oracle to discern what is real and what is illusionary. What a fabulous idea! I think that might be very helpful for me!

[Shawn Cameron]

I'm glad I could help and I hope you find your answers soon!

[Kreyas]

My personal coping mechanism for dealing with the presence of tricksters/trickster influences is to just weather the storm and deal with it.

Doesn't exactly sound like I'm using a very healthy coping mechanism, but it works for me in the short-term.