Competitive but Fun

From the Rider Marseille Tarot, the Five of Wands; from the Ostinato Oracle, the Rest:

We were watching a battle, but it took clean forms.

―Yasunari Kawabata

There's no malice to be seen in these faces, as their battle resembles more play than combat. Games have been around over 5000 years - since civilization began. They can be fun, even if competitive, when we avoid expectations and assumptions about winning and losing. They help us develop critical reasoning, problem solving, and flexible thinking. But above all, they can help us develop camaraderie and connection. One of the jurors (when I was still in court) brought UNO - No Mercy to play when we were banished for long periods to the jury room. I laughed until I cried - it's a good thing that room was soundproof. The Rest symbol, however, reminds us to balance our activities with stillness. Here we train in the art of letting be. As the Zen saying goes, "I'll explain in detail why Bodhidharma came to China: Listen to the evening bell sounds. Watch the setting sun."