Am I A Victim Of Bambi Mentality?

MedicineCards_7SkunkToday’s card is from a deck I rarely dip into. Part of that is because it isn’t a Tarot deck. It’s an Oracle deck. Some Oracle decks I use more than others. I used to use this one more too. Here is a favorite card of mine. Some might wonder why I am so fond of it when the animal isn’t really one of those “super cute” woodland creatures.

I guess I’m just a victim of Bambi mentality. I look at this card and think, “He can call my flower if he wants to” in that sweet little voice of Flower from the Disney movie, Bambi. And I just melt. I remember the teasing that was about to start on poor, innocent Bambi and the little skunk boy dissipates it all by telling the others he didn’t mind the name.

Have you ever been the one who diffused the pack mentality? The one who said that you just didn’t care about something so someone else didn’t get picked on or mocked?

Ever been the one who said something others deemed stupid and had to take all the teasing for however long the teasing went on?

At some point, teasing gets old. I have a friend that I STILL tease about something. He’s a super good sport about it but sometimes I wonder…has it just gotten old for him? Or is it something he can laugh about with us? Guess I need to just ask him. Maybe he’s been being Flower all along for me. Wonder if he’s tired of that.

Skunks are neat animals who apparently make rather fascinating companion animals. I really like that they are extremely clear about their boundaries. If they don’t want you crossing them, first they stomp their feet at you. Then they lift their tail. Once they are standing up on their front fee, it’s pretty much toooooooo late.

Do you have clear boundaries? Around teasing and being teased? It’s a weird area for me. I’m not really sure I know when to stamp my feet and when to just, as it were, stand on my head. Because once I go there, it’s tooooooo late and feelings are going to be hurt.

Not sure where this post was going, but here’s where it ended. Take three minutes today to review situations where you are the teaser. Ask yourself if it has gone on long enough. Or maybe, just maybe, ask the person you are teasing. Who knows? Like Flower, they may just enjoy the attention.

Skunk, Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals by Sams, Jamie, Carson, David Book&Cards Edition (9/1/1997), U.S.Games

Blame, Victims & Storytelling

Today’s card is from an oracle deck. It’s an intriguing card to be becasue of the open mouth of the figurine. As usual, I have not looked at the book so I don’t know what the intention of the artist is. I just know how I react to it.

I’m a storyteller. My family winces when I recount my childhood memories because I am wont to embellish upon those events. My sister often reminds me in her straightforward Capricorn way that she was there too and things did not happen the way I remembered.

Shrug. It’s always funnier or more emotionally engaging in my rendition.

This card has the keyword of expansion. I would also have to be honest and point out that as much as I embellish the funny bits to make them funnier, I have deepened the sad parts to make them sadder. I have to watch myself on that. Those are the stories I used to tell myself to make me look like I needed saving.

How many of those people do we know in our every day life? The ones who are perpetual victims of some trauma? I’m not talking about those who are truly in bad situations. I mean the ones who rant and rave that the world is against them.

If everyone were out to get someone, don’t you think they would have succeeded by now? So if you know someone who never has a good day? Who is always unveiling the latest plot against them? Who is inevitably no longer friends with someone for some trumped up reason?

Ask yourself this question. What part do they play in their own victim-hood? What energy are they putting out that calls so much bad into their world.

OMG! Is Arwen blaming the victim, y’all?

No, because I think the victim is those who have this type of person in their lives. Think of all the energy you expend to deal with the constant drama. Where is it getting you?

Tell your own stories. Embellish the good. Underplay the bad. Don’t let someone else’s stories take over your world. That’s all this post is about today.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Storyteller, Sacred Path Cards: The Discovery of Self Through Native Teachings, HarperOne, 1990