A path to understanding your life…
By Mekel Haunsby
The creation of the “VitaTua” cards is deeply rooted in various spiritual and philosophical traditions, with significant inspiration drawn from both the form and content of Lao Tzu’s Tao te Ching. This ancient text, often regarded as a poem of wisdom, consists of 81 verses that address all aspects of life, offering profound insights into harmony, simplicity, and the natural flow of existence.
The name “VitaTua,” derived from the Latin words Vita (meaning “life”) and Tua (meaning “your”), symbolizes a personal journey of self-exploration and understanding. The 50 verses of the “VitaTua” poem, which accompany the cards, blend content from ancient philosophies and traditions with modern observations, creating a unique tool for reflection. This work serves as a guide to help navigate the complexities of life, merging ancient wisdom with deep personal introspection. Through this fusion, users are offered a meaningful way to connect with deeper truths and find balance in their lives.
Chapter 1
Aspects of Existence
Health is a treasure sought by many souls,
Nurtured through choices that make us whole.
The body’s healing starts from deep within,
When outer and inner forces align, it begins.
Property is a reflection of what we hold dear,
But true freedom lies in what we do not fear.
Real wealth is not in what we hoard or amass,
But in sharing, letting go, and embracing the vast.
Home is the sanctuary, wherever it may be,
Where you find peace and can truly be free.
A place of safety, rest, and nourishment,
A sacred haven, where your spirit is content.
Career is a realm of boundless possibilities,
Where opportunities await with varied qualities.
Perceive challenges as chances to rise,
But choose wisely, for debts may be in disguise.
Children are seeds of boundless potential and grace,
Their individual journeys we must embrace.
Encourage them to carve their own path,
With unwavering support, their dreams will outlast.
Sex is a primal force, pulsating with desire,
An integral aspect of nature’s sacred fire.
Embrace its potency, with reverence and care,
Navigate love’s currents, with wisdom to share.
Food and drink, a sacred connection we share,
Nourishing our bodies with love and care.
Water’s flow sustains, a life-giving force,
Find harmony and balance, a nourishing course.
Love, a fragile flower, blossoming unforced,
It thrives when not desperately pursued or coerced.
Its blooms may last moments or eternally glow,
Yet unreturned, the weight of its burden we know.
Family, a tapestry woven with love and strife,
Enduring challenges within a sacred bond of life.
At the very heart of mankind’s soul, it holds a sacred place,
A worthy cause that carries both burden and grace.
Friends, a mirror of your connections made,
Interact genuinely, not in superficial charade.
Treat others with kindness, as you’d want them to,
Avoid needless battles, let the smoke subdue.
Politics, a realm of influence and sway,
With power comes responsibility, we must say.
Steer the course with integrity and care,
For the betterment of all, a shared destiny we bear.
People, a canvas of stories yet unknown,
In every stranger, a friendship can be grown.
Open your heart and let connections take flight,
For in meeting new souls, our world expands with delight.
Animals, vessels of life’s intricate dance,
Our sisters and brothers, in each circumstance.
Offering companionship and friendships often untold,
In their presence, the beauty of life unfolds.
Nature, a gentle guide that cradles our existence,
With wisdom and grace, she offers her assistance.
Embrace her rhythm, the ebb and flow of each day,
Connected to her, we find our truest way.
Energy, a vital force that fuels our being,
When obstructed, it hinders our seeing.
Unleash its power by resolving confusion’s snare,
Embrace imperfect choices, for in action lies repair.
Time, a river flowing with ceaseless motion,
Embrace its current, and set your own devotion.
Waste not precious hours on fruitless dismay,
Live in the present, and pave your own way.
Art, a realm where critics and parasites may dwell,
Protect your creative process, choose your company well.
In the eyes of the beholder, art finds its place,
Great minds elevate, inspiring ordinary souls with grace.
Religion, a mosaic of beliefs and sacred truths,
Embrace the diversity, where understanding soothes.
In the search for truth, unique paths unfold,
Guard your convictions, be forever bold.
Soul, the essence of being, a sacred quest,
To uncover our true nature, we must invest.
In the journey of self-discovery, we discern,
The depths of our being, a treasure to learn.
Integrity, a beacon in the night,
Your own compass, guiding with its light.
Stay aligned, values and actions as one,
Defend your truth, until the battle is won.
Chapter 2
Paths to Solve Problems
Help, a double-edged sword, trust’s delicate dance,
Offered with care, intentions given a chance.
Beware of traps, predators’ cunning guise,
Deliver what’s promised, with honor and rise.
Control, a delicate balance of love and might,
Handle the fiercest dragon with gentle light.
Forcing breeds explosions, chaos will ignite,
With certainty in your heart, all will go right.
Communication, a lifeline to bridge the divide,
Regrets linger in the unsaid and words untied.
Speak with purpose, listen with attentive ear,
Unlock understanding, let connection appear.
Understanding, a quest to unravel life’s maze,
Delve deeper, with curiosity as your gaze.
In moments when mysteries remain obscure,
Patience and acceptance, understanding is sure.
Agreement, echoes of words from the past,
Weaving destiny’s web, a story to last.
The script may be deciphered by a few,
Yet rewriting it lies within each of you.
Empathy, a luminous bridge that binds hearts near,
Transcending distance, erasing all fear.
A journey of compassion, a sacred connection,
Unveiling truths, igniting soulful reflection.
Persistence, step by step through the desert sand,
Draws you closer to the water, your promised land.
Stay focused on your path, don’t lose direction’s hold,
In that final mile, true victory unfolds.
Acceptance, as life’s circle completes its round,
Embrace the view, in awe may you be found.
Letting go and holding on, in perfect harmony,
See everything as it is, find completeness, serenity.
Creation, in a blind alley’s dark embrace,
Shine your light, illuminate the space.
Unleash your artistry, divinely inspired,
Imagination’s entrance, courage required.
Honesty, a sacred path, often amidst the shadows’ embrace,
Seeking truth, guided by your inner light’s grace.
Beware false promises, illusions of light that fade.
As you step into brilliance, some may yet stay in the shade.
Improvement, a journey of growth and evolution,
Some seeds thrive on their own, others need a nurturing solution.
Don’t forget the seeds buried in the soil of time,
For one day, they may blossom into something truly sublime.
Change, an eternal dance of transformation,
From worse to better, in constant fluctuation.
In this ebb and flow, lies both hope and despair,
Ride the waves, read the signs, and be aware.
Attack, a swift strike can save the day,
But strikes born in anger recoils and stray.
To act when needed is a virtue to display,
Successful attacks bring change, not decay.
Criticism, a devil’s dance veiled in concern,
Daggers wielded from shadows, lessons unlearned.
Rise above, lift others with grace and light,
Illuminate strengths, embrace faults, make things right.
Manipulation, a convincing magic of deceit,
Weaving webs of fiction, truth it seeks to defeat.
In shadows it thrives, leaving no trace behind,
But beware, for fate exposes its treacherous bind.
Lie, a mortal sin where the spider weaves its own defeat,
Self-deception ensnares, the tangled path complete.
But truth’s light shines, illuminating the fragile threads,
As the spider’s web unravels, falsehoods are shed.
Disregard, a dance of balance on a fragile line,
What you neglect, fades silently or grows malign.
Expertly juggle the flames, but remember the risk,
For in playing with fire, caution you must never dismiss.
Escape in fear, stumble in haste,
Choose your path with courage and grace.
Release fear’s tight hold, find your own way,
True escape is found in stealth each day.
Surrender wisely, trust in the few,
Reserve it for battles you cannot pursue.
Keep hope alive, explore every way,
Stay vigilant, a new path will display.
Ending, a transformation in disguise,
From the caterpillar’s demise, a butterfly shall rise.
In departure, a prelude to a fresh start,
From ashes, hope emerges, igniting the heart.
Chapter 3
Mindsets, the Script Within
Knowing, the path to unbiased sight,
Understanding both sides, staying out of the fight.
Use your senses unfiltered, with open eyes
To embrace the truth, free from disguise.
Curiosity, the gateway to the unknown,
A thirst for knowledge, a spirit brightly shown.
But on unfamiliar paths, caution must reside,
For dangers may lurk, and truths may hide.
Desire, a force that ignites the soul’s fire,
A whirlpool that can lead us higher.
To live fully, we embrace its flame,
With awareness, we understand its game.
Need, a subtle master that claims its hold,
It captures your attention, your time, your soul.
Be cautious of what you invite in,
For it may consume you, from deep within.
Demand, an unwavering insistence in pursuit,
Short-term success, but long-term dispute.
Closed to alternatives, a narrow view,
Sustainable intentions, a path to renew.
Enforcement, force against force, a hollow battle fought,
Time and energy wasted, better solutions left untaught.
When understanding fades, and communication breaks,
Force yields poor messages, with outcomes that ache.
Inhibition, a battle waged within,
Chasing shadows, a fight we can’t win.
Limiting others, a barren endeavor,
In self-acceptance, we’re free forever.
Absence, a memory’s faint whispering glow,
Of what could be, was, and won’t show
In imagination’s realm, potential shines bright,
Creating light, dispelling the night.
Refusal, a fortress built in fear,
Strength and vulnerability intertwined appear.
Shields that protect yet limit our sight,
Blur the future, dim the light.
Denial is a magician’s poor guise,
Blinding only those who close their eyes.
Dare to adjust to the brightening day,
Your inner light will guide the way.
You can try drawing a card from the original VitaTua deck here.