It’s no secret that there’s a thriving EDC (everyday carry) community on social media, including sites like Instagram.
One thing that you might be a little confused by, though, is all the skull statues, Santa Muerta figurines, and other “scary” symbols that seem to be so common online.
From grim reaper pendants and Santa Muerta medallions to sugar skulls, Day of the Dead figures, tarot cards and patches, there seems to be no shortage of deathly, deadly, almost cult-like imagery among “tactical people.”
They post that stuff all the time along with their knives, guns, and other EDC gear.
So why is that?
Well, if you’ve ever wondered, the answer is pretty simple.
(At least, I think so.)
And believe it or not, it goes all the way back to the samurai warriors of feudal Japan.
See, the samurai were a warrior caste, people who knew that the chances they could die in battle were very good.
Living with that knowledge could freak out just about anybody and cause them to freeze up when it mattered most — in battle.
The Samurai were encouraged to meditate every day on the idea that they could be killed — even to imagine it in gory detail, like being killed by arrows or torn apart by dogs.
That way, starting each day with the knowledge of their own mortality, they were fearless and nearly indestructible when they fought — because they were “already dead.”
It’s not morbid like it might seem at first; it’s actually a pretty healthy way to acknowledge that you could die, so you should give it your all.
And online “tactical people” using this imagery are ALSO acknowledging that in self-defense, you could be hurt or killed.
Those skulls and figurines are, even if it’s just on a subconscious level, a reminder of our mortality — and they spur us on to fight back and defend ourselves with everything we’ve got.
At least, that’s my take on it.
What’s yours?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
