Cracked Pot Meditations – Adversary

Meditation for January 15^th

Adversary

Love is mentioned in all of the most popular spiritual teachings, self-help practices, and treatments. Trying to love oneself and then loving others becomes a daily goal and guiding principle for those who seek to love themselves. Whole libraries of books are dedicated to the art of love, whether it is sexual, familial, or simply about getting along in the human world. Love is the spirit that lifts us when we are down, helps us help others, and gives us fulfillment. It just doesn’t help us get ahead.

Having an adversary is an even better way to lift our spirits, help others, and give us fulfillment. In fact, having an arch-nemesis is the key to living a purposeful life. The competition alone drives us to be better, smarter, wiser, and stronger. Having someone set guidelines to help wake up better every morning and crush that person. When we are in love, we put others’ needs before our own, and that means we get left behind. Being full of hate means we will crawl our way over the bodies of our haters to get ahead, which is success.

This isn’t a person you hate. This is the person that you resent, but is always in your life. You may even share friends and family. People might mention that person’s successes to you, and you want to tell that person that you’ve done something like that, but better. If something really awful happens to the person, you almost feel bad for them and hope they pull through, but secretly wish it was their fault they fell.

A superhero fights a villain. Some superheroes are only superheroes because of the villain. The villain always gives away the details of their secret plan because they have little respect for the superhero. Don’t be the villain, be the superhero, by getting the villain, your arch-nemesis, to question everything they do. 

You want an adversary who will hate when you succeed. Someone who, when they fail, brings you joy. While you don’t want your enemy to succeed, you don’t want them beating you all the time, but you want a challenge. Pick someone who is your equal, but maybe slightly less than you. You will be more successful this way.

Prayer

Dearest God of Lords n Stuff,

smite my enemy down,

so that I may win.

No. Scratch that.

I need this person to live.

I need this person to be doing well enough

so that my successes will shine across your magnificent heavens.

May this person be always at my feet,

but never able to pass.

Lord of all of God’s Lords who Lord over our World,

Let us meet in battle,

my enemy and I,

and smash into each other,

peck to peck,

abs to abs

hip to hip,

so that we may fall to the dry earth,

But yet it begins to rain,

and the dirt becomes mud,

and our bodies slide over each other,

our muscles and sinew bending to fit the other’s,

may the rain fall and fall,

so that our hot bodies may cool,

may our steamy warm breaths breathe in each other’s ears,

As our bodies are locked in melee,

and we strain ever so strongly, intensely, dominate one another,

to make a cry submission,

on his back,

panting with his tongue lapping for air,

like a dog in heat,

and trying to wipe the mud and blood off his chest,

and the other straddles him triumphantly.

Please, Mr. God-dude?

Amen.

Craft

Read all the comics that share the story of the villain and the superhero’s relationship, because you can use the knowledge you found there and create that with the person you choose to be your adversary. Force the story if you have to.

Create a comic about your origins and the ongoing battles with your adversaries. Make sure it is obvious who you are and who your adversary is. Even use real names if your artwork is terrible. Mail it to your adversary.

Goal

Put together dossiers of possible adversaries. Read about them, study them; find out who makes that fire burn in your soul while reading about that person. Get pictures. See which face makes you burn with rage and hate, but with respect and admiration at the same time. Who do you wish were your best friend,t wiped off the face of the earth at the same time? Who would you find glee watching burn in a fire but cry uncontrollably at the funeral? Who do you wish you could give up your seat on a long train ride so that they could recline in comfort while you strain to stand to show the world you are a better person? This is the person who will become your adversary.

To really live life to its fullest, you must have an adversary.