23 - Opossum - Diversion

23

Opossum

Diversion

Opossum......

Roll over !

Are you really dead? 

Or just playing Possum?

Was it something I said?

Opossum's greatest form of protection is to play dead.

In doing this Opossum confuses many a predator into believing that the game is over.

Oftentimes the confused rival walks away or looks the other direction for a moment, and Opossum  runs to safety.

Opossum medicine uses a great deal of strategy.  

If all else fails, Opossum plays dead.

It has the ability to fight with its claws and teeth, but it rarely uses this form of protection.

Instead the supreme strategy of diversion is constantly employed when things get a little too hard to handle.

Opossum has developed and act that would receive an Academy Award in the animal kingdom.

The musk of the death scent is secreted at will adding to the master play that sends enemies on many trails of confusion.

If Opossum has turned up in your cards, you are being asked to use strategy in some present situation.

Rely upon instincts for the best way out of a tight corner.

If you have to pretend to be apathetic or unafraid, do it !

Oftentimes if you refuse to struggle or show that hurtful words bother you, your taunter will see no further fun in the game.  

Warriors have used Opossum  medicine for centuries, playing dead when the enemy nears and outnumbers them.

Then, in a flash , when the enemy is least expecting it, the war cry is heard.

The fright of this serves to further confuse the unsuspecting opposition.

Victory is sweet when the strategy is one of mental as well as physical prowess.

Opossum may be relaying to you that you are to expect the unexpected and be clever in achieving your victory.

This could be a victory over a bothersome salesman or a nosy neighbour.

In essence, Opossum is beckoning you to use your brain, your sense of drama , and surprise - to  leap over some barrier to your progress.

Contrary:

In the reversed position, Opossum may be warning you against getting caught in the high drama of your life s present scenario.

"Close your eyes and dramatize," may keep you from seeing the truth of a situation.

You may buy into melodrama in yourself or others.

You might as well play dead if you are justifying what you are doing with a tragic victim routine.

If this concept does not apply to your situation , take a look at the possibility that you may have recently been giving excuses for why you don't want to do something instead of telling the truth.

In fearing to hurt someone s feelings you may have trapped  yourself in a justification pattern:

"I'm too sick, 

I'm too poor , 

I'm watching my weight, 

I'm too 

short,  

tall ,

mad 

sad 

busy, 

tired, 

etc.

"In having to defend yourself with excuses, you may have lost the point.

"You don't' have to defend your right to be!"

The exercise is in learning to politely say that something would not be appropriate for you at this time.

That's all!

You owe  no one an excuses.

Learn to imitate Opossum and play dead in the sense that the best strategy is no defense.

In assuming the viewpoint of no defense, you have chosen the right to be who and what you are with no games involved.

The proper use of diversion is to know when you do not need to use diversion at all.

You owe no one an excuse for how you feel or what  you choose to experience.

Source: 

Sams, Jamie and Carson,
David. Medicine Cards 
(Santa Fe: Bear and Company, 1988).