GATE 37: The Tribal Resin

Gate 37.1, The Parent, forms the foundation of community itself, “a position of inherent respect that ensures a focus for the development of guidelines.” This line represents the archetypal caretaker whose sensitivity and warmth anchor the tribe in stability. Friendship here is “rooted in sensitivity and ensures harmony,” expressed through touch, affection, and awareness of others’ emotional needs. The 37.1 understands that every bond (whether familial, social, or spiritual) depends on a clean and fair bargain, one that honors both the heart and the will. It sets the tone for harmony by embodying patience, fairness, and a deep instinct for what keeps relationships enduring and whole. As the entry point for the spirit’s mutation into the tribe, it teaches that true community begins with respect, sensitivity, and the capacity to nurture balance in every exchange.

Practical takeaway: Cultivate harmony through sensitivity; maintain relationships by honoring emotional and material fairness.

Gate 37.2, Responsibility, explores how cooperation depends on individual accountability. This line embodies the principle that “the understanding of individual responsibility is the foundation for successful cooperation.” The 37.2 naturally looks after itself and resists being burdened with others’ duties. “Don’t make me responsible for you; I’m already responsible for myself.” Because 2nd lines are self-contained and focused, this quality must be recognized by others rather than consciously claimed. When left free, it brings harmony through example; when pressured, it reacts by pointing out where others should be responsible instead. At its best, this line models integrity and self-reliance, showing that mutual respect and independence form the only stable basis for friendship and family life.

Practical takeaway: Maintain cooperative bonds by honoring everyone’s individual responsibility. Avoid relationships where people become dependent on you.

This line learns through trial and error how to behave appropriately within relationships in order to secure and sustain the resources. Its process is not about moral correctness or grace, but about discovering through experience what conduct brings mutual benefit and maintains order. At its best, it shows sensitivity and balance, knowing how to respond fairly and keep harmony through changing circumstances. At its worst, it can become inconsistent, testing boundaries or judging others harshly for doing the same. These fluctuations reflect its adaptive nature, as it experiments to find the right bargain and the right way of relating. .

Practical takeaway: Recognize that your sensitivity and adaptability in relationships are tools for securing necessary resources; engage in trial-and-error, but always act in alignment with what truly benefits both yourself and the community.

Ra had a nickname for this line, the "37.4 Smoothy," since they carry the transpersonal skill of externalizing friendship. This line knows there is an Ego at Gate 40, knows denial is possible, and develops the capacity to influence through timing. The 4th line tends to overcompensate toward harmony, often losing itself by focusing too much on the other, yet it also holds a quality that can lead through simple, consistent behavior. At its best, it embodies the highest principles in daily life and becomes the one who can draw in the resources the family needs. It is gifted at befriending others and turning that friendliness into real support for the community. At its worst, it clings to traditional forms of leadership and resists any authority that does not match the old archetype, which can stir conflict around who truly holds power.

Practical takeaway: Be friendly, but do not mistake every friendship for a bargain. Lead by example, stay steady in your principles, and let the right allies reveal themselves through timing rather than effort.

The 37.5 learns devotion over time, shaped entirely by the emotional wave that moves from hope to pain. This line carries a natural harmony and a perfected sharing that can express real affection through friendship, but it is also deeply conditioned by nervousness and emotional dependency. As a fifth line, it is a seductive force. It draws others in through the promise of affection, yet that promise rides on an emotional wave that is never revealed upfront. At its best, it universalizes friendship into genuine harmony and sharing within the family or community. At its worst, dependency turns love into hate. The other may cling to the warmth and pleasure of the 37.5 when the wave is high, only to feel resentment or rejection when the wave drops. And the one carrying this line must be very clear in their bargains, because others project onto them a stable love that cannot exist in an emotional system that rises and falls. This is the classic love-hate dynamic of family bonds, intensified and made visible through this line.

Practical takeaway: If you carry 37.5, you must set clear agreements so others do not mistake your emotional wave for constant devotion. Honor your timing, name your needs, and do not let dependency turn affection into resentment.

The sixth line rises to the roof after its early Trial and Error years, becoming the observer who watches the family from above. From that distance it sees the flaws in the bargains that hold people together and understands that real values take time to emerge. This line can recognize the inner meaning of the family, appreciate its values, and judge when a bargain is truly fair. Yet it can also withdraw, preferring diversity or casual connections even when the family has achieved something meaningful. At its deeper level this line seeks something beyond the tribe. It yearns for a greater family, one that offers spiritual nourishment rather than material maintenance. It asks the essential questions. What is this for? Why do we sustain all of this? Is there something beyond the work of daily life? The friendships it values most are those that lift the spirit, not just feed the body. In this, it reflects the deeper cry of humanity, which longs to see the intrinsic purpose of each being. Until that recognition arises, neither family nor community can truly rest.

Practical takeaway: Your role is to see beyond the immediate bargain and ask the deeper questions. Trust the distance you need in order to recognize true values, and follow the friendships and commitments that genuinely nourish your spirit.

The themes of Gate 37 are a consistent part of who you are. People will sense your friendly, stabilizing nature and your ability to hold relationships together, which can lead them to lean on you or expect more from you than is correct for you. Be clear that your affection, support, and loyalty operate through an ongoing bargain that must feel fair to you. Also, embrace your fluctuating emotions in relationships and your need for "a return." It isn't morally wrong if you are clear within yourself about these mechanics.

The energy of this gate will have an "on and off" quality depending on who you are around or what planetary transits are occurring. When Gate 37 is in an undefined Solar Plexus, you can amplify the emotional friendliness, affection, and need for harmony that others broadcast. You may feel pushed into bargains, caretaking, or maintaining peace because you absorb the waves around you, not because these dynamics are truly yours. Stay aware of when you are simply riding someone else’s emotional frequency and avoid over-identifying with the nurturer role.