The Divine Trickster
Adopt The Methods
Every culture, tribe, and civilization for as far back into history (and pre-history), has in their mythology and folklore a trickster being - a supernatural being that does not use strength or the power of nature to defeat his enemies, but instead uses cunning, stealth, wit, and trickery to win. And when brute force or powerful magic fail to get the job done, the trickster will succeed through cleverness and persuasion.
In many cultures these beings are supernatural animals, or a combination of animal and man, and often they can change shape into any living thing, or even inanimate objects. These god-like creatures are thus closely tied to nature, and they act instinctually and very chaotically, sometimes in ways that seem helpful and good, and at other times capriciously and violently, much like nature does.
Tricksters don't care for man-made rules, and they don't care about boundaries. They do what they want, and they will act contrary to the laws of gods and men whenever it suits their purposes. For this reason tricksters often intervene at times of transition - when the old rules and ways of life no longer work, and a new path must be built in order to survive.
Carl Jung believed that the trickster archetype was a guide between the unconscious and conscious, and can appear in our dreams - and nightmares - to both warn us of our own unconscious shadow and help us integrate our instinctual natures.
The common people, the weak, the powerless, those that are enslaved by tyrants, love the trickster beings, and the trickster often helps them to outwit those that are oppressing them, and shows them new and creative ways to survive and thrive.
Particularly when your enemy is much stronger and has much more resources than you, it is wise to learn and adopt the methods of the trickster.
Fight smarter, not harder.
But don’t be deceived. Not every trickster tricks for noble reasons.