Heyoka's Way

What is a heyoka? It is a lakota word describing the role of a member of society who seemingly lives in a manner that is contrary to those around them, or in opposition to the "norm". A heyoka often makes people feel uncomfortable, or may behave in a way that is shocking to the status quo. This role of extremism is a beautiful gesture of the universe balancing itself. Yin within Yang, and Yang within Yin. Other words to describe such a person may include: Contrarian, Wabi Sabi (Japanese for the beauty of imbalance or imperfection), and Devil's Advocate. This role was seen as an important balancing factor in tribal culture, providing an alternative perspective that may make people reconsider their intentions and morals. Heyokas are often jokers/tricksters, but also hold special abilities. All mythology and folklore around the world contains a character who plays the heyoka, the individual who ultimately creates a chaotic environment that brings about an important decision, relationship, or change. I think of characters such as Loki, Hiranyakashipu, or the Fox as being such contrarians. Often these characters are actually highly spiritually and intellectually advanced, and they have close relationships with the divine, such as being great yogis, having second sight, or being the child of a major world leader. You could say that embracing that which is contrary is like looking deep into the darkest corner of existence, and honoring the reflection of self which exists there. The importance of embracing the contrarian form cannot be overstated--it is not until we can embrace opposition that we will be able to embrace ourselves as whole and dynamic beings who are capable of unification.

I found this gorgeous artwork on: https://dakini.fatedtoend.com/heyoka/

Brigitte's article on this website is also a wonderful read on the subject of heyoka wisdom.