What We Put Into It

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Five of Coins; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Antares/Rehua:

What you put into life is what you get out of it.

―Clint Eastwood

Researchers in the U.S. found that people of lower socioeconomic status are actually more altruistic than those higher on the economic ladder. And what happens when these kindhearted folks are in need? People reach out to help immediately. The original text by Sebastian Brant says: "He who has riches and delights in them/ paying no heed to those in need/ will be forsaken, so that he too shall beg." Antares (the summer star), known as Rehua in Māori lore, was visited on behalf of the humans by two brothers - the benevolent lord of light and the angry lord of darkness. The deity gave the first lord three baskets of knowledge, but the latter's basket was filled with pain. As the companion book explains: "Gentleness came asking and gathered seeds of hope; Anger came demanding and garnered seeds of war." The acts and attitude we carry into life will affect the quality we get out of it.

It's a Complicated Whole

This week I'll be using the Ship of Fools Tarot created by Brian Williams and published by Llewellyn. Paired with it will be the Wisdom of the Four Winds created by Barry Brailsford, illustrated by Cecilie Okada and published by StonePrint Press. Today's draws are Judgment and 'Antares:'

          The Judgment card shows Moses and Samuel sending a shower of frogs and locust down upon the Fool. Does he feel like he is being singled out for punishment by the Universe? Did his actions lead to his suffering? In either case, there is something to be learned - a wake-up call of sorts. As Vega 4 sings, "Life is beautiful, but it's complicated." Indeed, it is full of a measure of sorrow and joy for everyone. No one gets a pass, and to think otherwise just brings more suffering as we wallow in self-pity. On the other hand, intentional actions will cultivate seeds of sorrow or joy; we may try to hide our motives, but once those seeds grow, others will clearly see them for what they are. In Maori legend, Antares (the summer star) gave Tane (the life force) three baskets of knowledge for humankind. These baskets contained spiritual knowledge, knowledge about the natural world, and cultural knowledge. However, wisdom required using the three in balance in order to live harmoniously. Both these cards symbolize a need to see the greater whole and to act holistically, recognizing a connection between ourselves and all we encounter.