26 – The Carriage – The Giver – Sky amidst the Mountains

The wise man loads his carriage with valuables and food for the people while setting out on a journey across the land. By doing so, he spreads his wealth and gains the peoples confidence. This is the time to leave the comforts of the home and to give freely to all that we may meet upon the road. This will acquire us much merit which may be redeemed at a future date. During this time, it is also advised to avoid creating adversary or passing harsh judgment.

1^st – The Carriage Stops – A storm looms on the mountain pass; possible trouble in the near future. The wise man does not turn back, but rather brings all activities to a momentary halt.

2^nd – The Carriage Breaks – The axle separates from the hub. This was a long time coming and the misfortune can be blamed on the slothfulness of the mechanic. Nevertheless, it is a problem that must be dealt with in the field.

3^rd – The Horses Carriage – The virile stallion pulls the carriage forward while the wise man concentrates his attention on plotting a defensive strategy to confront the encroaching storm. We shall enlist others to do the mundane work while concentrating our energies on the potential adversary.

4^th – The Bulls Carriage – The strength of a bull is necessary to tackle the mountain pass; yet at the same time we must place a ring through the nose of the bull, so that his unbridled rage does not lead us over the cliff. Tame the beast and harness his power!

5^th – The Maidens Carriage – Weaving through the crowd, the young maiden peeks her head out of the carriage, blowing a kiss to the prince and dropping her handkerchief. He was not expecting this and it would be wise to jump at the opportunity before it passes him by.

6^th – The Carriages Cargo – Loading every inch of space with goods destined for distant regions, the wise man sets forth with confidence. Now is the time to accept a heavy burden, for we have the strength to carry though to the end.

All Six – The Carriage Detours – The road is impassable, the wise man detours to a safe, warm place and withdraws from action. It is all we can do at this juncture.