Tarot The Fool - couragous? by startide
Because I am new to tarot, I have spent my time here lurking, listening, and learning
(And thinking up alliterations?) Something that was said in one the first postings keeps coming back to me
I've been thinking about it ever since
It is about the Fool, and whether we can say that he has courage at the start of his journey
It doesn't seem possible -- at least, not yet
I am not experienced enough with tarot to speak with any authority about the cards
I am speaking from life experience
I'm thinking that if our Fool is on a human journey, we should not be too far apart in our experiences
I have felt a strong affinity with the Fool card from the first time I saw the RWS image
I link it to the time (long ago) when I stepped out on my own journey into the wider world
We even look a bit alike, the Fool and me -- he, with his worldly goods wrapped in a cloth and hanging from a stick; and me, with my jeans and portable typewriter stuffed into a knapsack hanging on my back
he, with a rose between his fingers; and me, with my thumb in the air
he, with a fanciful shirt of many colours swinging from his shoulders; me, with my madras blouse blowing in the breeze, stitched with beads and shining mirrors
the tarot deck or the hippie trail, the human path has many names
The Fool and I both set out to answer the call within
We both begin full of expectation, full of adventure, full of ourselves
And we are both about to step off a very steep cliff
Because the Fool does not see the dangers in front of him, his confidence thrives
He enjoys the fearlessness common to the inexperienced
Without this naiveté, how many of us would ever follow the stuff of our dreams? When the Fool begins to look around, when he sees the cliff and truly understands what will happen if he falls, and when he weighs this threat against the need to continue, and chooses the worthy option despite the risk, when he swallows his bile and steps up to face his fear, then he will have reason to tap his strengths, and will find what has lain dormant within
Only then will he will discover his courage
Fearlessness is not courage
Courage is when we are scared stupid to do what's worthy, and we to do it anyway
Perhaps it can be said that for the Fool to head out into the unknown is an act of courage -- okay, I'll give him that, because I know that most people could not, or would not, have the nerve to do such a thing
But I wouldn't give him too many courage-credits yet
Not until he comes face-to-face with the tough stuff
I think the Fool has a fair way to go before he earns his badge
other posts in this tarot thread
The Fool by HH
The Chinese Tarot Deck's Fool by HH
by WolfChild
by HH
by WolfChild
by HH
*Traditional* Fools by HH
Lösche's Cosmic Tarot by HH
by HH
Some random thoughts, Fool that I Am
by HH
The Fool - couragous? by startide
by HH
The Fool by Witchywoman
by HH
by Witchywoman
by HH
by bluemoon
by bea