Last night (okay fine, this MORNING) as I was falling asleep, I knew precisely what today’s post would be about. Then when I got up, I was curious as to how our card would reflect that idea. Wow. The Universe continues to make me laugh.
My topic is the concept of “triggering” (and how it relates to me, obviously). Again we are talking about a primary and most basic skill, like yesterday’s math. But now it’s about comprehension of a different variety. We are all individuals, so our brains all work at individual types of levels. Mine continues to entertain me.
I’ve known that word trigger, and I’ve used it conversationally (in both of its guises) for decades. But until just this week, the actual application to me, in MY head, was not entirely clear. Now it is. And I’m figuring out how to turn those images and ideas back around without (physically as well as emotionally) dropping into a fetal position and losing an entire day to the process.
The usage of guided meditation is helpful (as I have perhaps mentioned lately, like 7 gazillion times), in the big picture. But mantras and affirmations are becoming my go-to gadgets for precise and specific moments of relapse. (Currently I have “Walk in Beauty ~ Live in Love“ written [on various scraps and bits] all over the damn house.)
This realization, this dawning of knowledge, is massive for me. Any device or mechanism I can utilize that will keep me from spiraling downward, tumbling and falling rapidly off the rails, is a freaking gift and a blessing. And I’m gonna hang on to that sucker for dear life. Because ya know what? My dear life MIGHT just depend on it at some point.
In our card altar room tonight the joke is on us. Or rather, we are encouraged to laugh at this absurd fucking life. It’s the ONLY way to deal with it, as I am gradually finding out.
“Coyote ~ 13 ~ Trickster
There are thousands of myths and stories about Coyote, the great trickster. Many native cultures call Coyote the ‘Medicine Dog.’ If you have pulled this card, you can be sure that some kind of medicine is on its way – and it may or may not be to your liking. Whatever the medicine is, good or bad, you can be sure it will make you laugh, maybe even painfully. You can also be sure that Coyote will teach you a lesson about yourself.
Contained within trickster medicine is the humor of the ages. The cosmic joke is not just on ourselves but on everyone else, if they are following Coyote or have strong Coyote medicine.
Go immediately beneath the surface of your experiences. Ask yourself what you are really doing and why. Is Coyote your medicine? Are you playing jokes on yourself? Are you trying to fool an adversary? Is someone tricking you? When was the last time you did something just because it was crazy and fun?
If you can’t laugh at yourself, you have lost the game. Coyote always comes calling when things get too serious. The medicine is in laughter and joking so that new viewpoints may be assumed.”
I’ve condensed this one because it’s pretty long, but I also feel as though we should include some of the upside-down guidance too.
“Contrary:
If Coyote appears in the reversed position, you can be assured that he is going to be challenging. Look around yourself and watch which direction he is coming from. If Coyote is approaching you from the outside, beware of this master of illusion…..
Contrary Coyote may signal a time when everything you touch backfires. In this reversed position, Coyote also signals a time to be aware of the intention of others, and to look for the boomerang you threw at another person coming back to knock you from behind. Someone else’s trick may be on you, or there could be deception in the wind. Whatever Coyote reversed has conjured up, it could be coming from any direction.”
The number is significant on this one, too. As 13, it is mysterious and mystical and wonderfully lucky. Added down to 4 it reminds us that we always have a nicely stable foundation. No matter what weather is thrown at us, our hut will NOT be blown over. (But even if it is, we’ll be fine.)
Today’s Deck:
Medicine Cards – The Discovery Of Power Through The Ways Of Animals by Jamie Sams and David Carson illustrated by Angela C. Werneke
Today’s Most Current Look:
is now my updated icon and gravatar photo. But I had to put it here too; when we switch these out, the old ones disappear (and I liked that former view of me with the bike, as I will probably like this one once it gets replaced).
Yeah, it was sunny today.
My hair is growing so fast that we may need to document this every few weeks.
Today’s and Yesterday’s Kitchen Adventures:
are from last night when I was slightly ambitious, and hungry.
Deviled eggs
and cheesy biscuits.
And then this afternoon, after some outside time (and lilac stealing), we were back at it again. (Gawd I’m enjoying our fully operational range.)
Oatmeal raisin
with nuts and mini chocolate chips.
We got that first batch in the oven. Staring at the mixing bowl full of dough, Maxx and I decided we really just didn’t have that kind of time. So I smooshed it all into a baking dish. We called them bars and moved on with our day.
