Dissolving our ‘Triggers’

Trigger fingers, pulling the trigger, trigger happy

Still new to downtown Austin in 2001, I visited the infamous Book People shop. Unexpectedly, an author who called himself ManWoman was giving a book talk on The Gentle Swastika: Reclaiming the Innocence.

Intrigued, I took a seat and listened to his story tracing the origins of the mark known as a swastika, a controversial symbol co-opted by Hitler worldwide in the 1930s. The author noted that the glyph was not invented by Hitler. Just as the cross was used in ‘holy’ war campaigns during the Spanish Inquisition, the swastika got a bad name. Charles Manson carved a swastika on his forehead bringing the mark again into public view. I took a deep sigh of relief learning about the ancient origins of an image that held the world hostage.

Swastikaphobia spread like wildfire. It seems relative today to relay some of what I learned considering a trend of fascism resurfacing in the media. I feel led to dissolve both some of my ‘trigger’ words and emotions knowing there is also a a collective sensitivity that mocks a mere image of which many know little about.

The book author explained that he used the penname of ManWoman because of his journey of discovery travelling the globe to find the origin story. Truth-telling is as important as truth-busting!

Historians tend to agree that the symbol first appeared in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Not unlike the 4-leaf clover the swastika evolved as a sacred mark found around the globe carved on ornate pillars in temples and on mosaic walls. Also prevalent in the Mayan, Aztec and Incan cultures marked on tombs, pottery of the Incas and a favorite design of the Peruvians.

One derivative is that the four arms represent the seasons or phases of the moon, and in modern times the 4-fold heart. In the Southwest U.S., there are Zuni paintings, Pueblo rattles and Blackfoot shields displaying the graphic.

In the 21st century the symbol evolved in commercial branding on products and even vintage wishes of luck and affection on postcards and jewelry.

What if we add some attention to detoxify and redeem distorted images and information to discover deeper meanings that our programmed ideas? I began doodling my own smiley swastikas to see new messages as I reclaim the innocence of a long-lived glyph.

No longer a trigger that emotes fear, anger and despair, I have dissolved the distorted view of an emblem. My attention is drawn to notice other perceptions that may need another look.