Ordered Chaos..Does this sound familiar?

Trickster.....

Many cultures if not all, are mesmerized by the appearance of order, even at the expense of true harmony. For instance, a family may pressure a child into a certain career or even marriage with the intention of maintaining a 'position' in their community. This pressure can sometimes create intense resentment and rebellion in the child if their heart calls for something different.

Interestingly, it appears the word order has its origins in the Latin word ordinem which meant 'a row of threads in a loom'. We cloak ourselves in a beautiful woven shawl, with intricate and organized design (order, society, laws). But without the messy rot and decay of nature (chaos, disorder), the soil wouldn't support the healthy life of the sheep, the giver of wool.

The perfect evidence of the understanding of the value of chaos is in the Trickster archetype. Trickster myths and stories appear in almost every culture. Trickster never obeys the laws of society and sometimes even breaks the laws of the Gods. The Trickster at times benefits us as in some South West Native American tales in which Coyote steals fire from the Fire Beings and brings it to humans. Yet at other times Trickster's actions seem to benefit no one, including himself. Trickster breaks rules and laws, steals and embarrasses.

In some European monarchies, ordered chaos appeared in the form of the court jester. The tradition of the court jester wasn't simply to entertain the king but also to keep him informed of the common peoples struggles; even to criticize his weaknesses...to bring him down a peg. As a safe liaison between the folk and the royalty, the jester was able to broach subjects others would have been severely punished for. This kind of chaos was valued as an important aspect of making a worthy leader (we could us a court jester in the White House..I nominate Jon Stewart....). In all the kingdom no one had the freedom to both amuse and abuse the king the like court jester who often used satire to convey controversial political ideas.


To have everything in its place and a place for everything is not really possible, at least in the ordered way folks attempt it. Mess, untimeliness, straying from patterns and sequence is part of the universal order.....we are part of a larger sea, whose waves at times are rhythmic and soothing and at times, unpredictable and violent. Through his escapades the Trickster reminds us of what is truly important and of our natural place in the Universe. Trickster is the priest of ordered chaos and his presence in our myths demonstrates the innate understanding of it.