Tarot by HH
Originally 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
[/quote] Because we each filter the tarot through our personal experiences we will, of course, each have very personal opinions regarding the cards
To me this is one of the joys of tarot, discussing those differences from our own experiences, from our own point of view, from our own heart
I view the tarot as a metaphor/allegory for my personal journey
I see the individual cards as certain aspects of myself at various stages of growth and evolution
Beginning with The Fool _birth_ , the first step in recognizing my place in the game of life
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?[/quote] Confidence most certainly implies emotional security that leads to faith in oneself
Personally, I wonder if naďveté is an attribute of the Fool
It takes a certain amount of chutzpah:- to set out on any journey and at least part of it is founded in an inner fortitude that demands we have courage
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
[/quote] The Fool is not:- looking around, he does not:- see the cliff, he is looking ahead, to the future, to his coming adventures
It is his [b]courage[/b] that allows him to proceed without the necessity of looking around
However, whether the Fool displays courage is a moot point
The fact that we are sharing this conversation gives credence to the Fool’s courage
Fearlessness is not courage
Courage is when we are scared stupid to do what's worthy, and we to do it anyway
[/quote] I agree
“Courage, that indefinable 'something' that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution, and emerge with zeal and lust intact.” Mark Twain commented (paraphrased) that courage was the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear
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
[/quote] What can be tougher than facing your own _birth_ as a being? We are never more vulnerable, more alone than when we step off the cliff into the abyss
That takes more than naďveté, it takes courage, the ability to take action in the presence of the unknown future
Leaps of faith are based on courage
We, each of us, are the primal cause of everything that happens
The future is only a moment away and what we do and think right now creates the future
Is that not courage at its finest?
It's in the cards! HH
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