In Six of Coins, a wealthy man gives alms to the poor. In his other hand, he holds a balance.

 

In all Sixes (connected to the Lovers) two parties complete each other through a give-and-take balance. By taking the coins, the poor men can sustain themselves. They are not too proud to accept help when it's needed. The rich man practices his generosity and compassion, building his character and reputation, boosting his health and happiness. One has too little, the other has too much. Both parties gain. It's the delicate osmosis of altruism. As Henry Miller wrote:

 

For me it is no problem to depend on others. I am always curious to see how far people will go, how big a test one can put them to.

 

Certainly there are humiliations involved, but aren’t these humiliations due rather to our limitations? Isn’t it merely our pride which suffers? It’s only when we demand that we are hurt. I, who have been helped so much by others, I ought to know something of the duties of the receiver. It’s so much easier to be on the giving side. To receive is much harder — one actually has to be more delicate, if I may say so. One has to help people to be more generous. By receiving from others, by letting them help you, you really aid them to become bigger, more generous, more magnanimous. You do them a service.

 

And then finally, no one likes to do either one or the other alone. We all try to give and take, to the best of our powers. It’s only because giving is so much associated with material things that receiving looks bad. It would be a terrible calamity for the world if we eliminated the beggar. The beggar is just as important in the scheme of things as the giver. If begging were ever eliminated God help us if there should no longer be a need to appeal to some other human being, to make him give of his riches. Of what good abundance then? Must we not become strong in order to help, rich in order to give and so on? How will these fundamental aspects of life ever change?

 

Ask yourself, in the matters going on in your life at the moment, on which side of this exchange are you? And how is that working out? Are you having trouble finding or accepting help? Does it come with feelings of shame or resentment? Should you be more generous, with your coins or with your words? Are you just being generous so you can feel superior? Although it's alright to recognize that there is personal gain in participating in this game of give-and-take, doing it just for yourself will disturb the balance. It's just like being in a romantic relationship;  if you're too focused on your own needs and wants, it's kind of a sham and it probably won't work out in the end. True harmony is found in dignified mutuality.