Modern Day Tarot Play: Know yourself, shape your life

However the cards are combined, as aspects of our own psyche, it is of vital importance, if we wish to move forward quickly and easily with our plans, questions and life purpose, that any oppositely inclined internal forces are properly integrated and reconciled. Herein lies the beauty and power of the tarot, in providing the opportunity to make peace with the warring aspects of ourselves. After that, everything external falls perfectly into place.

PART II

The Major Arcana (#u7ec7eafd-e6fc-4660-a9a1-2dde7453da14)

The Major Arcana cards can set the tone for an entire reading. As the driving forces behind our impulses, thoughts, actions and general behaviour, they are by far the more interesting and complex of the two types of card. They indicate the root causes of all other minor life events, or indeed non-events, and are the lynchpins around which all other events revolve. To understand these cards fully is to understand the general theme and schematics of our life. Most people look to the tarot when they want to make major changes or improvements to their lives, and to make such changes we must first address the underlying cause of the status quo, which is found only in the Major Arcana cards.

0 The Fool 0

‘The only thing I know is that I know nothing.’

THE SOCRATIC PARADOX

Personification – Psychology

The archetypal Fool is a carefree and fearless ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker (KS, QS, KnS) or activist (KW, QW, KnW), who exercises complete and total liberality in everything they do. Their ever-open mind and freedom of spirit make them interested in everyone and, usually, game for anything (World). They’re a flexible, spontaneous, go-with-the-flow type character, whose life can, outwardly, appear distinctly disorderly, detached and distanced.

Those who embody the Fool archetype are often inadvertently complacent, nonchalant, indifferent or apathetic (4C), distracted, unwitting, unsettled, scattered, thoughtless, mistaken or distracted in their behaviour. They often lose things such as keys, wallet, phone, passport, jewellery, people, pets, track of time, etc.

Essentially, they are a dreamer who lacks all forethought. Being blissfully (Sun) ignorant, oblivious, unaware of any potential risks or danger, they rarely look where they are going. Their complete lack of interest in what lies ahead and little or no concern for the future or the consequences of their actions (Judgement) are both their best and worst character traits.

The Fool’s ultra-presence of mind can be seen in their mental disposition towards the short term, which includes all forms of short-term arrangements and agreements or contracts (Justice). Happy in the now, they are unable to see what will bring satisfaction or emotional fulfilment in the long run (2S) – a long run off a short cliff.

They embody a wilful and impulsive ‘What have I got to lose?’ mentality. They are the quintessential young idealist, whose unshaken belief or untested faith in their ideas can seem both crazily naïve (Pages) to some and bravely innovative (Emperor) and creative (Empress) to others.

As a pure, untainted, innocent and unsuspecting spirit, the Fool can be youthful and playfully childlike (6C) or childishly (Pages) self-absorbed (4P, 4C, 4S). They are archetypically characterized by the Greek myth of Icarus, the son who precipitated his own death by ignoring his father’s wise instruction and flying too close to the Sun. Whether the wax in the Fool’s wings melts or not is much dependent on the surrounding and outcome cards.

The Fool’s ultra-present, happy-go-lucky state of mind paradoxically underpins their dangerous inability to see beyond their own nose. So weak are their personal boundaries (KC, QC, KnC, PC), they can temporarily host another person’s energy, be they a real, fictional or projected personality.

As a pure, clean, blank, absorbent surface upon which others can project their own wants, needs and desires (Moon), this archetype’s core self and personal preferences are often tucked beneath a blanket of external influences and persuasions. Unless they learn to excavate this core self, perhaps via quiet contemplation or meditation (Hermit), they will find the wilful ambitions of others can take advantage of their naturally apathetic nature (4C) and easily sway or influence them into making a series of inauthentic life choices (7C).

Unless there are anti-Fool cards present (Hermit, Hierophant, High Priestess, Emperor) and acting as grounding agents to the Fool’s scattered behaviour, this archetype, being prone to the incoherent misappropriations of others’ judgement, awareness, attention and even personality (Sun, 7S), will have trouble finding their true calling or vocation in life.

Due to their weak boundaries, this archetype is prone to saying or doing anything to keep the peace (Empress, Temperance), often at the expense of their own needs (Moon), ethical code, morality (Hierophant), integrity (High Priestess, KS, QS) and even general sense of ‘reality’ (Moon, 7C).

The Fool also obscures, obliterates, dissolves, disintegrates or blurs the boundaries and parameters present in its neighbouring cards, be they physical, emotional, mental or spiritual; the stronger another card’s structure, order or belief system, the more the Fool-ish modus operandi will register as corrupting, trouble-making and contentious, despite the Fool having good intentions.

This archetype often has difficulty fathoming the socially correct response or reaction (Hierophant). Their indirect mode of confrontation, fearless ignorance and disconnection from, lack of interest in or total disregard (4C) for conventional social roles or conformist societal structures (Hierophant), can, when left unchecked, eventually result in conflict (5W, 5S) and suffering, either their own or that of others (3S, 9S, 5C, 5C). However, when handled compassionately or sensitively (KC, QC, Strength, Temperance), some Fools manage to find acceptable ways out of their otherwise encumbering social or cultural obligations.

Spirituality and Philosophy

The appearance of the Fool in a reading can signify a positive and effective phase of spiritual influence and enhancement, often induced via the total abandonment of material or sensual diversions and any falsely held hopes, ambitions or self-concepts.

An ultra-present unburdening of the mind (Sun), induced via the Fool’s complete surrender to the here and now, can confer ever greater healing and the dissolution of suffering (Star, Temperance).

By acting as an executive agent of the Divine, the passive presence of the Fool can crack our most encumbering psycho-emotional habits (Moon), the ones that block the healing and enlightenment process (Star).

The Fool’s inadvertent philosophy on life is similar to that of the Zen Buddhist concept of the beginner’s mind: shedding, eradicating, relinquishing, distancing and detaching from all fixed knowledge and thought forms. The mutable mind of the Fool continually creates space for unlimited learning and understanding and a unified, uninterrupted connection with the all-knowing Divine (Magician, High Priestess).

Combined with learned (Hierophant), wise, mature (Hermit), insightful (High Priestess), enlightening (Sun) or overseeing archetypes (World), the Fool embodies what is sometimes referred to as the Socratic paradox. However, when under the sway of ignorant or undeveloped influences (Pages, Knights), the Fool can project (Moon) a foolhardy, emotionally unstable, ignorant, poorly informed or ‘drink-talking’ individual’s dubious world view.

Personal Life

In matters of relating to others, the Fool is led by the heart and body, but not the head. They often don’t realize their mistakes, though innocently or inadvertently made, in choosing a romantic partner until things begin to fall apart (Tower, Death, 3S, 5C).

Being card zero in the deck, the Fool is concerned only with starting afresh (Aces) and carries little or no emotional baggage from previous romantic involvements.

This card either signifies a detached and distanced relationship, the mutual relinquishing of emotional baggage (Judgement) or the undoing of negative emotional ego habits (Moon).

Even when in a committed long-term relationship or marriage, the Fool-ish partner may seek various extra-marital freedoms, without properly considering or caring about the consequences. Due to their inherent detachment and unfixed tastes, they usually don’t have a ‘type’. Instead, they are often serial first-daters, seduced by the idea of love (7C), but turned off by the reality of it (4C). They tend to view all situations requiring a deeper involvement or commitment as wholly unsustainable, and at that juncture will quickly up and move on (KnW).

Their signature move is the innocent dissolution of emotional attachments (KnS, 1S, Emperor), whether they are outdated or not. Due to their innocent, light-hearted, ‘no-strings’ romantic intentions (PC), what begins as a mere dalliance or fling (Lovers) can quickly and easily turn sour (3S, 5C, Tower, Death) when the Fool fails to notice their lover’s deepening emotional attachment.

Due to their unsettled and resolutely non-committal nature, the Fool usually remains emotionally uneducated, with an immature view of committed relationships (Pages). Unless they wish to remain single, or celibate for spiritual purposes (Hermit, Hierophant), a possible solution to their strong resistance to monogamy is the forming of a polygamous or open partnership (Lovers, 3W, 3C).

Professional Life

In a combination reading with those archetypes still under development (Devil, Pages, Knights), the Fool is considered uneducated, unknowledgeable, unwise, unaccomplished, ineffective and unworldly, with a great deal still to learn. They often peak too soon or finish too early, giving up when something needs more time to develop and mature. When left unchecked, they can even be detrimental to matters requiring solid grounding and great maturity of character.

They often take jobs or enrol on courses with little regard for their future trajectory. Remaining oblivious to the part they play in precarious situations often leads to their professional undoing, resulting in job losses or business, project or exam failures (Death, Tower, 3S, 5P, 5C).

Their career or study path is often continually interrupted, like a bad phone signal. Their enthusiastic starts (Pages, Aces) often end abruptly when they discard, destroy or obliterate what they have accomplished. The Fool’s signature move is trying to get ahead via great, ill-considered leaps of faith (Devil), which are often badly misjudged. Unqualified to meet the level of challenge, the overreaching Fool often falls flat on their face (Death).

Self-discipline, self-governance and direction are great challenges for Fools, as are following the rules of a management hierarchy (Emperor) or fitting into any form of organizational work structure (Hierophant). They are often the source of professional indiscretions, by ignoring or disrespecting personal and professional boundaries. For this reason, the Fool archetype frequently suffers through their disconnection from their work colleagues, or even their abandonment by those who would otherwise support their work or career (5C, 5P). Subsequently, theirs can be a wandering, unsettled professional life.

The fragmentation of work or business interests includes no fixed form of work or study, temporary contracts (Justice) or uncontracted work roles.

However, the Fool-ish dissolution of barriers that prevent the absorption of another personality can greatly benefit dramatic actors and performers (Sun, KW, QW) or those acting out a role to feel more socially and culturally accepted (Hierophant) in the workplace. As an underdeveloped, impressionistic, absorptive or half-formed personality, the Fool’s performances as others provide them with an opportunity to feel whole and complete again (World), and thus can be highly convincing.

In addition, the Fool-ishly playful and creative ego, which delights in dissolving order, shape and form, can produce great abstract, impressionist or metaphysical artists and creatives (World, Empress, Magician, High Priestess). Their innocent, fantastical and otherworldly views (High Priestess, Magician, World, Empress) can capture the public imagination (Sun, Moon) by providing a pure impression of what lies beyond the material plane of existence.

Property – Finances – Resources

Carrying little material baggage or travelling light, the Fool often lives a minimalist lifestyle with few materialistic concerns, financial obligations or dependencies. Though they may not be materially wealthy, however, they can certainly qualify for the spiritually rich list.

As the archetype of beginnings, freedom and severance, the Fool can represent starting from scratch (1S, PP) and being materially and financially at (or back at) square one. They often don’t know or care where their next pay cheque is coming from (PP), and unless they are independently wealthy (KP, QP, 10P), this lack of forethought will result in an erratic life, full of financial ups and downs (2P).

The Fool card may also indicate the receiving of severance pay (Death, 1S, 5P). Sometimes it can indicate relinquishing or leaving behind all material possessions (Hermit) and continually moving on from one place to the next, having given up a fixed address (KnW).

Knowing they are at the beginning of their journey, with not much to lose, can prompt this all-in archetype to take a big uncalculated risk with a speculative project or investment (Strength). Whether it pays off or not depends on the surrounding or outcome cards.

Health and Well-being

At their best, the Fool represents youth or youthful energy and the vigour that comes from having an emotionally or physically lightened load. Hence this card is great if you are wanting to lose weight.

Due to the archetype’s wide-open boundaries, the Fool is an adept at mediation practices (Temperance) and can easily find great solace, freedom and liberation from painful or stressful health concerns.

However, their carefree, complacent attitude to health and well-being is often only sustainable in the earlier years of life, and can bring much trouble later on unless it is kept in check by the more health-conscious archetypes (Sun, Temperance, Star, High Priestess, Hierophant, Justice).