kwaw
JMD wrote: There are numerous quotes in addition to the ones given for considering how the states of 'divine ignorance', being as a fool, and the ruptuousness of the mystic state obliterates normal senses.
These add to considerations of the Fool, if one wants to make these comparisons, being un-numbered... and being the highest stage attainable in the journey (not the beginning of the journey).
The concept is indeed well attested in both Christian and Judaic mysticism. In texts of Judaic mysticism the divine nought is called Ain and in the very same texts Ain is specifically associated with the letter Aleph (initial letter of AVYL - 'Fool', AVVLTh - 'Folly', ABD - 'Wandering' - ADYVNH - 'Poor man, beggar', AVB - Familiar Spirit (the dog/cat?)*see note at end)].
As for being the 'highest' it is more usually determined as both a descent and an ascent, "one must descend before one can ascend". It is described as becoming the lowest [as nothing] to attain the highest [the divine influx]. The 'I' [Ani – Malkuth] becomes nothing [Ain – Kether]. Again Aleph is taken as symbol for both lowest [1] and highest [1000], it is the first and the last. Pictured as a circle of letters on the body of a serpent with its tail in its mouth Aleph is placed over the head/tail.
the context of their respective texts and general considerations outside of Tarot presumed correlations, I would personally consider that here are examples of the height and end of the mystical or merkabah journey of ascent.
Somewhat confusingly merkabah mystics describe it as a 'descent' to the merkabah, not ascent. Remember also that the kabbalistic 'tree' is upside down, the root is at the top
kwaw
*For what it is worth [IMHO - not a lot] -
As well as 'fool', 'folly', 'poor man, beggar', 'wander-ing/er', other words in hebrew which may relate to the iconography of the 'Fool' and beginning with the letter Aleph that can be found in any standard hebrew lexicon include meanings of: backside [rear, behind, hinquarter]; wild animal [hyena, jackal, wolf]; gripped [caught, trapped, taken hold of]; thing of nought; dumb,mute; trees; meadow, field.