Hi Everyone! Today I want to continue my reflection on the Tarot's first Major Arcana card, The Fool. If you didn't read my first posting, go here: http://voodooboutique.typepad.com/spellmakernovitiates/2011/01/khouzhan-finns-tarot-reflection-1-introduction-to-the-fool-.html
Last time, I left off with what seems to be The Fool's step into the abyss. Look carefully. There is a slight ridge rising up which could stand in his way. There is also enough room for him to take another slight step forward. What does that mean? The more esoteric Tarot teachings state that this symbolic detail actually signifies an eternal truth. That truth is this: no matter how far Life Power may advance, it can always go another step. What does that mean for us? It means that we never come to the limit of our possibilities.
We never come to the limit of our possibilites. I don't know about you, but I need to remind myself of this all the time. Sometimes we might make a turn into a blind alley, but we can always turn around and retrace our steps to the place where further progress is possible.
Let us now take a look at some other details in this image starting from the upper right hand corner. On an ancient occult diagram called the "Tree of Life," the first manifestation of Life Power is represented by a white circle. This is a reference to Primal Will. The suggestion is that any cycle of manifestation, or growth, begins here - it is Ultimate Potential. Without the Sun, there is no growth and here, in this image, the Sun is shining down on The Fool (or "us"). The green wreath that encircles the Fool's hair is a symbol that the green leaves of plant life actually bind sunlight, just as the wreath binds the Fool's yellow hair. It is the action of chlorophyll in plant life making many vegetables green. These green leaves capture the sunbeams and transform the energy into food - "food for thought" if you will.
Next, take a look at the feather that rises from the wreath. It is the wing feather of an eagle. This detail represents animal life which is a step higher in our scale of organisms. It is a red feather symbolizing both the color of desire and the color of action. To desire to be something is to aspire to a condition higher than where we are at the moment. The word "aspiration" also means a breathing out. Now, connect that thought with the information in the previous blog about breath - "follis" and "bellows" and the idea of breath, or air, used to promote fire. When we truly aspire to be something, the action we take is an expression of that Life Power. What do you want to be and do?
The wand over the Fool's shoulder is both a yardstick of sorts and a magical instrument. As a yardstick, it symbolizes what the Life-Power has already accomplished. Since Life-Power and All Possibility are endless and can't be "measured," what we can measure are our accomplishments to date. This is why the Fool carries the wand above him. He brings it up from the lower levels to a level ascending higher than himself. As a wand, however, this stick is associated with magic. If you attended the 2010 Spellmaker Conference then you know a little bit about wands! This wand is black because it represents occult powers, not be confused or associated with "black magic." Instead, this symbol actually pertains to what is "hidden" or secreted inside each and every one of us - unlimited potential waiting to be made manifest. Hence, there is a wallet, or purse, hanging from the end of the wand which symbolizes that which is hidden and refers also to our subconsciousness.
A;though the details are hard to see in this small image, the Egyptian Eye of Horus is depicted on the flap of the bag. The Eye is positioned on the flap in the place where a lock might be present to close tight the wallet or purse - an Open eye covering a lock. The idea here is that "Sight" is what unlocks both our conscious and subconscious powers.
Next, we have the rose the Fool is holding in his left hand. Roses, in Tarot, always represent Desire. The thorns, of course, symbolize pain. Finally, the bloom itself typifies joy and beauty. The fact that this particular rose is white corresponds with the white of the Sun in this image. The suggestion to us is that if we cultivate our desires with purity of intention, then we will be in unison with Divine Will or Cosmic Order if you prefer the second term. In that case, our desires will be conscious expressions of who we are inside in alignment with the cosmic order. The Fool seems to carry this cultivated flower happily and without concern over pricking his fingers on the thorns. This is an indication that he has a certain amount of control over his hidden desires. He puts those desires to good and pure use thereby avoiding the pain that would be a result of the misuse of our desires.
Next time, I will finish describing the rest of the details shown on this Card. Personally, I love looking at this particular Tarot key. It makes me smile inside and I feel a refreshing of my sense of Hope when I gaze at it.
Khouzhan Finn
