Zen of Tiger. what is the zen of tiger? well the basic idea is very simple I am a tiger not literally of course but in spirit. I was born in the year of the tiger. weather or not this has anything to do with my personality based on when I was born perhaps is debatable however we are what we believe and from the time I was very young I have associated with the tiger perhaps because I was told it was my year and that it defined me or perhaps because i defined myself by my association with the animal. Regardless of what you believe the fact remains the same that my personality is very much like a tiger or at least my view of what a tiger may be.
This can be both negative and positive as with anything. However I think that understanding myself and my nature can only lead to a positive outcome.
As my rashness of youth is replaced by a cunning of age so is my impulsive nature replaced by a patience that only wisdom can tame.
For some time now I have started to embrace my nature as a tiger perhaps from pride at being a tiger as I really can't imagine someone being proud to be a dog or horse or chicken or pig or many of the other animals of the chinese zodiac so I do take pride in that I am a tiger however of course this can be a downfall if we don't look at both the positive and negative aspects and find a balance.
Harnessing the tiger energy within I have used it to transform myself at the gym over the last 6 months. I am not a guy with big muscles but I do think I am in decent shape something I could not have said 6 months ago. As my body improved and became more balanced for a healthy lifestyle so too must my mind and thus I began to embrace my tiger nature more fully.
It started very simple with metaphors.
such as Zen of Tiger: always take time for a good stretch.
this of course is great after exercise and you will of course see tigers do this.
taking time to groom. tigers like to be clean as do I.
knowing when to pounce and when to wait can be the difference between success and failure. this is a measure of wisdom vs the rashness and impulsive nature of the tiger most commonly associated with them.
As it regards to a more D/s situation my view as a tiger must reflect that and be in balance with my zen of tiger mentality that I have adopted. One such example that I have been thinking about is as follows:
The tiger cub learns at a young age to play, he learns what kind of damage his claws can do, what kind of damage his fangs can do and his over all strength. So that as the tiger cubs play and fight with each other they learn what it takes to win without hurting the other tiger cubs. As they get older and explore the world they find others that are not like them. Finding Oxen they may try to play and find that the Ox are not playful not knowing that the Oxen have thicker skin and don't feel the same. They may find rabbits and try to play but again not understanding what is playful to them is utterly devastating to the rabbit. It is not always the intention to hurt others but sometimes it happens. As it is with me I may be sarcastic or come across as mean when it is my intention to be playful. Another tiger may laugh at my joke, an Ox may think I'm just stupid and a rabbit may be brought to tears. when it is my intention for all to laugh. This of course is where we must learn to understand ourselves better. It is not the rabbits fault if I hurt them I should not be angry if they are fragile at times. so I must understand to adjust how I am as I did as a cub so again must I learn to 'play'. These words may not always comfort the rabbit or the sheep or who ever I might hurt and it will take time to trust the tiger as it takes time to build trust in a D/s relationship. I can not promise I wont hurt you I can only promise it is not my intention to do so. Tigers can be scary and few want to stand up to an angry tiger but when they are calm and happy we still purr and do our best to protect that which is ours.
I don't come to fight but I'm not one to run, I may not win but can certainly do my best to make sure you regret starting it. I have a deep loyality and honesty to those I love but a tiger is a solitary creature and I have been as such for what seems ages, as such trust is not something that comes easy to me but when it does come it means a lot.
I am a D and as such am drawn more to animal type personalities that are more submissive. Rabbits, sheep, Dog etc. though of course not all tigers are D's and usually a younger tiger will submit to an older one as long as trust and understanding is there. so no matter the personality type, what is importent is understanding each other and adjusting accordingly. Some relationships may take more work but that doesn't mean it's not worth it.
