Foolkillers
Eskimo lore describes a simple and economical way to kill the arctic
wolf. The hunter cuts his finger with his knife, smears a few drops of
his blood on the blade, then jams the bloody knife point first into the
ice. The wolf, attracted by the scent of the fresh blood, licks at the
blade, licks again, tasting the flow of his own blood from his now
lacerated tongue, licks, and slowly bleeds to death while feasting on
his own blood. The wolf is done in by his own instincts, his very
"wolfness". This is the classic "foolkiller", the essence of nemesis.
We humans, too, fall prey to foolkillers. Are we not all fools, and are
we not dominated by, and ultimately slain by our own illusions? Given a
weakness or vice, there is a corresponding vulnerability.
- Addictive substances, i.e., drugs, alcohol, tobacco.
- Dangerous associations: predators, opportunists, parasites.
- Abusive/exploitative relationships.
- Violent temper / expressing anger in inappropriate ways.
- Corruption.
- Dishonesty.
- Recreational sex.
- Cults.
- Gambling.
- Self-centeredness.
- Self-indulgence.
- Greed.
- Cynicism.
- Bitterness.
- Self-destructive habits.
- Get rich quick schemes and swindles.
- Dead-end jobs.
- Going into debt to support a "lifestyle".
- Conformity to fashion.
- Television watching / passive entertainment.