Dick Whittington

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Osher	25 Jan 2003
The traditional image of Dick Whittington, who became Lord Mayor of London hundreds of years ago look a lot like the traditional image of The Fool, even with his cat, and his possesions over his shoulder. Was The Fool based on him? Is the story of the man who changed his mind, and took a different path common to all cultures? (for those of interest in this, the place he changed his mind is marked by a stone on Highgate Hill outside the Whittington hospital).

Laurel	27 Jan 2003
My opinion is that Dick Whittington wasn't the inspiration of "The Fool" but rather simply manifested a number of the facets of The Fool Archetype, which is one of the reason his story (the real and the mythic) is powerful and long-lasting. ~LAS

HudsonGray	27 Jan 2003
Dick Whittington was from the 1800's wasn't he? Too late to actually be the model of the Fool. Though in some ways he does fit the fool's role.

Osher	27 Jan 2003
Apparently he was born in 1357, in Pauntly, Gloucestershire. He became Lord Mayor in 1397, 1398, 1407 & 1420. He also did marry Alice, as the nursery rhyme says. He became a mercer, supplying luxury fabrics, and also a money lender. This information is from the Museum of London. It doesn't mention a cat, and turning around. As I recall, he was walking up Highgate Hill (on the ancient Great North Road, which would have been a few miles outside London then), when he heard the bells of London, which seemed to sing to him 'turn around, next Mayor of London'. This would pre-date tarot, but the imagery, that of the carefree man, travelling, leaving commitment behind him, with his life in a bag slung over his shoulder does fit The Fool nicely. Maybe the story of Dick Whittington became confused with The Fool?

Kyrielle	28 Jan 2003
So he was actually Lord Mayor four times? I haven't heard the story in a while (we don't get it much in the USA) but I thought I remembered the rhyme went something like: Turn again, Whittington, Thrice Lord Mayor of London Which would mean three times. Interesting. -- Kyrielle

Osher	28 Jan 2003
Well, the first and second time came one after the other, maybe they meant three times, not three terms?

The Dick Whittington thread was originally posted on 25 Jan 2003 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.