Relax the Fist

From the Daniloff Tarot, the Knight of Coins; from the Kwan Yin sticks, #36:

The shield of this knight shows a wild bear (or cat?) and a woman, indicating his fierce loyalty to those he has promised to protect and serve. Not only only does he defend, he also takes care of their physical needs - food, clothing and shelter. I've always held this knight in high regard, so the monkey poem was a little disconcerting:

The mighty, clever Monkey has been imprisoned.

He throws off his golden chains

and returns to his mountain home,

joyous and free once more.

I am reminded of the teaching tale about the monkey who reaches his hand in a small hole to grab something he wants. But when he holds the object, his fist won't fit back through the hole and he is trapped. The only way to be free is to let go of the object of his desire. I can see a similarity in the stubbornness of the knight as he tries to serve and protect. Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I can't insulate those I love from pain. But I can be compassionately receptive to them and their suffering as they deal with the hand life has dealt them.