All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience. - Henry Miller
The Tarot by S.L. MacGregor Mathers [1888]
Symbolism of Each Key
0. The Foolish Man. A man with a fool’s cap, dressed like a jester, with a stick and bundle over his shoulder. Before him is the butterfly of pleasure luring him on (while in some packs a tiger, in others a dog, attacks him from behind). It signifies Folly, Expiation.
Meanings of the Cards
0. The Foolish Man.–Folly, Expiation, Wavering; R. Hesitation, Instability, Trouble arising here from.
The Symbolism of the Tarot by P. D. Ouspensky [1913]
What is the Tarot? Card 0.–”The Fool”.
“Man.” An ordinary man. A separate man. The uninitiated Lower consciousness. The end of a ray not knowing its relation to the centre.
CARD 0. THE FOOL.
And I saw another man.
Tired and lame he dragged himself along the dusty road, across the deserted plain under the scorching rays of the sun. He glanced sidelong with foolish, staring eyes, a half smile, half leer on his face; he knew not where he went, but was absorbed in his chimerical dreams which ran constantly in the same circle. His fool’s cap was put on wrong side front, his garments were torn in the back; a wild lynx with glowing eyes sprang upon him from behind a rock and buried her teeth in his flesh. He stumbled, nearly fell, but continued to drag himself along, all the time holding on his shoulder a bag containing useless things, which he, in his stupidity, carried wherever he went.
Before him a crevice crossed the road and a deep precipice awaited the foolish wanderer. Then a huge crocodile with open mouth crawled out of the precipice. And I heard the voice say:–
“Look! This is the same man.”
I felt my head whirl.
“What has he in the bag?” I inquired, not knowing why I asked. And after a long silence the voice replied: “The four magic symbols, the sceptre, the cup, the sword and the pentacle. The fool always carries them, although he has long since forgotten what they mean. Nevertheless they belong to him, even though he does not know their use. The symbols have not lost their power, they retain it in themselves.
Roger Tobin will lead a special session devoted to the Fool.
Posted on April 1st, 2007 by leisa
Filed under: Events
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