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    » Home » Finding Guidance

    11 Trickster Archetypes That Provoke and Heighten Your Consciousness

    Reading time: 4 mins

    by Aletheia · Mar 25, 2022 · 49 Comments

    Trickster Archetypes

    Trickster is at one and the same time creator and destroyer, giver and negator, he who dupes others, and who is always duped himself … He knows neither good nor evil yet he is responsible for both. He possesses no values, moral or social, is at the mercy of his passions and appetites, yet through his actions all values come into being.  ~ Paul Radin

    When Trickster archetypes prance and prank their way into your life, it’s time to pay attention!

    Tricksters defy duality: they are both light and dark, heroic and villainous, foolish and wise, benign and malicious. At the same time they’re lovable, they’re also hateful. At the same time they’re friendly, they’re also fearsome. If you feel drawn to, or repulsed by, the Trickster archetype, this is a clear sign that you need to explore the hidden parts of your nature more.

    In mythology, Tricksters are portrayed as the jokers, pranksters, clowns, rule-breakers, alchemists, magicians, truth-tellers and wise-fools. In psychology, Tricksters are the mischievous archetypes of the collective unconscious that shatter old paradigms and gleefully poke sticks at our sanctimonious beliefs and stiff pretensions.

    Shadow Work Journal image

    These days, Trickster archetypes still appear in our cultural myths and dialogues. Tricksters continue to incarnate as characters such as Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Beetlejuice (Tim Burton classic), The Mask, Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland), the Mad Hatter, Jack Sparrow, The Joker (from Batman) and Rumplestiltskin. And in our own lives, Tricksters are represented by the class clowns, the anarchists, the comedians and the rule-breaking harlequins that defy all worldly decrees and decorum.

    In a sense, Tricksters are the ultimate pot-stirrers and “trolls” of life. As destroyers of duality, Trickster archetypes expose illusions, challenge worldly rules, and celebrate holy madness. For every likable trait within them, there is an equally disturbing trait. For every form of provocation, there is a hidden lesson.

    We’ll explore these lessons today.

    11 Trickster Archetypes and Their Crazy Wisdom

    Trickster Archetypes - Pan

    My first ever Shamanic encounter in the spirit world was with a Trickster. Tricksters, like any archetype in life, are powerful spirit guides and facilitators of conscious expansion.

    In my case, the Trickster I encountered was the ancient goat-man God, Pan. Guiding my vision, Pan’s face changed drastically every few moments to happy-angry-sad-gleeful-suspicious-thoughtful-wizened-neutral-blissful-ferocious. As I focused on the ever-changing nature of his face, I was guided deeper and deeper into my own inner Underworld, my own hidden Shadow. Ever since then, Pan has remained my primary spirit guide, reminding me of the importance of embracing my own inner Trickster and multi-faceted nature.

    Trickster archetypes aren’t just limited to Ancient Greek mythology, however. In fact, they entertain a place in almost every civilization known to man. Tricksters are both man and anthropomorphized animal, half-man-half-beast, worldly and spiritual, god and goddess. They bring with them the gifts of illumination, playfulness, revelation, truth and balance.

    Eleven of the most common Trickster archetypes known to man include:

    • Loki (In Norse Mythology, he was the shape-shifting god who is portrayed as playful, nihilistic and self-serving)
    • Anansi (In African folklore, he was the sneaky, sly, but ultimately benign spider god of mayhem)
    • Kitsune (In Japanese mythology these are trickster-spirits that often appear as intelligent and mischievous foxes)
    • Eshu (In Nigerian tale, he is the sneaky god of uncertainty and change)
    • Krishna (Hindu god portrayed as seductive, entertaining Supreme Being)
    • Saci (In Brazilian folklore he is portrayed as a one-legged malevolent prankster dwarf)
    • Hermes (In Greek myth he was the cunning and thieving messenger of the gods)

    Trickster animals include:

    • Coyote (As seen in Native American mythology)
    • Rabbit (Like “Br’er Rabbit” who features in African-American folklore)
    • Fox (Like “Kuma Lisa” in Bulgarian folklore)
    • Raven (Famous among the Native Americans)

    Coming across multiple Tricksters on your path through life is inevitable. But while the self-serving, deceptive shadow side of every Trickster is extremely apparent, it’s also important to be receptive to their lessons – to their crazy wisdom.

    The truth is that we all have a hidden Trickster inside whether we are conscious of it or not. That is perhaps why we’re so enamored and intrigued by figures such as The Joker or Mad Hatter.

    We’re all a little bonkers inside.

    Deep down, our inner Trickster craves to break taboos, revel in the destruction of the known, and shatter decrepit ideologies. If there is anything Trickster archetypes teach us, it is to “lighten up” about life and to not take ourselves so seriously. However, when we deny the crazy wisdom of the Trickster both within and without ourselves, we find ourselves becoming rigid, bull-headed, narrow-minded and humorless. The cracks in our perfect facades begin to shine when we intentionally take a nasty kind of pleasure in others pain and failure.


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    When we fail to embrace the lessons of the Trickster archetype, we deny ourselves frivolity and the capacity to experience our Shadows. When we get lost in superficial appearances, the Trickster holds a mirror to our faces. When we get stranded in the ignorance of egotism, the Trickster, through his antics, lays out our faults on a platter with a smile.

    It was once said that Krishna secretly stole all the clothing from a few milk maidens that were bathing. When they realized what happened, they begged for their clothes back. Krishna reprimanded them for breaking the vow about bathing nude. Then, he made them ascend from the water nude to find their clothes. In this way when interpreted, the women were forced to abandon their sense of shame or ego (clothing), allowing them to realize their ultimate divine union with Krishna. This story, like many others, represents the powerful unpredictability of the Trickster.

    The power of the Trickster is in his (or her) ability to help us question life, embrace uncertainty and become receptive to seeing everything just as it is.

    It can be so easy to fall into dogmatic traps and small-minded ideologies on our paths of soulful expansion. When a Jester, Clown or Trickster comes into your life shaking up all the pretensions, lies and illusions that you cling to … pay attention! Your anger, sanctimony, and exasperation can be alchemized into humor, acceptance and even curiosity if you let it.

    What is Your Flavor of Holy Madness?

    Finally, I want you to take a few moments to think about your own inner Trickster. Has it been outlawed to your Shadow? Do you give it enough healthy expression in your life? What does it look like, sound like and feel like? You’re welcome to share below.

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    About Aletheia

    Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, and spiritual mentor whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. [Read More]

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    Reader Interactions

    (49) Comments

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    1. Ayomide

      May 31, 2022 at 9:03 pm

      Hi. I think I have embraced the Trickster subconsciously and it’s part of my life. My issue right now is that, when a part of my “possibilities” stops being available, my life feels disrupted. I always need two or more sides for balance. I just lost one of them and I am spiraling. Looking for how to get out of this ASAP. I might kill myself because I don’t feel like me anymore

      Reply
    2. Lily

      December 30, 2021 at 10:23 am

      What about if you have fully embraced your Trickster? And it seems to have taken over your life? I’m came here looking for ways toss my trickster out of my mind because for some reason lately, I have been really messy. I’ve stirred so many pots out of pure pleasure and now I’ve done the unthinkable. I got caught. It was fun while it lasted but now I need some closure! I need this demon out of me because I’m also a very loving person and didn’t mean for any of it to go this far. Any suggestions?

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        January 21, 2022 at 2:34 pm

        Hi Lily, these two articles may help: https://lonerwolf.com/shadow-self/ + https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-forgive-yourself/ . Please also seek out counseling, especially if you feel that you cannot get this part of you under control. I recommend internal family systems therapy. Much love ♡

        Reply
        • Scotty

          June 04, 2022 at 7:59 am

          I used to have reoccuring dreams waking up in pitch blackness a door would open with bright light but it wouldnt shine through the doorway i would walk to the door and hear something growling behind me i start walking again it grabs me by the ankle i get free and run towards the door it slings me against the ceilong and tries to keep me in that room and the whole time ik iim in a type of dreamstate and i have to escape that room inorder to wake up i cant wake up unless i do and i wake wide awake as soon as i made it out everytime it seem like this trickster demons been attatched since birth it feels like we our two souls just share the same body ive had people try to cleanse or purify me and refuse to see me again during it cuz he portrayed as friendly till they tried to purify me than hed get angry and terrify them it wouldnt be sum i did it be him hed show himself to them what i believe is his true demonic form and they all get terrified i need to know how to manage him im afraid one day he might take over but i love him hes like a brother like soulbrothers bunking in the same body

          Reply
          • Scotty

            June 04, 2022 at 8:02 am

            Oh and when hes mad at me he’ll throw stuff like knofes at me ive had other people witness it

            Reply
      • Erik

        February 21, 2022 at 4:07 am

        Trickster is not meant to be dumped. The troubles you perceive need to be examined, and thus more fully embracing your Trickster. How bad were the things you did? What is the ultimate most evil deed there is, how about good deed? Then, can it get worse, better than that? Probably. Trickster is the non-dualist. That’s what she is there to teach. You are putting dualist labels on your actions, wanting to be ‘good’. It’s time to put down what you learned in school or church and realize you have officially departed Kansas. Look into Hermetic law perhaps as a start, for a deeper dive, Non-dual Shiavic Tantra. Shakti is trying to teach here.

        Reply
    3. Karma

      April 06, 2021 at 10:03 am

      Nowhere ever mentions “Drop Dead Fred” r.i.p Rik Mayall

      I’ve always wanted my own trickster friend only I could see.

      Reply
    4. Dennise Doyne

      February 07, 2021 at 2:37 am

      I agree with you

      Reply
    5. Raylynn Briseno

      January 04, 2021 at 11:26 pm

      Go with your intuition and let spirit guide you. Do not second guess your decisions. Just let yourself know what to do. Blessed Be.

      Reply
    6. Mike

      November 29, 2020 at 8:09 am

      There is so much for me to share here but it’s too much at once because I am still digesting all of this. This is certainly a push in the right direction!

      Reply
    7. the_directionless

      October 19, 2020 at 11:08 pm

      So I don’t know the kind of sharing you’re looking for. But I’d like to know if you could point me in the right direction.
      When I was young I was led into a Fairy Circle, I spent some time there, met Pan (I instinctively knew who he was. His face and countenance changed like smoke or water, very mercurial, he reminded me of a tree). He offered me something I don’t remember. I ran. Years later I was visited by my culture’s (Native American, Bitterroot Salish) trickster Coyote. He was injured, I nursed him back to health. He asked for my hand, just like Pan, and I hesitated.
      I believe I have a bit of the trickster duality, storytelling, nurturer, and vicious defender (I have tattoos of Athena and Lady Justice). I’m not sure what to do with any of it. I don’t practice in my culture, I don’t feel comfortable blindly going into anything considered ‘witch’. Every fall I become anxious, looking over my shoulder waiting to hear their voices. I get ‘visited’ often by other spirits which don’t bother me. My attitude remains until sometime after Samhain. Then, I’m at peace.
      Any direction or advice would help. I’ve asked my elders, and the prayers and offerings don’t help. I need to make some sort of decision, apparently.

      Reply
    8. Sam O'Day

      September 24, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      So, what you are saying is, Donald Trump is a Trickster, and we need to lighten up about him being president and pay attention to the faults in society that he lays bare.
      Good take.

      Reply
    9. Sue

      September 20, 2020 at 6:14 pm

      Hi, this morning I’m reading Michael Cohen’s book about his time with Trump.

      I’ve been studying archetypes and digging into my shadows because of Trump.

      Michael Cohen said in the book that he didn’t understand why he did Trump’s bidding. Immediately I thought of the Trickster and I wondered, “what archetype falls for a trickster?”

      I landed here on your page. Thank you for clearly outlining the answer to my question!

      Now I’ll continue reading this wild book full of tricksters that are waking up a bunch of people.

      Thank you. Sue

      Reply
    10. Thomas

      June 30, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      I’ve definitely shown traits of, and self-identified as a Trickster in my daily life; I like to joke and play, and making others laugh and smile is vital to making me happy, too. As far as the Archetypal Tricksters on offer, I’ve also associated with Hermes, for his whimsical nature, and, to a degree, his fickleness!

      Reply
    11. Emma Obrien

      June 17, 2020 at 6:34 am

      I’ve come across a few tricksters in the last week…
      Loki
      Raven
      I also want to say magpie
      Very interesting, I will reflect thankyou

      Reply
    12. Eli Ment

      May 03, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      Be this as it may Do not peddle and lead astray If your heart is is filled with worth Then proceed only with fire wind water and the dust of the earth

      Reply
    13. Daniyal

      February 06, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks for the insights, super good !

      Reply
    14. Johan

      September 30, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      Wow, this was so profound and timely. Thank you, Luna! I think what I experienced last week on a trip was this trickster, Pan. Very interesting.

      Reply
      • Gisele

        January 26, 2020 at 7:09 am

        Thank you, very timely, helpful and insightful.

        Reply
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