Fierce First Step

LIFE 101

When Trickster Pays You a Visit

Have you ever had a period when bad things happened or a big traumatic event left you terrified or reeling in pain such as losing your job, being diagnosed with a serious illness, or getting divorced? It felt as though you were blindsided. The overwhelming stress caused your future to look bleak. This is what indigenous cultures call trickster energy. Its purpose is to humble you, shake you up and to wake you up from a deep spell of denial so you can see what really matters in your life. It can happen at anytime but often a big visit occurs in the mid 30s. Unfortunately many remain asleep and go into victim mode (self-pity) or blame others for their misfortunes.

Trickster doesn’t show up to be cruel although that’s what it may seem like. Trickster appears so that you can take a close look at what drives your subconscious actions (psychology says that most of our actions are subconscious). For example, why do you put other’s needs ahead of your own needs? Why do you not tell others how upset, angry or fearful you really are? Why are you staying in a mediocre relationship when you deserve better? Why do you hurt yourself by drinking, shopping or exercising excessively? Or, why do you keep making excuses for your unhappiness? There are deep reasons that haven’t been made clear to you, yet.

Understanding your hidden motivations is your first step to self-awareness. Trickster’s goal is to get you back on path so you are true to yourself and moving toward what fulfills you. But that will not happen if you don’t first take responsibility and begin looking at your hidden motivations.

So the next time your world gets rocked don’t ignore it and don’t blame someone else. Learn from it buy asking yourself what needs to be looked at within yourself, and what am I avoiding in my relationship, job or life and why? It’s not easy to look at this stuff so find a therapist or counselor to examine these deep rooted issues. For a movie about trickster energy, check out, Jerry Maguire. Jerry takes a painful fall in life losing his job, clients, wealth and his fiancee. But he finds redemption when he realizes what matters most in life.

Disclaimer
These articles are meant to be informative and not to be taken as advice. Every person’s situation is different and the articles may not pertain to your speciﬁc situation.

Also, before dealing with any issue with another person or before attempting to look at your own issues, it’s important to consult with an appropriate professional for guidance.