I woke up this morning, my mind thinking it was early, while the alarm clock informed me that I was an hour late. The windows said that it was cold and rainy. Spring has sprung us forward time-wise, the accompanying
weather is both a test of patience and a promise of flowers.
And as I watched the drizzle
make lines down the glass, I realized that the intermediary months teach us much.
I’ve said it before,
humans are habitual creatures. We love to look forward the happy milestones in life: birthdays,
anniversaries, holidays, and the change in seasons. We throw confetti on New
Year’s, hang up paper hearts on Valentine’s, and wear green in observance of
St. Patrick’s Day.
The cycle of life repeats
in the same pattern each year, but the time in-between gives just
enough space to garner admiration for what has passed. The same way we’re yearning
for pumpkin spice everything in the fall, by the time spring rolls around, we’re
eager to bust out the plastic eggs again.
 |
| Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Or rather, more appreciative. |
Even when the celebration
isn’t a personal favorite. For some, the summer heat and bright sparklers at 4th
of July is the best, whiles others would much rather curl up with a cup of
hot chocolate and watch the snow falling outside. The chill of
winter makes you long for the warmth of the mid-summer sun, and the over-bearing heat makes you miss making snow angels. It's a circle - a cycle.
Recent events got me
thinking about this principle.
In life, there are both
up and down times. The moments when you feel on top of the world are balanced
with low periods, times where you have to scrape by financially, emotionally, and
physically.
In Tarot, there’s a card
called “The Wheel of Fortune” that sums up this idea.
Similar to a water wheel,
the image shows a thriving couple dancing at the top of the circle, while a second, less fortunate man
seems to have lost his balance, and is forcefully thrown from the bottom of the
loop.
Tarot books give this
card a dual description. Like the couple living the life at the apex of the
wheel, this could be a high note time for you. Work you’ve done may have paid
off, extra money may be rolling in, or things with family and friends may be in
a good place. The other side of coin leaves you with the man at the bottom,
taking a wrong step and facing a steep fall.
The overall meaning is
that in life, prosperity and hardship are parallel ends of the same spectrum. Sometimes
you are riding high, other times you’re keeping your head above water. But in
either circumstance, the presence of the opposing force should stay with you.
When you are fortunate, the memory of hard times should infuse you with a sense of gratitude
and humility for what you have gained. When you are down on your luck, the
longing for better circumstances should instill in you an appreciation for the
value of the pleasures in life. That way you'll appreciate them more when they manifest for you again.
Like the 1960’s song,
TURN TURN TURN, by the band The Byrds. There is “A time to build up, a time to break down, a time to
dance, a time to mourn… a time to every purpose under heaven.” So
while you may encounter a tough period in life, the challenge and loss is constructive.
Life events test and
define you.
A movie I caught on cable
the other day illustrated the point brilliantly. Although the two emotions
appear polarized, joy benefits from sadness. One can’t exist without the other.
And the big events in life contain both happiness and pain.
The lesson is: If you find yourself next
to the thrown man at the bottom of the wheel, don’t despair. The circle continues
to turn, so keep climbing – move with the cycle.
You’ll be back on top
before you know it.
-
SNG ;)
