Cooperative Tarot Fairytale

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

WillieHewes	04 Oct 2002
I proposed the idea for a tag-story about tarot some time ago but didn't have time to follow it up. The immediate inspiration was Diana's bateleur's tale, in 'using tarot cards'. So, the idea I had was that we would write a story together, one chapter each, of the Fool's trip through the tarot. I know it's been done before, but I still think it would be a fun and useful exercise, and to keep it interesting you don't have to use the cards in order (in life, we often don't, do we?) I'll make a start myself, introducing the main character. Foolish Hans is from a Grimm's tale, I figured he'd make a good fool. :) So, whoever wants to write the next chapter, pick a card and let Hans interact with it. It's easy! __________________________________________ Foolish Hans lived with his old mother on the edge of the wood. They had some chickens, a goat and a pig. "Hans, go collect the eggs," mother said one fine morning. "Yes mother," Hans answered. He went into the barn, picked up a bucket and started throwing in the eggs. They all burst on the metal, and when his mother saw what he had done she said: "Hans, you are such a fool! You should hae used a basket! Why don't you go and milk the goat?" "Yes mother," Hans said, took a basket and went to milk the goat. The milk ran onto the floor through the holes in the basket, and when his mother saw what he had done, she said: "Hans, you are such a fool. You are a curse to your old mother. Why don't you go out into the world and learn something for a change?" "Yes mother," Hans said, packed a few simple items and stepped out the door.

fairyhedgehog	05 Oct 2002
Hi WillieHewes, Did you want us to use major arcana? And do we pick a major arcana card at random and use that as our jumping off point? And are we aiming at a traditional "Fool's Journey" but with the cards in any order? I think if you put a few ground rules in it might be easier to join in. I was going to pull a (major arcana) card and see where I end up, is that the idea?

Pollux	05 Oct 2002
Ouch! I was about to draw a minor from Spiral. I definitely need those rules too! Also I think that using only Majors would not work out very... "originally" - there's to much written and spread about the stages and the majors... Please, consider minors too! ;);););) *malicious wink*

Cerulean	05 Oct 2002
(The High Priestess just decided to walk up and knock on the door)... "Hans, you are such a fool. You are a curse to your old mother. Why don't you go out into the world and learn something for a change?" "Yes mother," Hans said, packed a few simple items and stepped out the door. But before he took 21 steps, he came across a veiled woman sitting by the side of the road, in a kind of covered pavillion. She had at her feet a long-legged dog whose tail was banging her legs and had a cat curled up like a muff around her shoulders. Hans would have tipped his hat and gone on, but the woman beckoned him and pointed down at the pages of her open book. "Ma'am, may I help you?" he inquired, wondering why he had not seen the pavillion nor her before. He could make out a rather pretty face through the veil, but tried to look at the pointing fingers. The cat on her shoulders jumped on the book, upsetting the pages, and the book and cat fell at Han's feet. The dog began barking and chased the cat away. Pages scattered all around and Hans was running to and fro, chasing the pages. He picked them all up, except for one that merrily scooted with the wind, beyond the treetops. Hans turned back to the pavillion and mysterious lady, but the lady was gone. However the long-legged dog was sitting with its head cocked sideways in the nicest, friendliest eager look on it's face and the basket was was by it's side. A little tag fluttered on its handle---Hans could make out the letters of his name on the tag.

MeeWah	05 Oct 2002
Hans eagerly bent down to look into the basket, marvelling at the stroke of luck that left him such an unexpected windfall. He fully expected to see food nestled within--indeed, there was a tantalizing aroma that arose from it. He thought of the meager provisions he had hastily packed in a knapsack & welcomed more. The dog nipped at his heels & then ran ahead, looking back at him. Distracted, Hans picked up the basket. The day was still young & as he had already had breakfast, he could see what the dog was about first before investigating the basket's contents. The dog led him on a meandering path through the dusty road, in high spirits now that it was assured that Hans would follow. It would run off to chase a butterfly or a bird but always looked back at Hans as if to beckon him onward. Before too long, Hans noticed that the road led through a field of flowers in a riot of colors. On the left side of the road, in the midst of the flowers sat a woman upon a mossy rise. She was big with child, but seemed perfectly at ease. Her dress was of many colors & she wore a crown of flowers on her brown hair. Her blue eyes were startling in a sun-kissed face. As he drew nearer, he saw that her dress seemed to be of woven flowers & her hair had a greenish tinge that he thought was a trick of the sunlight. She waved at him with a languid hand. "Draw nigh unto me, son," she said. "& what have you brought me?" Hans was momentarily startled speechless & he stammered. "Oh! I did not--I mean, I met this mysterious lady who disappeared. I think she left the basket." He could not take his eyes off her, as he responded to her air of authority. "Sit with me a while. I get visitors so seldom, 'tis nice to see a someone for a change, especially one who brings a gift. & today is a lovely day for a picnic." *Edited to add the card.

WillieHewes	07 Oct 2002
I was going to leave it pretty much up to you, but if you want rules, that's ok. The idea was (my idea anyway) that you indeed pick a card (either at random or because you want to write about it) and to build an event or a new character in the story around it. You can use major or minor arcana, and the order doesn't matter. It doesn't have to be like the traditional fool's journey, although you can be as metaphorical or metaphysical as you like. The only real ground rule I'd like to give is that the card you used is recognizable in the story, and that there is continuance (keep in mind what's happened before) and character development (Hans gets wiser along the way). For the rest, just go wild. :) Does that make it any clearer? *has a feeling the answers gonna be 'no'.*

fairyhedgehog	07 Oct 2002
Thank you, Willie, that is very clear. Wow! to everyone who has joined in so far. I'm going to draw a card (hopefully tomorrow) and add my bit too. I can't wait to see where Hans ends up :)

juice	11 Oct 2002
Hans had a lovely luncheon with the Empress. He forgot to offer her the basket again. She didn't point this out until Hans got up to stretch before leaving. She did not wish him to leave but was happy to watch play with the litlle dog. After a while the dog who was playing tug of war with Hans led Hans into the forest. Hans wandered down a forest path until he came to a small field. Beside the field was a table and stone bench. On the bench sat a woman with a sour expression. She was wearing a blindfold. As Hans watched she picked up a seed from a pile on the table and placed it in one side of a balance scale. The other side had something light and airy like a feather. After a moment where the scale hadn't appeared to move she picked up the seed. Hans watched as she turned to the middle of the field and tossed the seed to the ground. Hans said hello. Justice turned to Hans and asked if he had come to be wieghed. Hans said he didn't know if he needed to be weighed. Justice returned to weighing the seeds. The next seed surprised Hans. Hans didn't see the scale move this time either yet Justice stood up quickly and layed the seed on the bench. She pulled aside her robe and under neath that was wearing a suit of armor. In one smooth motion she drew a sword and smashed the seed. She brushed its remains aside and sat back down. As she picked up another seed Hans asked why she had done that. Justice said it was her job to weigh the seeds. Hans looked confused and then asked why she had destroyed the other seed. She answered by telling him that she had planted many that day. Hans wondered if this had answered his question. Before Hans could question Justice further she announced that all seeds had to be weighed. Hans glanced in the basket briefly but didn't have any seeds and showed her the basket. Just then she stood up and smashed another seed. This made Hans uncomfortable and he edged backwards. The dog pulled him around a tree. With Justice out of sight he continued down the forest path. -- Hehehe! Couldn't let this die quite so soon. I'm thinking Hans may have to visit each card twice to get the positive and negative aspects shown to him. What do you think? I wonder how long it will be before the cat lovers want to know why it can't be a cat watching after Hans. })

The Cooperative Tarot Fairytale thread was originally posted on 04 Oct 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.