Life is a Game

            We have all heard the saying, ‘life is but a dream’, or ‘life is an illusion’ and so on and as much as life might ultimately be these things, we can also say, ‘life is a game’. Games have a purpose, an inherent logic, rules, objectives and so on. Dreams and illusions can generally be understood to be vague, confusing, scattered, and intangible and so on. So, while some may like this metaphorical reference, it would seem to be a poor choice since the formulation of our thoughts, beliefs and perspectives play a more significant role in our experience of life, according to modern studies in psychology, than may be realized.

            So, choosing to see life a game may not be the ultimate truth but it may serve to support a more enjoyable existence. The reason is simple, we play games and in so doing find entertainment, have fun, learn to strategize, share quality time, compete, learn how to win, feel what it is like to lose and then play again and so forth. In Astrology games are linked to Leo and the corresponding component factors of the Sun, the 5^th House, and the Trine Aspect (120 degrees). Leo is generally symbolic of fun, games, laughter, romance, play, children, sexual and creative self-expression, performance, theatre, acting, producing, directing, drama, and passion. William Shakespeare can be quoted from one of his plays, Hamlet I believe, as saying, “All the world is a stage and we are but actors upon it.”

            The value of this perspective is that it directs the mind to engage in life as though it is something of a game. With all the seriousness that comes with the processes of birth, life, living, surviving and dying after our many efforts, this type of thinking can help us to cultivate a lighter and brighter attitude. Attitude has long been understood in determining both how a person conducts their life and how they respond to any given situation. Referring to life as a game does not mean that it is contrived, however, it does lend to the notion that culture and civilization are not as dire, serious and important as we can make them out to be. By way of our excessively serious attitudes and attachments much pain and suffering is created, perhaps unnecessarily.

            The word game can generally be interpreted to be light, interesting, provocative and fun. Game does not necessarily frivolous and fluffy. After all, if you have ever played a game, you will remember just how involved the players can get. Yet, no matter how earnest one plays the game, win or lose it remains a game.

Laughter is proven to be a great healer. ‘He who laughs – lasts!’ ‘To enter the kingdom one must learn to be like a child again.’ This implies a playful spirit and a light attitude. That is what we do when we play games. Sure this is harder to do at certain times than at others, but by perceiving life to be a game, we may learn to take ourselves and it less seriously. Further, we can learn to play more and work hard less. Hard work is not bad in and of itself but if life becomes all about working or worse, hard work, then perhaps we are missing the point. I doubt that our existence is about living to work. Rather, we work to live or we accept that life does require effort and we do have to work at it. I suspect that we have so convinced ourselves of the concept that life is work that many people are sick, depressed, confused, lost, and despairing and so on as a consequence.

            Leo is the sign that is ruled by the Sun. The Sun is the single most important factor in Astrology. Perhaps the ancients came to realize this all important fact and so created Astrology to reflect this vital truth. On the other hand, perhaps the ancients who created Astrology simply intuited this truth from a deeper place that their intellect. Perhaps this intuition was received from deep meditations, contemplations and connection to source whereby a greater power revealed to them a precious truth. Life is a game.