The rule of three can be applied to many situations: timing in comedy, the structure of storytelling, and all good things, of course, come in threes. For me, hints from the Universe also make themselves known this way. Once is a dinner topic, but nothing of consequence. Twice is a coincidence, and an eye-opening one at that. But three? That's where the magic happens. That is when the message is finally clear enough to transform the recipient, and for the better, I believe.
My most recent message? It can be summarized by a single image...
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| The Fool tarot card from the Shadowscapes deck. Photo courtesy of Shadowscapes.com |
I've been waiting a long time to do a blog about what I consider the most misunderstood of all the tarot characters: The Fool. With on-going inspiration from creative guru, Liz Gilbert, my current journey has finally brought into stark light why she is both an essential enigma and a symbol for our generation. We'll discuss how the meaning ripples into professional and social paradigms, but, for now, let's take a moment to consider how The Fool resonates with us on a personal level.
Classically, the Fool was seen as a simpleton. A wanderer who took risks, but did so without the burden of fear. This impish demeanor was mirrored by his ability to attract the loyalty of an equally unburdened soul, such as a dog (see the well-known Rider-Waite representation below), or the fox (pictured above in the more contemporary Shadowscapes deck). In fact, the Fool is purported to be so carefree that the basest fears from which an animal might suffer do not afflict it, thus why the animal marvels at her so - after all, even the dog can sense the danger of The Fool's position. Thus, the picture of a "classic fool" is all too often a victim of his own naivete; blissful, but doomed. It has only been in modern interpretations that the Fool was also seen as wise, perhaps even the wisest of them all.
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| The Fool from the classic Rider-Waite tarot deck. Photo courtesy of Aeclectic Tarot. |
I'd like to offer my own analysis for what The Fool truly represents: being proactive in one's own life.
Yes, The Fool is fearless. Yes, The Fool is certainly wise. But most importantly, the Fool is an active participant in her own life. She takes action. As much as we hate to admit it, we do not know what will happen from one moment to the next. No matter how we might plan or prepare, scrutinize or analyze, with great intentions or flippant feats, the world, as we experience it, is a mystery until we, well... experience it. The Fool knows this and chooses to embrace the unknown. She is seen by others as foolish because she does not show fear, but she knows that acting on any feelings of fear is wasteful. With this wisdom, her spirit is free; with this freedom, her joy knows no bounds.
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| In this case, "dealing with it" means do not prevent yourself from doing something just because you are afraid. Weigh and measure. Make a choice, don't let circumstances dictate your reaction. Meme courtesy of pinterest.com |
The Fool is also about our participation in the divine mystery, of which the clues can only be sensed and interpreted through our intuition. Once we have connected with that small, still voice from within, the lesson of The Fool implores us to take action with unwavering faith. And that is why it seems folly from the outside. Because the Fool is listening to herself, to the divine source within herself. She allows herself to dance with the divine. Ultimately, this card is about observing versus acting. Observing leaves one feeling foolish, with judgment looming over head, as if a rain cloud prevents such movement. But acting has a way of silencing all other chatter to make clear the next steps. That is to say, how else do you learn how to dance than by first dancing?
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| Liz's delightful reminder that choosing to do something does not mean you have any investment in the outcome. Free yourself from the responsibility of results, and you experience a greater joy in the journey. Meme courtesy of relatably.com |
In a professional environment, The Fool reminds us that we cannot possibly progress without risking failure. Or perhaps that was Ken Robinson in his most infamous TED Talk. In it, he said, "...kids will take a chance. If they don't know, they'll have a go. They're not frightened of being wrong." Thus, The Fool is child-like, but brilliant. As an adult, the lesson to take from both the iconic tarot card and Sir Robinson is, "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original." With that being true, one cannot live creatively without being prepared to be wrong. Without being prepared to make mistakes.
Life is not linear. It's organic.
- Ken Robinson
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt this creative revolution. The recent video of the Mahomet Seymour High School girls' dance team to the poignant spoken-word song "What Room Does Fear Have?" is evidence of that. On a social level, I think it means we're ready to stop living in the shadows of our forebears and make the world anew. One can only hope that such a world will be both original and inspiring, and not seeded with the hate fear breeds. As Sir Ken Robinson proposed, with his education revolution, it starts with preparing our children for the unknown. This, I believe, starts with us embracing what scares us.
Quick Political Insert: If ever there was a sound argument for democratic socialism, it's that no one feels compelled to take risks when they risk everything for so little in return. I, for one, long for a day when the American Federal Government agrees that homelessness and bankruptcy is something it can easily protect every citizen from, not just terrorism (and we're suffering from the mentally ill in our own country more so than any attacks from "outsiders"). After all, if the majority of Americans are worrying about basic needs, such as food and shelter, then they don't have the time, energy, or resources to inform or educate themselves, allowing them to be active participants in the democratic process.
Personally, the lesson of The Fool has manifested so many times in my life, I'm surprised she hasn't become a spiritual patron. My martial arts training required physical exertion, which allowed for a profound quieting of the mind during my tumultuous teenage years. When I decided to go back to college in my twenties, I did so after giving myself breathing room to hear my own callings, which gave me the courage to move across the country, not to mention change schools and majors. Even now, at 35-years-old, as I'm "making it up as I go" with my husband, I hear the call, still. It says, Sitting and thinking about it never gets anything done. Keep going. You're not alone. Keep going. Just breathe. Keep going.
Just Dance...
Just Start Walking...
Just Keep Going.
And so, I pass The Fool's message on to you - wherever you are in life, whatever you're doing or feeling, stop. Take a moment to silence the cries of fear, and ask your small, still voice -
What brings you joy?
What idea fills you with excitement?
What would you like to explore, without expectation of what may come of the expedition?
And then go about your life. The answers will come to you in their own time. And when those answers filter through and manifest into opportunities, take a chance. No need to quit your job and move across the country (though, it's not out of the realm of possibility). Just embrace the fear. Go on, give it a big, cuddly hug; like a giant stuffed bear that can't suffocate from the oodles of love you're about to infuse it with. And then? Enjoy the journey, my friend.
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| Because I don't know how my life will turn out, and I'm okay with that. Say it with me! "I don't know how my life will turn out, and I'm okay with that." Meme courtesy of pinterest.com |
Tell me - what has The Fool meant to you in past readings? What have you been afraid to do? Leave a comment and let me know!
And now... onward with the adventure!
*~K~*
P.S. - I would like to thank my friend Paul for his part in inspiring this post. Thanks for "just walking", man!
Thanks for the shout out, and I'm glad my journey could inspire this post! It strikes home because I feel like I'm a fool in more than one sense of the word. Haha.
ReplyDeleteWhen I wrote that email to everyone, I got a lot of different responses back, everything from my uncle getting a little political and getting into his own social views on Facebook, to my sister and her new husband deciding that they were going to get a dog.
You're right: Fear takes many shapes, and once you get over the initial scare, you realize that the fear was driven by excitement and fun. All you need to do is get past the scary parts, and embrace them, and your life can get a lot more exciting!