Trolls have a purpose

I think pretty much everyone is familiar with the childhood fairy tales of hideous trolls that dwell beneath bridges and suddenly pop out to attack and devour hapless and unwary travelers. The thing is trolls are alive and well and often are confronted by us as we travel along our life's path. The physical appearance of a troll is that of a normal human being, but the inner self of the troll which they try very much to conceal, even for many years until they suddenly decide to reveal their hideousness to us is quite ugly indeed. Trolls always seek the easy path to power and control, and will wheedle, deceive, and connive to get as close to the "power" as they can, and as soon as they think they have wrung the usefulness out of you, they try to devour you or if they suddenly perceive you as a threat, or obstacle, they will attack. They are very good at spreading sugar around to bait people, and are intentionally misleading as long as it suits their purpose, but sooner or later like the fairy-tale troll that hides beneath the bridge, they will suddenly spring up seemingly out of nowhere, completely taking you by surprise and  attack you with a fury and intensity that your worst enemy would never consider. Like the fairytale troll, they metaphorically try to devour you.

I have encountered many many such trolls, and likely will encounter more in the future. We all have. Some had been accepted into our Coven. They seemed very sincere and hardworking at first, but as a few months went by, it could be seen they were well versed in theory, but fell well short in practice. They always look for the shortcut and are not inclined to do the hard work it takes for self-development. They want things given to them and if you do not give them what they want they simply try to take it. When that fails they attack with everything in their limited arsenal. They spread lies and rumors and bully others into backing them up as they systematically assassinate your character. The assault is both brutal and painful to experience and it is difficult to not become angry from the pain inflicted and the perceived damage they are doing in our lives.

Trolls remind me of a story I once read someplace, which was a Christianized version of the same scenerio.

There was a traveler who had a goal in his mind that he wanted very much to reach as he walked along a winding path. One day he met a large being standing upon his path blocking his way. "Good sir" said the traveler, "Would you mind stepping aside so that I may continue my journey?" The stranger said nothing only stood there with his arms folded across his chest. So the travel made as if to step around the silent being, but quick as a wink the adversary tossed him to the ground. The travel landed so hard that the wind was knocked out of him. The traveler was at first stunned then as he got his breath while watching the being standing over him with arms crossed over his chest he became angry, and sprung up, only to be dashed down again. This happened again and again and again, until finally his anger abated, exhausted from his efforts, the travel lay there in the dust upon the path and asked. "Who are you? and Why is it that every time I rise to my feet you dash me back upon the ground?" Then the stranger explained, "I am Satan, My purpose is to make you stronger." Traveler replied, "Stronger? why I am so weak from exhaustion that I can hardly move!"  Satan said, "Each time I have cast you down, have you not become stronger and more determined?"

Such is the purpose of people like that who suddenly for reasons of their own become "the adversary." And no it is definitely not a pleasant situation. Very often, though not always the case, they are people we have grown to trust and consider as close friends. And when this is the case the attack takes us even more by surprise and is even more painful. Sometimes these trolls will form alliances as long as it is mutually beneficial to them and will team up on someone, or an entire group of people. But as soon as they can see no benefit with the alliance they will turn on each other. So they really do not have any real friends, they are only capable of the illusion of friendship.

A troll attack can last for several months, but eventually they get tired of the effort, because it takes a lot of work to keep up a constant assault. Remember though that trolls do not like doing any REAL work, so they will eventually forget all about you and move on to their next perceived, source of power. If you allow yourself to stoop to their level, and return the attack they will see you as a threat as long as you retaliate. But if you choose to rise above  them, not allowing their assault to affect you, they will tire more quickly and move on and forget all about you.

Yes trolls are very good at slinging mud, but they really have no more power over you than you give them. If you refuse to get down on their level and wallow in the mud with them, the mud will not stick to you and others will see the troll for the hideous creature it actually is.

I actually touched on this in part twp, Chapter 6 of "the Wiccan Minister's Manual, a Guide For Priests and Priestesses" The exerpt is below.

Blessings!

When we face the truth about ourselves, and become truthful with ourselves. We begin upon a new and wonderful road of discovery and growth. When we are truthful with ourselves, we can become truthful with others, and become known as a person of truth who can be trusted. It takes a long time to build this image of a person of integrity. It takes one disgruntled person to cloud that image with accusations of falsehood, which they pull from the image they have of themselves.

Being painted as a liar, and an untrustworthy person is probably the gravest and worst thing anyone can say about a practitioner of magick. People are quick to believe the worst in others because they see the worst in themselves. And people tend to resent anyone whom they may feel might, in their eyes be better than they are. If people believe that a person of integrity has “fallen from grace,” they can feel superior to that person, and thus for at least a little while feel good about themselves.

If the person is a person of integrity, he or she may feel wounded, or hurt by the accusations, more so if those accusations come from a trusted and dear friend. But if the person is indeed a person of integrity, he or she will trust that eventually, his/her word of truth and deeds will speak for themselves and the stain upon the cloaking thoughtform will fade. While the person who initiated the stain will be exposed for the lying, deceitful, poison-filled individual that he or she may be. For persons of integrity may have mud slung at them, but it quickly washes off, as long as the person refuses to wallow in the mud with the mudslinger.

Everyone makes mistakes. They are part of the learning process of being human. Acknowledging those mistakes and learning the lessons they teach us, is a means of growth. We shall all trip and stumble along our path through life. Sometimes we will even fall and fall hard. But we must pick ourselves up, and dust ourselves off and get on with the process of living. It is easy to give into the temptation of slinging mud back at those who sling mud at us. It is easy to give into the temptation of visiting pain upon those who cause us pain. It is easy to fall into the trap of lying to others about our shortcomings. But when we give into those temptations, we loose our integrity, and we become the person others wish we were, rather then the person we will ourselves to be. To be known as a person of truth, a person of integrity, and a person who can always be trusted and counted upon. So in this way, no matter what others may say against you, you will always be thought of as a person whom others would like to aspire to, a person of her/his word.