This rock was made for roaming
It has no memory of moss
When nothing is gathered
There's no such thing as loss
Despite how rough
Bumps in the road appear
They have made this stone
More and more a sphere
You can rest awhile, still
In this dark and humble patch
From amber clouds see the light spill
And only someday be the soil's catch
“A rolling stone gathers no moss” is a phrase that rests (or maybe rolls?) through the West’s psyche since it was first inspired by Pubilius Syrus, a slave that became a Latin writer of moral sayings in the ancient Hellenistic city of Antioch:
People who are always moving, with no roots in one place or another, avoid responsibilities and cares. ~Pubilius Syrus (85-43 BCE)
Looked at closely, there is no actual positive or negative connotation to this moral. I always thought gathering moss meant a sort of lazy languishing, but most others have interpreted this phrase to mean that a person will lack substantial status if they keep moving about.
Like all card interpretations, this image can have both light and shadow consequences that can influence our decision-making. We can reflect deeply on how closely we resemble “the rolling stone” and how we can consciously welcome its aid to move on from stagnant thinking or behaviors. Cue up your favorite Rolling Stones songs here as we dive into interpretation!
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