Trolls

(Trollensis Horriblis)

Defined

Trolls are unpleasant, smelly creatures usually found living under bridges in troops. As creatures of the shadow world, trolls will attack and seek to undermine your integrity. Advanced players learn how to tap troll energy for constructive purposes.

Troll Appearance

Trolls come in many shapes and forms -- usually untidy or uncomely. They can be small, unwashed, mean-spirited, competitive, rivalrous, bowlegged, carbuncled and invasive. Sometimes they can appear beautiful, graceful, and charming since trolls, you see, have magical powers. But do not be deceived. They are pure troll underneath.

Trolls can appear in the external world in the guise of real people, situations, or even environmental conditions (rare). Frequently they will show up in your own psyche like some jinn in the Thousand and One Nights, suddenly thrusting his head out of a lake.

Troll Attack

Trolls work for the Ministry of Desolation and Despair. Like viruses or molds, trolls are opportunists and watch for your vulnerabilities. (See Principle of Vulnerability.) Thus, when things are cold and damp, when you are exhausted, in heavy stress, have suffered a loss or reverse, have been beaten down by routine, or are under the weather (yes, especially when you are under the weather), you are susceptible to a troll attack. The first thing a troll will do is attempt to decouple you from your integrity -- break your sense of ease and steadiness and gravitas, your trust in your connection to the universe. (See Attack Integrity)

There are really so many artful ways trolls go about their work. A sudden change in mood, a cloud comes over a perfectly happy day, and suddenly you will start having doubts about your abilities or someone or something, which are completely uncalled for, and you do not know why. Or you will begin to obsess over trivia and then a voice starts telling you that you are ugly and a failure and your big brother is famous and why can't you be famous too since you know that's what you really want (pure poison). The voice can come to you in your waking state or in a dream, or out of the mouth of someone you thought was a colleague or a friend.

Troll Spoor

As we become sophisticated we can pick up the spoor early on, upstream so to speak. You may start having a creepy-crawly feeling for no reason at all. Or your sense of timing and sequencing may start to go haywire: hopping consciousness: 'this' does not naturally follow 'that' -- the rhythm of things gets jerky. Trolls may leave their scent in dreams or simply a loss of presence. You may find yourself rushing, rushing, and not paying much attention to anything. Perhaps it is simply a lapse of attentiveness, but there may also be signs of a warring party of trolls in your neighborhood.

Troll Control

In practicing the recondite art of troll control the first thing you must do is to become fully present -- something like the sign of the cross or garlic in the Middle Ages. Trolls literally cannot stand your being present and will fade into the shadows. (See Am I Thoroughly Awake and Present, Observe With The Empty Mind and Self Watching Self.)
When confronting a troll the first thing you must do is acknowledge its presence: "Ah, it is you again. I know you well."
You have many weapons. There are different styles and approaches. The most primitive, no-nonsense approach cuts off the troll's head -- "Get out of my sight! Drop dead! . . . " But sometimes this doesn't work. You are expending too much energy and the trolls will feed upon your energy.

Usually a better way is containment -- just watching with a sense of curiosity, wonder, and humor. The trolls can't stand that! They may become more aggressive -- ignore them. It's only hot air. Keep watching. You might even start to smile.

When you can smile even in the darkness something miraculous can happen. The troll energy will start to transform and in its purified form will transfer to you for your creative work. This is called "finding the jewel in the toad's head" or transforming the shadow into gold.

If you sense you are in the midst of a troll attack you have a wealth of tactics and moves at your disposal.
- If you are exhausted or under stress, take a break and rest. Do not make an important decision.
- If you have suffered a reverse or a loss, analyze your errors objectively, review your budget, work on mission and then ask your integrity what is the best next move.
- If you are simply out of sorts, go for a walk in nature and practice being fully present.
- If you start becoming critical or self-abusive, tell yourself it is just a mood and it will pass, and most important, be a little generous with yourself. The trolls will attempt to starve you so your counter move is self-nourishment.

The more successful you are, the more resourceful the trolls will become and their movements will become more subtle and interesting. Whereas before they worked upon your sense of desolation and despair now increasingly they may play upon your vanity. However, when you reach this stage troll work is really quite wonderful. It is somewhat like having your own in-house six degree black belt sparring partner, who may have a nasty streak but who has seen much of the world--a person from whom you can learn something. At this point your psyche can become a virtual dojo (Japanese: training hall) for your practice and play.

You cannot learn to deal with the trolls simply by studying theory. They are too much of the real world(!) for the classroom. You must have concrete cases. We study by doing:

Troll Attack - Compromised Integrity: Five times this week you acted without vigilance (See Principle of Vigilance) and took action in the midst of a troll attack and the results.

Troll Attack - Reclaimed Integrity: Five times this week you caught yourself in the above situation, took remedial action to reclaim your integrity, and the results.

Troll Attack - Anticipatory Action: Five times this week you paid attention to the signs and signals and intercepted a troll attack before it occurred.