Take a look at this version of The Fool, from the Tarot of the Ages by Mario Garizio, and you'll see an Aztec-style version of the Rider-Waite Fool's symbolism. The Fool is often looking towards the future (the brightness of the stars, in this case), but ready to step into some danger that he doesn't seem quite aware of, such as the crocodile lurking in the river. He typically has an animal companion at his side, often a white dog (but in this case, a cheetah), and he carries two things with him: a bag on a stick, like an itinerant hobo, and either a cane or a white rose.
That last bit is an interesting contrast, to me. A cane or walking stick is something practical, that you take to help you on the path. A white rose, on the other hand, seems to be the Fool's talisman of innocence and lust for life. They're both things that aid him on the road ahead, that represent what he can bring to someone who draws his card, but they perform that task in very different ways.
Since I'm thinking a lot about the Fool this week, I decided to get practical about it: how can I best channel the energy of this card into a spread, specifically for what it represents to me: new beginnings. The fear of the unknown. The excited hope of a better future, and the hidden potential we all hold.
That last bit is an interesting contrast, to me. A cane or walking stick is something practical, that you take to help you on the path. A white rose, on the other hand, seems to be the Fool's talisman of innocence and lust for life. They're both things that aid him on the road ahead, that represent what he can bring to someone who draws his card, but they perform that task in very different ways.
Since I'm thinking a lot about the Fool this week, I decided to get practical about it: how can I best channel the energy of this card into a spread, specifically for what it represents to me: new beginnings. The fear of the unknown. The excited hope of a better future, and the hidden potential we all hold.
1. Where am I going?
This is the Fool himself, the heart of the spread, the question you're asking about the new direction you're moving in. Where are you headed? If you have a goal in mind, this will give you expanded insight on the nature of that goal, and if you have no idea, this may give you a clue!
2. What do I carry with me?
This is the Fool's bag, which you can see as empty or full of experiences as you want. (After all, the Fool is everywhere and nowhere!) What do you carry with you from your past into your new future?
3. Where do I need to have more faith?
This is the Fool's white rose - or, if you like, it's the bright sun, stars, or rainbow the Fool seems to have his eye on in some cards. What qualities can you focus on, to give you the Fool's strength to go forward? What will bolster your spirits in the time ahead?
4. Who/what is my companion?
The Fool doesn't go it alone. He often has a faithful friend beside him, keeping his spirits up and providing company. Who or what is with you on your journey? Remember that you can tell a lot about a person by the company he keeps!
5. What should I look out for?
The Fool has a lot of guts and a lot of hope, but that can sometimes get him into trouble. We need that optimism, so we can move ahead unafraid, but it's good to be prepared for what's ahead. What are the cliffs, crocodiles, and traps ahead of you on the road, so you can make a detour? Maybe you'll find an even better road in the process!
Good luck to everyone on the Fool's Journey - which really, in the end, is all of us. And happy trails!
This is the Fool himself, the heart of the spread, the question you're asking about the new direction you're moving in. Where are you headed? If you have a goal in mind, this will give you expanded insight on the nature of that goal, and if you have no idea, this may give you a clue!
2. What do I carry with me?
This is the Fool's bag, which you can see as empty or full of experiences as you want. (After all, the Fool is everywhere and nowhere!) What do you carry with you from your past into your new future?
3. Where do I need to have more faith?
This is the Fool's white rose - or, if you like, it's the bright sun, stars, or rainbow the Fool seems to have his eye on in some cards. What qualities can you focus on, to give you the Fool's strength to go forward? What will bolster your spirits in the time ahead?
4. Who/what is my companion?
The Fool doesn't go it alone. He often has a faithful friend beside him, keeping his spirits up and providing company. Who or what is with you on your journey? Remember that you can tell a lot about a person by the company he keeps!
5. What should I look out for?
The Fool has a lot of guts and a lot of hope, but that can sometimes get him into trouble. We need that optimism, so we can move ahead unafraid, but it's good to be prepared for what's ahead. What are the cliffs, crocodiles, and traps ahead of you on the road, so you can make a detour? Maybe you'll find an even better road in the process!
Good luck to everyone on the Fool's Journey - which really, in the end, is all of us. And happy trails!
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