Star Wire: The Trickster Season
Welcome to this week’s Star Wire: The Trickster Season.
Chaos, humor, and mischief are more than just distractions — they’re teachers. From Loki’s cunning to the Merry Pranksters’ rolling theater on the Furthur bus, tricksters invite us to see the world upside down, question what seems fixed, and discover wisdom in unexpected places. This week, we explore the sacred fool, the playful disruptor, and the revelatory power of creative chaos. Buckle up, and enjoy the ride.
✨ The Constellation: Articles
Yeah, Yeah, Right! Right! Right! On the Bus with Merry Prankster Ken Babbs
Ken Babbs takes you behind the scenes of the Merry Pranksters’ legendary bus trip, revealing the mind-bending antics, theatrical chaos, and radical community experiments that made the journey a living work of art.
The Trickster Archetype: Mischief, Transformation, and the Instability of Life
Explore how tricksters like Loki, Hermes, and Coyote embody disruption, humor, and insight, showing that chaos can be a path to personal and cultural transformation.
Character Archetypes: The Mischievous Mayhem of The Trickster
A practical look at the trickster in storytelling — the boundary-breaking character who stirs conflict, reveals truth, and keeps audiences guessing.
‘Pranksters’ and Our History of Fools (Book Review)
A lively review tracing the lineage of pranksters and fools in modern culture, showing how humor, chaos, and clever subversion illuminate society’s hidden truths.
🌀 The Pulse: Featured Video
Trickster Gods and the Mortals Who Love Them | Fate & Fabled
From Loki to Coyote, this 9-minute video examines trickster figures across world mythology. Learn how these playful disruptors break rules, provoke reflection, and remind mortals that wisdom often comes wrapped in chaos.
🍸 The Recipe: Poison Apple Trickster & Trickster’s Tacos
Cocktail: Poison Apple Trickster
Ingredients (1 drink):
- 2 oz white rum (or vodka)
- 1 oz apple schnapps
- ½ oz lime juice (fresh)
- ½ oz cinnamon schnapps
- A drop of black food gel or very dark syrup (for the “poison” effect)
- Ice
- Garnish: apple slice or cinnamon stick
Instructions:
- Combine rum, apple schnapps, and lime juice in a shaker with ice.
- Rim or garnish your glass if desired.
- Pour into the serving glass.
- Separately mix cinnamon schnapps + black food gel as a “poison” insert.
- To drink: pour the “poison” into the cocktail and stir.
Food: Trickster’s Tacos
Ingredients (for 6 tacos):
- Protein: 1 lb shredded chicken or (for vegetarians,)1 can young green jackfruit in water/brine (not syrup)
- 1 tbsp chipotle chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp cumin (optional, for jackfruit)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp oil
- 6 small corn tortillas
- ½ cup pineapple salsa (pineapple + red onion + jalapeño + cilantro + lime)
- ½ cup avocado-mayo sauce (avocado + mayo + lime + garlic)
- ¼ cup pickled red cabbage
Instructions
For chicken:
- Season chicken with chipotle, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Cook in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and shreddable.
For jackfruit:
- Drain and rinse jackfruit thoroughly. Trim any tough core pieces and shred with fingers or forks.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add jackfruit, chipotle, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sauté 5–10 minutes.
- Add 2–3 tbsp water or broth, simmer 5–10 minutes until softened and flavorful. Optional: pan-fry briefly for crispy edges.
Assemble tacos:
- Warm tortillas.
- Layer: tortilla → chicken or jackfruit → pineapple salsa → pickled cabbage → drizzle avocado-mayo sauce.
- Serve with lime wedge.
Trickster twist: Sweet pineapple surprises the palate, and the pickled cabbage adds an unexpected crunch — chaos on a plate, perfectly mischievous.
That’s it for this week’s StarWire.
Carry a little chaos with you this week, poke the boundaries of the ordinary, and see what unexpected truths emerge. Until next time, Ciao!
