Fool's Gold

I’ve taken a leap of faith. It’s been brewing for a while, a fellow Tarot reader told me I had a decision to make and I didn’t know what she was talking about. But yesterday I suddenly knew. Of course it wasn’t sudden at all, I’ve known it deep down for ages but couldn’t, wouldn’t or maybe even daren’t verbalise it.

The wave of relief that washed over me and the tears that followed soon after the realisation confirmed I’m on the right path, as senseless as it seems. Thank God I’ve read enough memes to know that the less sense something makes the more you should pursue it!

Just like The Fool I’m at the start of a great journey which makes today the perfect day to introduce you to the first card in the Major Arcana, the part of the Tarot deck that deals with big life stuff…karmic lessons, turning points, rites of passage, forks in the road and those moments or situations when nothing will ever be the same again.

The card is numbered 0, because it represents simultaneously emptiness and wholeness - the Cosmic Egg - the blank slate on which you can write any story you dare to dream; while at the same time, the perfection and completeness we inhabit whatever stage of life we’re in.

There’s so many quotes that perfectly describe The Fool at the start of his grand adventure. I bet you could think of at least a couple of sayings off the top of your head - the title of the blog is one to get you started. You could also probably vaguely remember the odd inspirational quote along the lines of not needing to see the whole staircase and the first step being the most important, or something along those lines.

All of them are fitting for The Fool in their own way, but as a brief introduction to his multifaceted energy, I’d like to offer you 4 word to encapsulate his positive qualities, the same qualities I’m currently calling on in spades.

Presence - he’s neither worrying about the future or lingering in the past, he exists solely in the glorious sunshine of the here and now and basking in peace of mind.

Liberation - The Fool travels light, all his belongings are in that Dick Whittington-esque bag on the stick (in this case a wand) on his shoulder - a big, fat metaphor for letting go of anything that’s too heavy to carry any more.

Wonder - full of awe and curiosity his eyes are wide and lifted to the skies, delighting in the abundance of possibilities and infinite potential life has to offer.

Courage - heart and instinct beat head and logic hands down; when we act from this place of integrity we create space for something magical, miraculous and meaningful to arise.

We’re all familiar with the myth of the Fool’s Journey. The trope is played out endlessly in literature, art and film, the Movie Tarot Deck casts Forrest Gump as The Fool when he leaves the safety of home and embarks on his epic run across America.

Forrest was just running. The Fool is just trusting. More power to him.