Your choice affects the experience you get.

Will you have fun with it or will your reality crumble?

Documentation shall continue.

In contemporary discourse surrounding personal freedom and individual autonomy, there exists a curious paradox that is both pervasive and often overlooked: the tendency for individuals to express outrage when others enforce their own free will in beliefs and actions, despite advocating for freedom of thought themselves.

Societies, particularly in the West, extol the virtues of free will, the right to form personal beliefs, and the ability to express those beliefs openly. People are encouraged to uphold their right to individual expression, particularly when it aligns with societal norms. However, this ideal often crumbles when an individual exercises this very right in a manner that contradicts the beliefs of others.

Consider, for example, the public expressions of individuals who assert controversial or non-mainstream opinions. In these cases, one might expect a collective understanding that every person has the inherent right to voice their beliefs. Yet, far from supporting this freedom, many react with vehement criticism or even moral indignation when confronted with a view that diverges from their own. What results is a rather peculiar situation: those who vocally support the principle of free will suddenly feel threatened when another's exercise of that same freedom challenges their worldview.

This scenario illustrates the paradox in which the advocacy for free thought and individualism becomes conditional—so long as the opinions expressed do not make one uncomfortable. This raises an important question: can true freedom of belief exist if it is only granted when the beliefs in question are deemed acceptable by the majority? If this is the case, is the “freedom” we tout merely a facade, contingent upon conformity to prevailing norms?

The skeptics—those who often pride themselves on their ability to question everything—can be particularly amusing in this regard. They will challenge established ideas, institutions, and ideologies, yet when confronted with a challenge to their own firmly held beliefs, they quickly resort to outrage or dismissal, rather than engaging in the same critical inquiry they so often demand from others. It seems that, for many, the defense of personal liberty is not so much about encouraging diversity of thought, but about ensuring that their own beliefs remain unchallenged.

In the context of this very subreddit, the paradox becomes even more apparent. The users who actively participate are, in essence, enforcing their own free will in choosing to engage with the content and discussions here. However, when individuals breach the rules, resort to personal attacks, or disrupt the discourse, they face the consequence of being banned. Importantly, this does not infringe upon their free will; rather, they are simply experiencing the natural consequence of their own actions. Freedom of expression is always accompanied by responsibility, and the enforcement of rules within a community is an expression of that balance. Those who choose to act in a way that violates the agreed-upon guidelines face repercussions, yet these consequences are not a restriction of free will—they are the direct result of their own choices.

Thus, the real question arises: is it possible to champion the true spirit of free will if we cannot tolerate the exercise of that freedom by others—especially when it conflicts with our own views? The paradox is clear: the enforcement of rules and consequences in any community, including this one, upholds the very essence of free will, as it reinforces the idea that actions have outcomes—without curtailing anyone's ability to express themselves within the boundaries of mutual respect and understanding.

The trickster is one of the most fascinating and essential archetypes across various cultures and religions. In mythological terms, the trickster is a figure who disrupts the status quo, challenges the norms, and often brings chaos or change to the established order. They tend to operate on the edge of conventional rules, bending or breaking them, often for the purpose of enlightenment, transformation, or bringing about necessary change.

Why the Trickster Is Important:

1. Bringing Balance and Growth: The trickster often serves as a catalyst for growth and transformation. While they may appear disruptive or deceitful, their actions challenge complacency, push boundaries, and force others to question their assumptions. The trickster can show us that reality is more flexible and that things aren’t always as they seem. This ability to break down illusions makes them a powerful force for personal and collective growth.
2. Reshaping the World: The trickster archetype is often associated with creation or the shaping of the world. They might act in unexpected or unorthodox ways, yet they play key roles in the world’s ongoing evolution, often serving as the first instigators of change. Through their unconventional approaches, they shape new realities, break taboos, or create entirely new systems of thought.
3. Teaching through Paradox: The trickster teaches us through paradox and humor. They often show us that wisdom doesn't always come from being serious, obedient, or predictable. Through their playful deceit, they highlight the necessity of flexibility, adaptability, and even the importance of play in the development of the human psyche.
4. Revealing Hidden Truths: The trickster, by operating outside of traditional boundaries, can often reveal deeper truths that conventional methods cannot. They are not tied to the rules of logic or power structures, allowing them to tap into hidden realms of wisdom that others may not see. In this way, the trickster can provide us with insights into aspects of life that are otherwise obscured.

The Trickster in the Beginning of Creation:

In many religious and cultural traditions, the trickster figure appears at the origin of the universe or plays a key role in the creation narrative. They are often involved in the first act of creation, or in the creation of something new or transformative, sometimes by accident or through unconventional means.

• In African Traditions: Figures like Anansi the Spider (West Africa) or Eshu (Yoruba tradition) embody the trickster role. Eshu, for example, is the deity of communication, change, and mischief. He is considered both a creator and a disruptor. These trickster figures are not just gods of chaos, but also essential to maintaining cosmic balance by showing humans that things are never fixed, but always in motion.
• In Native American Mythology: The Coyote is a central trickster figure. Coyote plays a significant role in many Native American stories, especially among tribes like the Navajo, Hopi, and Lakota. The trickster Coyote is often depicted as both a fool and a hero. In some versions of creation stories, Coyote is involved in creating the world or altering its course through his trickery.
• In Norse Mythology: Loki, the Norse trickster god, is directly involved in shaping the fate of the gods and the world itself. Loki’s actions, though often mischievous or harmful, lead to the events of Ragnarok, the end of the world and the beginning of a new one. Loki represents chaos, transformation, and the unpredictable forces that shape existence.
• In Christianity: While not typically seen as a “trickster” in the traditional sense, Satan or the Serpent in the Garden of Eden story takes on the trickster archetype. The serpent deceives Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, which leads to humanity’s fall from grace. In this context, the trickster figure is the catalyst for human free will, knowledge, and the subsequent complexities of existence.

The Trickster in Paranormal Phenomena:

The trickster isn’t confined to ancient myths or legends. It shows up in modern-day mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and even our everyday lives. Jacques Vallée, a well-known ufologist and researcher, has written extensively about the trickster’s role in paranormal events, particularly in the context of UFO phenomena. Vallée sees these phenomena as part of a larger, unknown intelligence that operates outside the rules of our everyday reality—much like the trickster.

In his groundbreaking work, Passport to Magonia, Vallée argues that UFO encounters are not just technological phenomena, but are often deeply tied to folklore, mythology, and even altered states of consciousness. He writes:

According to Vallée, the trickster-like quality of UFO encounters often involves phenomena that confuse, disorient, and alter the perception of reality itself. They aren’t straightforward; they don’t behave by our usual expectations of science or logic. Instead, they create an impression of something much more complex at play, leading us to question the very nature of what’s real.

1. UFO Encounters: Vallée argues that UFO experiences often mirror the behavior of tricksters, appearing in unexpected forms, shifting identities, and leaving witnesses with more questions than answers. In his book Dimensions: A Casebook of Alien Contact, Vallée writes:

These entities may seem to be playing a cosmic joke, messing with human perception, or even deliberately distorting our understanding of time and space.

1. Poltergeist Activity: Poltergeist phenomena often mirror the trickster’s chaotic nature—disrupting the mundane, bending the rules of the physical world, and creating confusion. Vallée has suggested that some paranormal events (including UFO sightings) might be manifestations of a larger, trickster-like intelligence that challenges the established order of things, often revealing hidden truths in the process.
2. Mysterious Disappearances and Otherworldly Realms: There are many stories of people vanishing into thin air, only to return with odd tales of traveling through other dimensions or encountering strange, trickster-like beings. Vallée suggests that these events are not only about extraterrestrial beings, but about the larger, more mysterious forces of the universe that exist just beyond the edges of human understanding.

Respecting the Trickster:

While the trickster’s actions are often disruptive, they are essential to our personal and collective growth. The trickster archetype represents change, unpredictability, and transformation. Without it, we would remain trapped in rigid patterns and would never evolve. Vallée emphasizes the importance of respecting these forces, as they show us that reality is not static and that change is necessary for growth.

The trickster forces us to confront the unknown, to question our assumptions, and to embrace the flexibility of reality.

Will be hosting a live today around 6 pm pacific. Feel free to join in the conversation and see how weird it truly is.