Mind Food
Releasing the trickster and letting go can transform your mind and heart. This process begins with understanding its essence with self awareness.
What is the Trickster?
In Taoism, the trickster lurks as an unnamed shadow within the mind’s illusions, born from the chaos of desire and the compulsion to name, label, and control reality’s flow. The Tao Te Ching whispers, “Those who know do not speak,” guiding us toward stillness, emptiness, and Wu Wei to dissolve this distortion. The trickster isn’t a character but a condition—a ripple in the Tao’s natural rhythm, thriving in ego’s chatter and dissolving in silence’s embrace. By releasing attachment, we allow clarity to emerge, aligning with the effortless truth of existence and seeing beyond the mind’s projections.
In Indigenous cosmologies, particularly Native North American traditions, the trickster takes vibrant form—Coyote—mischievous, foolish, yet deeply sacred. “Coyote is always outsmarting himself,” a Lakota teaching observes, mirroring our pride, greed, or absurity while sparking transformation through humor and chaos. These tales remind us we are not above nature’s laws; the trickster’s disruptions humble us, awakening awareness through laughter and unexpected reversals. By reflecting our shadow, Coyote teaches us to embrace humility and realign with the world’s balance.
The trickster says, ‘Let’s play,’ but forgets to mention the cost of the game.
Both traditions confront delusion—misperceiving reality without evidence—and illusion—being seduced by what we wish to see. The Tao dissolves illusion through stillness; Coyote reveals it by dancing it into chaotic clarity. Neuroscience echoes this: when the limbic system’s emotions overpower the prefrontal cortex’s reason, the trickster spins tales of fear or fantasy, clouding our perception. Objectivity, the antidote, grounds us in sensory truth—breath, observation, presence—cutting through the trickster’s game. By integrating these paths, we reclaim objective reality, not as a rigid truth but as a dynamic balance: Tao’s stillness quiets the mind’s distortions, while Coyote’s chaos shakes us free from self-deception. Together, they guide us to see what is, fostering a grounded awareness that honors both the flow of existence and our place within it—liberated from the trickster’s playful deceptions. As the Tao dissolves illusion by becoming still. Coyote reveals illusion by dancing it into chaos.
‘In the mind’s eye, illusion shape shifts like smoke. The heart waits patiently, speaking in clear water.’ St
Heart + Body Food
Knowing, Listening, and Letting Go of Grasping
Where the mind may trick, the heart knows—not through logic, but through resonance. The mind often spins stories, driven by fear, desire, doubt and/or habit. In contrast, the heart speaks in subtler tones. Listening to it requires quieting the mental chatter just long enough to sense what is truly aligned. This form of knowing isn’t loud or forceful—it’s felt in stillness, in peace, and in the spaces between thoughts.
Letting go of grasping invites us to release our attachment to outcomes, identities, or expectations. In many traditions—Buddhism, Yoga, Taoism—grasping is considered a root cause of suffering. When we cling, we lose sight of what is and become entangled in what we want it to be. Releasing that grip creates space for trust, surrender, and a more authentic connection to the present moment.
There’s a difference between knowing and wanting. Wanting is urgent and fueled by lack; knowing is calm and rooted in truth. The sacred heart doesn’t beg or chase—it quietly reveals. That still, grounded awareness is where clarity lives. This isn’t about bypassing any aspect of life but about learning to distinguish resonance from reaction.
The body communicates holds and releases the tricks
The body joins this conversation too. Through the fascia—a sensitive network of connective tissue—it can signal when something is off or when truth is present but unspoken. These signals often appear as shivers, goosebumps, or a subtle rise at the skin’s surface. It’s the body’s way of flagging what the conscious mind might miss: a warning, a confirmation, or a quiet invitation to pay attention. When we listen to both the heart’s resonance and the body’s signals, we begin to navigate life not just with intellect, but with a deeply attuned awareness rooted in presence.
How to balance in the wake of the trickster
As Inspired, take a moment daily to pause and listen—not just with your ears, with you your entire being. Observe, the subtle ways your heart communicates: a feeling of ease, a silent yes, or a gentle tug of resistance. Pay attention to the signals in your body—those physical sensations that arrive before or after words.
Can you feel the difference between wanting and knowing? Between reacting and resonating. Give yourself the space to SLOW down enough to sense it. Be open to it rising from within. In stillness, as it always does.
Deeper Dive into Moving Beyond the Trickster
Join us on BeSimply as we explore the journey of moving beyond the trickster archetype…that cunning, playful energy that can both challenge and guide us toward growth. Inspired by Suzanne Toro’s Mind You + Food, we dive into cultivating clarity, embracing authentic self-expression, and navigating the shadows to unlock profound transformation. Tune in for a soulful conversation on conscious living and inner wisdom!
Revitalise your energy with JING, a unique blend derived from the rich Taoist herbal tradition.
JING is designed to naturally tap into your body’s vitality, offering clean, steady energy throughout the day, free from caffeine-induced jitters or crashes.
Crafted specifically for our modern fast-paced life, JING helps support kidney health, crucial for managing stress, reducing fatigue, and enhancing physical and mental health.
The heart of JING’s effectiveness lies in the Dì Dào approach to sourcing, ensuring each ingredient’s highest quality and potency, direct from China’s renowned herbal regions. This method preserves the profound, time-tested wisdom of herbal medicine.
Incorporate JING into your daily routine for transformative benefits. Experience improved mental clarity, emotional balance, and a healthier, more balanced state of being, all in harmony with your body’s natural rhythm.
