Does anyone know anything about 'Chasing the Manticora'?

As far as I am aware, it is about summoning all of your fears and facing them. From what I understand, you create a thought form. You release it and it chases you. You perform this somewhere out in the wilds. The idea is that it chases you, then you face it, deal with it, and chase it off. You are supposed to work in the caveat that you're given no more than you can bare. Has anyone heard of this, or something like it? I know there is a very similar attitude to dream fears... those that chase you if you face them they evaporate and loose their power over you, but this is about life fears and facing them. I'm wondering if its a Voodou or African shamanic practice as the Manticore is an African Beetle associated with death.

Im aware that there are some other cultures that face fears in the same way, as in giving them form, and I know I have some information somewhere on giving fear form, but that is to give enemies fear form and use it against them... this isnt the same thing.

Any help gratefully accepted!

Have you tried Manticore? I believe that it was a tiger/lion type animal based in folklore of Asia and Indonesia. It's name may have been mutated to manticora.

Hope this helps. Failing that, I bet Thin could shed some light on it

TAK

Damn TAK!

I KNEW it sounded familiar. Thank you! That is definately another line I will look into.

Knew it sounded familiar - from bestiaries, and (of course) dear old Harry P.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manticore

This site has all his little pals listed too,
http://monsters.monstrous.com/manticore.htm

For a horrible moment I thought it was sunmatto do with heroin!

I know it's not the same thing, but I use the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear* to help from time to time.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

* From Frank Herbert's Dune

If this is something you are planning on doing, then my advice, for what it's worth, is to be careful. Research, and prepare well, this sort of ritual could give form to some nasties that unless you are ready and prepared to deal with them, could take quite a bit of defeating. A lot of our fears are illogical, blown up out of proportion, and essentially harmless... but some have their roots deep in the psyche, and will not go quietly. Facing and integrating with the shadow self can be just as effective, and might be worth doing some work with first. Make sure you are beginning with a whole and balanced self, before you go animating your worst nightmares. In any case, I admire your resolve, and wish you strength and success.

WyrdWoman - I had a close friend who referred to that in times of need Nicely put I must say, even though I never liked the book (sorry! I know it has a fanatical following, but just wasn't my bag...)



Ah, HR, when I scanned the post I thought you were talking about the person in the guise of shaman there, not the fear

Equally as true

The bring-it-on side of me says go for it! Tear yourself apart and come back the stronger. My alter ego agrees with HR - prepare yourself, think dead carefully about what you're getting into and book a month off. If you do it properly, not just sitting around on the couch eating chocolate and watching Dr. Phil, you can really hit a break point. It will change you, it will change a lot about you - you will need emergency recovery time immediately after and it will take a few months, possibly longer, to know your new skin. Possibility also exists not to be entirely successful and to end up a bit of a half-way crumpled mess that needs a lot of counselling. Can happen.

Can. Worms.

Preparation is key. One or two very strong and extremely healthy friends of the occult persuasion also recommended incase things go wrong.

Space, both personal and geographical also required.

When you take on a project like this what you may well prepare yourself is to confront your own fears. What people rarely ever expect to confront is their own ego.

In daily life your ego acts as your protector - it fields harmful attitudes, vibes and what knot. It is your guardian so well disguised you don't realise it's there.

In rituals such as the one you're talking about - your ego becomes your enemy. So ingrained is its job and so second-nature are its abilities that you must literally fight to disarm it and it will try and step in at every turn. Unless you can disarm the ego you will not face your fears in open combat and, like a badly pulled tooth, parts of the root will remain leading to potentially long-term psychological problems.

This again is why experienced friends (no more than two) are necessary - because they can separate the you from your ego and slap you back to sense when you're flopping about on the floor. They need to be strong, no-BSers. They won't be present at the time but you'll probably need them afterwards both in recovery or head-fluck mode if it doesn't turn out. Two is a good number so you don't bore the one to death - they can take it in turns

Hine touches very briefly on Madness and Mystical Journeys in Oven Ready Chaos, but the one you'll probably want to read is an essay called Howling in Aspects of Evocation - both to be found here.

Good luck and gods bless. Let us know how you go.

Marion.

Sorry Xalle - just realised it was you posting and you didn't need all that spiel lol Perhaps someone will find it of use

Sounds like something out the Mummy - tried Egypt? Or, as TAK suggests, Asia.

What was it called in Greek and Roman history when you were chased by your own conscience? Usually happened to murderers.