Comparative Study - The Fool

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Mimers	18 Nov 2003
It just occured to me that we skipped over this important fellow. After all it is his journey, isn't it? I will start with The Merryday Tarot by Louisa Poole. A wonderful deck, I might add. Can you say grapes? There are grape vines everywhere on this card with lucious grapes waiting to be picked. They are literally falling from the vines onto the ground. Think abudance. Think drunk on wine. On these vines also bloom beautiful white (purity) flowers with what look like coins in the center of them. Abudance from a pure source. No worries. There are 2 figures on this card. A young man and a wizard. In fact the card is named, "Fool, Wizard". The key words on the bottom are "Naivete',Wisdom". The fool and the wizard are back to back heading in opposite directions. As a matter of fact they are opposite in many ways. The fool is young, his face looks up to the fruits on the vine. He is dressed in vibrant colors. He holds the bag with his meager belongings in one hand and a twig for a walking stick in the other. A banner of colored ribbons flows from the top of his stick. He walks towards the clif. The wizard walks away from the clif. He is old with a long grey beard (wizdom). I would liken him with the typical Hermit figure. His dark blue robe with star and moon border completely enfolds him, complete with hood. On his staff which is an old knarly piece of wood he has his crystal ball and ribbons of purple color dangle from the end. The Wizard is wise enough to walk away from the cliff, yet so focused on his directions that he overlooks the abundance around him. The fool is aware of everything around him, yet has no direction. Here is a link to a review by Lee. There is a scan of the Fool in his review. http://www.tarotpassages.com/bursten10.htm

jmd	18 Nov 2003
...and I thought it hadn't been posted yet precisely because the card traditionally has no number, and is also often placed either penultimate or final card in the sequence :) But to continue the comparative study. The image I have attached is from the Japanese Angel Tarot, a Marseille style deck. As with Marseille decks generally, the Fool's body faces as he walks towards the right-hand of the card. No cliff is anywhere in sight, and the animal, whether dog, lynx or cat, is shown only frontal half, with the Fou's right legging falling half-way down his leg, revealing his thigh (and on some decks a little more). His right-hand holds a stick used for walking, whilst his left-hand holds, over his right shoulder, a staff-like stick at the end of which is a 'package'... One interesting aspect is that, of his whole body, only his eye and hand from his own left-hand side is showing. The remainder is his right-side only - for even his left-leg is fully covered - though shown in the walking stance. The Walking Stance is also important when considered in the sequence, for, apart from the self-movement implicit in the World card, this is the only person which is in movement by his own volition. But for the card:

Star Spirit	19 Nov 2003
It's very interesting to me that there are both the Fool and a Wizard on this card you speak of. To me the Fool is almost childlike in the mind. Vulnerable and sometimes naive, but at the same time, determined and hopeful. He takes in the world in any way he can, enjoys life and has a wonderful imagination. But sometimes he can be too trusting, too careless. The bright colours suggest his youthfulness, happiness, and energy. I think you are right in your interpretation: "The Wizard is wise enough to walk away from the cliff, yet so focused on his directions that he overlooks the abundance around him. The fool is aware of everything around him, yet has no direction." The Wizard in this card is more reserved, more careful, more wise. Yet at the same time he forgets to enjoy himself. In a way this emphasizes the two sides to this card. On one hand, it is about beginnings and happiness, with the possible downside of being too careless and walking yourself right off a cliff. On the other hand, the querent is very wise and careful, but as such may be missing the opportunity to enjoy life and start anew, focussing too much on their worries or inhibitions. On my Fool card, from the Hudes Tarot, we have a very close-up shot of him. All you can see in the background are blue skies and rolling hills. He's dressed like a nobleman in red, green and gold, with an emblem of the sun on his belt, and is reaching his hands out to catch a butterfly. He looks content, but curious. Butterflies are so playful and beautiful, like the Fool, but, as portrayed in the Death card here, butterflies can also symbolize death. In which case I would describe the meaning that, whatever the Fool is reaching for, he needs to remember to be careful and pay attention to what he's getting himself into. Is there any more information you can give us on this card with double meaning? I find it kind of intriguing.

WolfyJames	21 Nov 2003
The Gothic Tarot by Vargo - 0 The Fool I started a study group on this deck and I'll simply copy-paste what I wrote. The cards in The Gothic Tarot are mostly monochromatic, shades of white, grey, blue and black. Still, this card is green and there are only three cards of the deck with this color: The Fool, The Devil and the Queen of Wands. What is so special about this color? Well, my Dictionnaire des symboles (Symbols Dictionnary), Robert Laffont, has a lot to say about green. Apparantly, green is a sign of renewal and youth, hope and immortality, wealth and occult knowledge. Green also bears life and death, the green at spring and the dark green at autumn. And the green must hibernate during winter in the world of the dead (red) to renew itself at spring. Persephone, the green, is an exemple at this, spending winter with her husband in the world of the dead, because of the red pommergranata, and coming back in the spring. There are similar stories in other cultures as well like Egypt and for the Azteques, like Osiris the green who is murdered and resurrected by his wife Isis the red. We see a lot of red in the deck, indicating the world of the dead. There are a lot of doors, portals and arches in this deck. My dictionnary says that doors represent passages between two realms, and invitation to go further. There are often guardians to such doors to make sure the right people come in and the others can't. Passing in front of the guardians and going throught the door is an initiation, giving you access to revelations. The scene is very gloomy, as a person, very pale and wrapped in a black cloak, is a the top of the steps in front of a arch. A black wolf with red eyes is at his/her feet. The arch is made of old big stones, falling apart at some place. There are three ravens at the top of the arch, and a dead tree at the left. There are two gargoyles-like on the sides of the arch, probably the guardians I mentionned above. There is a mist and three skulls at the bottom of the steps. We can see a scene inside the arch, with a house, surely. Is the person coming in or coming out? The wolf seems to be coming from behind the person, coming from the house we see inside the arch, which could indicate that the person just entered and is at the top of the step of this realm, looking around, a dark realm with nothing but death around. That means that the person just went through the passage and entered a new realm, and is taking a break, the wolf following in the back. Both wolves and ravens are considered guides to the world of the dead, both are on the card, the wolf replacing the dog. My guess is that the green means renewal in a new world, immortality, the life that has to spend some time in the world of the dead, a new beginning.

jog1118	21 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Dead Star Is there any more information you can give us on this card with double meaning? I find it kind of intriguing. Although i do'nt have the merryday, may i just share my perspective of its fool/magician... I see it as how most cultures view the coming of the new year: the passing of the old (the wizard) and the coming of the new (the fool). We have learned things from the past (wizard's beard), sometimes undesirable that we wish to forget (wizard walking away from the cliff) and are now ready to face the new year (the abundant grapes) but because of our eagerness we sometimes become careless (fool unaware of the cliff). does any of this make sense to you guys? sorry i cant clearly define my fools (nova-miniature, hidden folk and thoth) 'coz i normally post at work (got no pc at home :p) :smoker:

full deck	21 Nov 2003
I suppose there are two ways of considering perspective and its bearing upon contemplating the fool: others might call one a fool if one acts without wisdom or the benefit of experience or one might see themselves as a "fool" -- a level of personal awareness and insight into the paradox of one's own wisdom, paradox because no matter how great one's wisdom, it is never enough.

Jewel-ry	23 Nov 2003
Hi all, The Fool - Arcus Arcanum You can see this card here www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks02/d00303/d0030300.jpg I love this card. The fool wears an outfit associated with the court jester. His tunic is red with gold trim and his hat, boots and tunic are all adorned with bells ( is this so we can hear him coming or is it so we know where he is?). He walks towards the right side of the card and looks back happily, unaware of the cliff drop ahead of him. He is about to walk off the cliff into the ravine, the unknown? He appears to be leaving his cares behind him and heading for a castle in the distance. He has a black cat for company. Is this lucky or unlucky? The cat looks up at him willing him to look at the danger ahead. He carries a stick over his left shoulder with his belongings and the end of the wand is sprouting (growth), there are butterflies fluttering around him. You can see representation of the four elements, he carries his wand, wears his pentacle (around his neck) and his dagger but on first look I couldnt see the cup. Then I spotted the waterfall which I dont recall seeing in a fool card before. There are mountains in the distance and a beautiful rainbow in the sky showing the bridge between the material and the spiritual but there is also a dark cloud which appears behind the fool. This may indicate leaving troubles behind him or could be a warning not to be too careless. There are other warnings in the darkness of the ravine and the shadows around the castle. I can see so much in this card, not looking where you are going, leaving cares behind, innocence, naivety, a journey, aspiration, optimism, growth, open-mindedness, light-heartedness, carelessness. I love these comparative studies. When I first joined Aeclectic I did one on the lovers card. It really made me look at the card carefully. I've just written this one and then compared it to my own notes on this card which I wrote when I got the deck and I see so much more now than I did then (only a few months ago!). Isn't it amazing how much we learn and how much more we pick up with time. Jewel-ry

Mimers	24 Nov 2003
Here is the Fool from the Blue Rose Tarot http://www.tarotpassages.com/PGFool2.htm I really love this deck. The symbolism is fantastic! Here we have the fearless, umm, windboarder? I don't even know what to call this sport, but it definitally requires a feerless attitude! He soars through the air free and wild, living for the moment. His pal Lucky (I made that name up myself) sits on the board dutifully going along for the ride. The poor dog probably doesn't even know better. Notice the dog is wearing the fool's hat here :laugh:! Notice the green patch around the dog's eye? Behind our daredevil the is a picture of the white rose that represents the purity of spirit the Fool has. He soars between 2 mountains because even mountains don't get in his way. Down below we see a city with access to water. This means opportunities to me. A city with access to water is a big deal as it means so much opportunity for access to other cultures and trading. The world is at his feet! He can go anywhere he chooses, too bad he isn't paying attention to all these opportunities for growth. Perhaps that is what Lucky the dog is for. Green to me represents growth and Lucky has a green eye! Love this deck! Mimi

galadrial	25 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jewel-ry The Fool - Arcus Arcanum You can see this card here www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks02/d00303/d0030300.jpg He has a black cat for company. Is this lucky or unlucky? I love this card as well. In fact, it was seeing a picture of this card in one of my books that caused me to decide to purchase the deck (no small feat, either; it's not all that easy to obtain, at least here in the U.S.) The black cat reminded me of Rachel Pollack's take on the black cat in the RW Queen of Wands, from her 78 Degrees of Wisdom: "A black cat guards her throne. In Christian folklore the Devil gave a black cat to a witch to guard her from attack. The meaning here is less melodramatic. Sometimes if a person loves life, the world appears to respond by protecting that person from harm and send her or him joyous experiences. We cannot understand the way in which this happens without reaching the complex and inner knowledge of the universe symbolized by the last cards of the Major Arcana. Nevertheless it can happen, and the black cat shows this response by nature to someone who approaches it with fiery joy."

Mimers	07 Dec 2003
The Fool from this deck takes on many of the attributes of the RWS deck, with some new symbolism as well. The Fool in this deck has the usual Fool with the cliff and the dog. The dog is white for a pure concious and seems to be trying to warn the Fool of the cliff. The Fool here is not dressed in rags like many other Fools, although he does wear the bells on his hat that were to warn people that he was approaching. S/he is standing on one to and seems to be trying hard to keep his/her balance. This implies to me that The Fool is not very grounded. Behind the Fool are three spheres of light that illuminate from the sun. The Fool also has 3 tassels coming from his hat that are pink (love from the divine? innocence of thoughts?) and the cap itself is green (growth, a lot to learn). The zero for the card is strategically placed in the center of the sun which resembeles the symble of the universe, a circle within a circle. No begining and no end. So for those of you that prefer no number on the fool card, this is an alternate way of looking at it. It is interesting to note there are 4 birds flying in the backround, within the orbs of light surrounding the Fool. This I find rather perplexing and would welcome any ideas as to why the artist may have included these in the card. Birds represent messages from the spirit, and four is the number of the Emperor. Four typically stands for structure, foundation and rules or limits, things that the Fool is not known for. Any thoughts? There are also crystals growing from the ground. Crystals represent the spirit world and the fact that they are growing from the ground may signify that the Fool is getting ready to 'grow spiritually' by partaking in a life here on Earth. Mimi

firemaiden	07 Dec 2003
This fool harks back to one of the Marseilles fools that jmd has posted before... it emphasises the madness aspect of le fou, il matto. Warning, do not open this image if you are offended by male nudity. (The picture is a bit grotesque).

Belladonna	08 Dec 2003
The Gendron deck has one of my very favorite fool cards. Against a backdrop of space, literally black-blue sky studded with stars, a young native american with cascading black hair stands on the head, or rather snout, of a wolf. The space shows infinite possibility, infinite capacity for growth. To me, the dog or wolf in the fool card has represented many things, but the one I always come back to is logic, reason- those annoying, yapping, I'll never leave you, loyal voices that follow you everywhere. So I see this young person standing at the edge of reason, but also that reason has provided the jumping off ground. So the next steps are perhaps risky, unknown certainly, but not unthoughtout. As in the magician card, there is a small waning moon, this time behind the head of a second smaller howling wolf. It looks as though the wolf is grieving the end of an era or cycle. As in the magician card again, there is a sun behind the head of our fool, while a small glowing earth rests in his/her hand. The fool here has power, has potential, has support... we are all just waiting to see what he/she does with it.

The Comparative Study - The Fool thread was originally posted on 18 Nov 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.