The Fool from Tarot of the Mermaids
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Stacie Doll |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I'm thinking about getting t his deck but wondering if I will have trouble with this card. Do you think it properly conveys the meaning of the fool? To me it looks like she is just laying back. Am I missing something.
http://www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks05/d02396/d02396j01.jpg
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| VisionQuest |
27 Jan 2005 |
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Is she underwater?
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| spoonbender |
27 Jan 2005 |
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Hey Stacie Doll!
Well, I guess it depends on what meaning you give the Fool... This is all very personal, so I don't know what kind of answer you're looking for. What problems do you have with the card? I'm not interested in owning this deck myself, but I think this card has some interesting aspects.
First of all, she's literally just going with the flow and having fun :). She doesn't look where she's going at all, so she's just enjoying the moment... maybe that little fish at the bottom is trying to warn her to pay more attention? Also, from the pictures I've seen, this deck is rather monochromatic, but here, the harlequin hat (or whatever it is called) brings a lot of colour - maybe showing the colourful, crazy personality of the Fool...
See, there are definitely things to work from. Does this help?
Spoon
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| Stacie Doll |
27 Jan 2005 |
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Is she underwater?
Yes...
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| Stacie Doll |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I dosn't look like she is moving. I guess that bothers me lol. Oh & personal opinions are what I am looking for.
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| VisionQuest |
27 Jan 2005 |
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Well, I think to me, it looks like she is underwater...the waves around her imply movement... she isn't on a path...but that doesn't mean she isn't moving... or headed somewhere...
that's what I see...
Personally I love the deck, if the lovers card were only mermaids without mermen, I would probably get it. :)
Do you know where all of the cards can be seen?
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| Thirteen |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I dosn't look like she is moving. I guess that bothers me
Perhaps she is just taking a moment to pause rather than, as you say, "laying back." It's hard to tell if what's streaming around her is her hair or seaweed or both. If we assume seeweed or both, then this is a "crab's" perspective of her. That is, you're on the bottom of the ocean where the seaweed starts, looking up as she stops just above you. And there she is, pausing for a moment, gazing around in lazy, stretching delight; she has the whole ocean in which to play.
That's very much the Fool, who sees the world as his playground, and as Spoonbender said, isn't real interested in any particular direction (I agree that the fish is trying to wake her up! The sea is full of dangers). And yes, the Fool can indicate someone who drifts without care or purpose, who takes things slow and lazy.
What I think you REALLY have to remember, however, is this: when you start collecting decks, you'll usually find that one or more of the cards in most decks aren't to your taste. They may disappoint you, like this card, or you may disagree with the artist/creator's interpetation. The only question you have to answer is if the cards that are most important to you please you. If, on the whole, you love this deck.
So, if the Fool is one of your favorite cards, or if it's meaning is very important to you, then you probably don't want this deck. No matter what we say, you find this Fool disappointing. If, however, your favorite cards are, say, Temperance and The Star, and in this deck they're beautiful, if the deck as a whole is stunning and delightful, then resign yourself to this Fool and get the deck. This Fool isn't the best, but the interpetation doesn't outright offend you, does it?
Overall, one unsatisfactory card out of 78 shouldn't give you trouble IF you love the deck as a whole and IF this one card doesn't bother you to distraction.
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| spoonbender |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I dosn't look like she is moving. I guess that bothers me lol. The card looks full of movement to me. But you know, if this card bothers you so much, maybe this deck isn't for you after all. Why buy a deck if you're not madly in love with it anyway?
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| Stregaverde |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I pulled out my deck and looked at The Fool, and saw something that I had forgotten. Not only is the little fish trying to wake her up by giving her a nip (highly symbolic, IMO), but she seems to be luxuriating over a waterspout or underwater geyser of some kind. The waves (or seaweed, but I think that it's water movement, due to color) are moving UP her body, and her hair is streaming up above her, moving very directly, not spread out in a watery fan.
I take this to mean that she's in something of a dangerous position (i'm assuming that hanging out over a geyser would be) but enjoying the streaming warm water and oblivious to the dangers, much like the fool going off a cliff.
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| Moonbow* |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I don't have this deck but I agree with many of these comments already posted.
She definately has a dreamy look about her and the little fish is significant as trying to pull her out if that state.
To me the Fool also represents freedom and a carefree attitude, I think that all of this can be seen in this card.
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| Stacie Doll |
27 Jan 2005 |
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I love the meaning of the Fool, but come to think of it, I don't think I've been in love with any image of it from any deck I've seen(WHICH ISN'T MANY).
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| Stregaverde |
27 Jan 2005 |
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...although it's totally subjective, is from the BBC. Beautiful card!
Otherwise I agree with you, there are very few decks in which I like the artwork of The Fool, although the meaning of the card gives no problems. :)
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| Xarokys |
28 Jan 2005 |
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Maybe she's about to go over a waterfall. That is similar to the Fool about to step off the cliff.
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The The Fool from Tarot of the Mermaids thread was originally posted on 27 Jan 2005 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.
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