The Phantom of Leverage: A Surreal Journey of Power and Responsibility in Trading

SANTANU BEZ

The Phantom of Leverage: A Surreal Journey of Power and Responsibility in Trading

Introduction: The Whisper in the Terminal

There is a moment in every trader’s journey
when they first discover leverage.

It is subtle, a whisper in the terminal:

“Why trade with 1x, when you can trade with 10x?”
“Why wait for small gains, when you can grab large ones today?”

Leverage appears like a phantom horse in the night—
sleek, powerful, wild, and fast.

It promises to take you across the deserts of slow capital growth,
to deliver you to your dreams faster.

But what most traders do not realize is:

Leverage is not free speed; it is borrowed power, and it demands discipline.

Chapter 1: Meeting the Phantom Horse

On a crisp morning, a trader logs in, capital limited, dreams unlimited.

He sees others posting screenshots:
+50% intraday, +200% in a week.

He feels inadequate,
slow,
left behind.

Then leverage comes, like a phantom horse,
nudging him to climb on.

“You can catch up. Ride me.”

And so, the trader clicks ‘Buy’, but this time with 5x, 10x, 20x.

The horse begins to gallop.

️ Chapter 2: The Wild Ride

In the first moments, the wind feels glorious:

Small moves translate to large PnL spikes.
Profits feel exhilarating, like riding the storm.
The trader feels powerful, invincible, alive.

But the phantom horse is wild.

It does not warn before it changes direction.

A sudden wick down,
a news event,
a market spike,

and the horse bucks violently.

The trader is thrown off, landing in the dust,
his capital bleeding, his mind rattled.

Leverage does not care for your dreams;
it magnifies your discipline—or your recklessness.

🪞 Chapter 3: The Mirror of Power

The trader sits, defeated, watching red figures on the screen.

He realizes:

Leverage was never the problem.
It was his mind, unprepared for speed.
It was his lack of risk management.
It was his greed to grow faster than he was ready for.

The phantom horse is a mirror, reflecting your true self as a trader:

Impulsive? It amplifies it.
Patient? It rewards it.
Undisciplined? It punishes instantly.
Disciplined? It can be your ally.

️ Chapter 4: Learning to Ride with Discipline

The trader does not abandon the horse.

Instead, he learns:

Position sizing: Never risk more than your defined percentage per trade, even with leverage.
Stop-loss enforcement: Let your stops protect you from the horse’s sudden turns.
Avoiding revenge trades: After a loss, step back; do not re-mount in anger.
Clarity of setups: Only trade your tested edge, not impulsive feelings.

Slowly, the phantom horse begins to trust him,
and he learns to guide it with the reins of discipline.

Now, leverage becomes what it was meant to be:

A tool to cross deserts faster, not a force that drags you off a cliff.

Practical Table: The Phantom Horse Checklist

Before Using Leverage, Ask:	Why It Matters
Is this setup backtested and aligned with my plan?	Prevents emotional gambling.
Have I defined my position size correctly?	Controls downside risk.
Is my stop-loss in place and accepted mentally?	Avoids large drawdowns.
Am I trading to recover losses emotionally?	Stops revenge trading.
Is market volatility suitable for leveraging?	Avoids misusing leverage in uncertain phases.

️ Ethics: Stewardship of Your Dreams

Leverage is borrowed power,
and using it without discipline is betraying your dreams.

Your family, your future, and your health rely on your capital integrity.

Trading with controlled leverage is an ethical act of stewardship.

It is your commitment to:

Grow sustainably, not greedily.
Protect your mental health by avoiding unnecessary stress.
Respect the game of trading as a business, not gambling.

Reflection: Becoming the Phantom Rider

You cannot eliminate risk in trading, but you can learn to manage it.

Leverage is neither good nor bad; it is neutral power.

The trader who learns to ride the phantom horse with respect and discipline:

Grows faster, but safely.
Preserves capital during storms.
Trades without fear, knowing he has reins in his hands.

️ Disclaimer: A Personal Perspective

This narrative reflects my personal relationship with leverage. It is a reminder that trading is about longevity, not quick wins.

Test, learn, and align your use of leverage with your risk tolerance and psychology.

Closing: Leverage as a Sacred Trust

The phantom horse of leverage stands quietly in your terminal, waiting.

It will take you further,
faster,
but only if you are ready.

It is not there to give you power. It is there to test if you are ready to handle power.

Ride with discipline,
ride with respect,
and let leverage become your silent ally on the road to trading mastery.