In the Osho Zen Deck a number of the Air cards are not what you would describe as "happy" cards (2/Schizophrenia, 3/Ice-Olation, 4/Postponement, 7/Politics, 8/Guilt, and 9/Sorrow); not surprising in a deck based on Zen Buddhism, which considers the mind the ultimate source of suffering in life. So, when you draw the 6 of Air, the Burden, look at your life and see where you are taking on the burdens of others.
Life can be an uphill climb much of the time and doing it without extra weight on our backs is certainly the way to go. Here the figure on the bottom represents the querent who is trying to climb the mountain of life with someone riding him, and as if to really drive the point home, there is a rooster on top of the Fop unwilling to make his own climb. The card, though, has a double meaning. It is very possible that the Fop being a burden is the querent as well. Are you burdened or a burden to others?
In either case the card expects us to refuse to continue to accept the burdens of others or to stop being a burden to others. This challenge can be very personal, especially if family members are tied to the reading or the first thought that crosses the mind of the querent is of a family member. This card is not about helpful support but the clear abuse of another person's goodwill and strength. If we immediately think of a person in our life when this card appears, then that person needs to be challenged as does the expectation to carry that person's burden. In essence, we all get one life to make as our own in this lifetime and we should not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of ... and this card is about ALLOWING. Nor should we take unfair advantage of others when we can "walk on our own."
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