Uncanny Japan Saiō ga Uma: The Old Man's Horse & Finding Peace with Uncertainty
It's very strange, but this ancient Japanese proverb "Saiō ga Uma" has been popping up in my thoughts a lot lately. I kept hearing it mentioned in articles and audiobooks, so I thought I'd read about it more and share what I discovered.
"Saiō ga Uma" (塞翁が馬) means "the old man's horse" - it comes from a 2,000-year-old Chinese parable about a man whose seemingly good and bad fortunes are never what they first appear. His horse runs away, the villagers say "how unlucky." But Saiō says "who's to say what's good and what's bad?" The horse returns with another horse. "How fortunate!" But again, Saiō wonders if this might actually be a disaster.
I share the full story and talk about why this wisdom has been resonating with me, especially after my hospital stay earlier this year. Sometimes what looks like misfortune - even something as mundane as spilling tea in the fridge - might actually be exactly what we need. Come with me as we explore this fascinating piece of Japanese wisdom and how it connects to finding peace with life's uncertainty.
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Credits
Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura
About SpectreVision Radio
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.
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