Janthopoyism: Scripture: Playing Cards with God

Playing Cards with God

Book 4: The Bridge of Offerings | Chapter 4.5 | 17 November 2021

Analogies are powerful tools because they distort the literal and allow us to reframe our mental hindrances into more manageable iterations.

Many teachers throughout history have referred to Life as a game, and there is good reason for this. A simple perception shift in this direction removes the seriousness and creates levels where harder obstacles indicate advancements rather than misfortune. Such an attitude also implies that one can develop strategies and get better at the game the more they actively play, which is also true.

This chapter is a suggestion that specifies and simplifies the game we are playing. In this conceptualisation, Janthpoyism takes pleasure in personifying the External Universe as a tangible "God" figure who deals cards for you to play with as well a playing cards itself. Every day, "God" will play cards at you, some of which will be friendly to assist your path, others of which will be trickier to handle. At the same time, "God" will deal you cards, new ones constantly appearing in your inventory while there are more permanent cards at your disposal (like those you've earned previously or were blessed with from birth).

So if you wake up to find no milk in the fridge, catch your energy spiking and mentally modify the narrative. "God" just played a card: there's no milk in the fridge. Alright, now pause. Look at your relevant cards. What do you have to play? Go buy milk? Ask a neighbour for some? Find a way to start your day without this material? You can even scream your head off at someone for finishing the milk if you like, although gauging the energy of that card seems to be off, right? Regardless, whichever card you ultimately play, "God" will play a card back. You might get milk! Or the shop might not have milk today. Or you might crash your car as soon as you exit the driveway. Again, every single moment of conflict interrupting your plan, or every asset falling on your lap, or every lucky coincidence clearing a passage can (and should!) be viewed as a card played by the External Universe. It solidifies the Janthopoyistic truth that the External Universe is one singular organism functioning largely out of your control. It's not that Jennifer spilt her coffee on you or that your internet service provider ruined your deadline when the wifi went out. It's simply a card game, and in each scenario, shouting at the cards are about as useless as it sounds. Instead, take a deep breath, analyse your hand, play your best card, then await the External Universe's response.

Whilst enjoying any game, it's the unpredictability and challenge that generates the thrill. It's interesting, then, how so many people consider game-playing as a leisurely activity. They thrive in an action-based alternate reality which intentionally creates difficulties then rewards skills gained. And yet, when it comes to real life, they complain about the struggle even though the identical mechanics apply. If you played a game that was so simple that you glided to the end and you knew the entirety of its content before you started, you'd be so bored! Thank goodness life could never be criticised as such, for the External Universe will continuously play moves at you whether you like it or not. Anything can happen from moment to moment. So observe it, and then play your next card accordingly.

Moving on, and we all hold privilege cards and handicap cards. These are cards deeply integrated into the fibre of our position, usually dealt at the starting line but can be earned or inflicted at a later date. Whatever these are, use them when you can. Never blame them for anything. And do not point out the unfairness of someone else's stockpile. Assets from birth are not the person's doing; they were dealings by the External Universe. Nobody chose the demographic their cards fell into. And while there are advantages and disadvantages to specific cards, the quality of an individual's drive will always exceed this initial hand to the point of irrelevance.

For example, many Western countries consider a white, straight, cisgender male as the ultimate privilege card, and in certain contexts, this will ring true. However, if that same person inherits a genetic depression card or a physical abnormality card, then any other such strength may wither in its shadows. Furthermore, everyone knows a white, straight, cisgender male who is otherwise useless, all the supposed privilege in the world, yet they spend their days on the couch watching television, rendering these cards largely wasted.

Meanwhile, numerous people born with a suite of minority so-called "disadvantaged" cards will play them the best their can, expertly manoeuvring life with determination until the cards they gain along the way represent something stronger than any of the privilege cards stated before. The trick is to locate the angles you can slip into and capitalise on per every card you can, whether intelligence, humour, charm, attractiveness, or wealth, use it! Exploit your privilege cards as far as you can take them. It's totally acceptable, just as long as you never exploit other humans as you're doing so.

When we look at people seemingly gifted easy hands their whole lives, do not succumb to detrimental emotions to the likes of jealousy or scorn. That was what they were dealt, it is no business of yours, and you do not know what polluted cards they hide at the back of their packs. Furthermore, a stream of favourable circumstances is not always as advantageous as it may seem. Those accustomed to getting the hands they want will be crippled if Life smacks them with a particularly damaging round, blasting them far off course, sending them crying for help because they never had to learn how the game works.

Meanwhile, those who have seen an array of dud cards in their experience function from a far higher platform. Because if you are dealt enough rubbish, you'll become skilled at playing with rubbish. Learning to play well with seemingly fruitless hands is one of the most effective abilities a player can master. And then when you finally get that golden ticket, you'll flatten the land.

The Universe is a singular organism that owes you nothing. If your perception calls you a victim, then Life will fulfil the role of the dominator because you asked for it. And it's going to mess you up. Alternatively, you can view the Universe as a friendly sparring partner by playing the cards you were dealt and playing them well. It's completely up to you.

And, if we may, we'd like to casually introduce another interesting Jantho theory. And that is to hypothesise a certain awareness from the Universal Energy itself. Whether an overarching conscious being or a systematic equation motivating evolution, perhaps the Cosmos recognises those who are worthy of the rarest cards. Once your energetic response has built a reputation for maximising opportunity, "God" could identify you as a prime candidate for providing the most progressive data, and the highest quality of gameplay will come at you hard and fast. Of course, we don't have the access to prove the existence of such source code. But when analysing various influential individuals throughout history—those who played their every hand with ambitious vigour and manifested deliciously thrilling lives as a result—there is evidence to support our crazy notion.