Discussion on tarot cards

[Emy]

I know we've already sort of done this here, but I thought maybe we could discuss each cards and more on what they stand for to yourself, what the card means to you, and personal experiences with the cards. If your up to it I think we should start with the major arcana and the fool. :)

blessings

[Lavender]

I'm finding that the Fool seems to vary from deck to deck. I have 3 decks & looking at them all, the one that represents what the Fool really means to me is the Goddess Tarot. In that deck, the card is called Beginnings, represented by the Goddess Tara, Tibetan goddess of protection and compassion.

Even though, she's just about to step off into a new adventure, she's looking behind. As if to check to see if anything needs to be taken care of before moving onwards. Like checking for hidden dangers. Beginnings is what I think this card should be called, rather than the Fool. The goddess is not taking this step lightly but have considered everything.

[Emy]

When I look upon the fool in my decks I see a person who is about to start a new journey, so I guess beginnings would be a good name for it.

To me the fool also seems like a child in many ways. It seems like the fool has got little worries, and that it is walking towards new adventures with an innocense, excitement and curiosity you often see with children.

The fool also stands for creativity for me, it stands for a creative chaos in which new ideas can be found, ideas and thoughts takes the evolution forwards.

[Faery-Wings]

Good idea! When I joined last year, I think they were halfway through the cards and I was always hopelessly behind. Maybe, just maybe, I can keep up this time. :T

The fool to me is also new beginnings, with a sense of innocence. There is also a sense of anticipation, the feeling of "what's around the river bend" (sorry, quoting from Disney's Pocahontas), not really knowing what to expect but being game for the adventure anyway.

Wildchild, the Goddess Fool sounds beautiful. That is not the deck you usually work with, though, or are you trying to use that one more?

[Azure]

I also have multiple decks, but I tend to see the Fool very archetypally. I have a lot of background in medieval literature, and the Arthuruan legend. To me, the fool is Gareth and Parsifal - the person with unlimited potential setting off on the journey of a lifetime - but one that will change him/her forever. It's the beginning of the quest motif - and I view life as a series of quests. To find what you're looking for, you have to question everything, reaccess your values, and make concrete decisions. Whether these work or not, you learn from them, and when you return you are wiser, older, and more prepared for the next one. Thus the Fool is pure potential, waiting to act and be acted on in turn.

[Mithrea]

I like this idea. I think it will really help me learn the cards.

The Fool -- I have two decks, the Renaissance deck and the Witches Tarot. Although I prefer my Renaissance deck, I think the pictures in the Witches Tarot give me better clues to read by.

In the Witches Tarot, the Fool is carrying a sack hanging from a pole over his shoulder and holding a blank piece of paper. This to me says new things and new journeys or perhaps, starting over. Beginnings is easy for me to remember because he is at the beginning of the deck. ;)

To me, the Fool is a very powerful card. I know when I get it, the changes I'm about to face are major. For that reason, it is one of my anxiety cards even though I've found most people think of him positively. :)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by chryssi1
...There is also a sense of anticipation, the feeling of "what's around the river bend" (sorry, quoting from Disney's Pocahontas), not really knowing what to expect but being game for the adventure anyway.

Wildchild, the Goddess Fool sounds beautiful. That is not the deck you usually work with, though, or are you trying to use that one more?

:lol: That's the image I usually get with the Fool. I always think of Pocahontas!

I still use the Wheel of Change but I'm finding I'm drawn more to the Goddess tarot right now. The feel is so different. It feels like one deck is more general and the other is more specific. :p

When I looked at the Fool from Wheel, I do get a sense of the child-like innocence but with the Goddess, it's more a sense of beginnings but with more maturity. The same excitment of starting a new path but more consideration is taken for the consequences.

Azure, I like what you said about the Fool being pure potential.

[Flaire-FireStar]

Great idea! :thumbsup: I'll have to get out my decks and really meditate on the Fool, as I don't draw it very often for myself. ;)

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

For me, the fool indicates someone with a care in the world; all is sunny and warm-fuzzies.

It also tells me that "you" will be making decisions while disregarding warnings or advice from others.

Thanks for posting this Emy, I was thinking about 're-starting' the discussions on the cards. ;)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Okay..I got different things from the 2 decks that I use~

Rider Waite~

I feel that it's almost like he's running away from home (with the small bad on the end of the stick), but he's unaware of what he's gotten himself into. I think both the mountains in the background and the cliff on which he stands appear to be a warning of things that will come in his future if he continues on his careless walk. As well,I think that the small dog is the nagging voice trying to warn him taht what he's about to do could be dangerous, though the Fool is too deep in his own thoughts (he looks really thoughtful!) to either hear or care what the voice is trying to say.


and
Spiral~

Uneasyness of what he's about to do - I think he wants to reach out for the chalice (grail) but something is holding him back (the black cat shown as the warning..). The angel behind him seems to almost be urging him on, making sure the Fool goes in the correct direcion and making the right choices. ;)

...or maybe I'm just wierd. :)

[Mithrea]

Originally posted by Flaire

...or maybe I'm just wierd. :)

No way Flaire . . . I am impressed with the amount of thought you put into that. :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

:) Thanks.

Would have done the Dragon tarot as well, but that one just confused me *so* much (even after reading the little thing in the book that came with the deck) :ahhhh:

[Emy]

This is what the fool looks like in one of my decks. The Tarot Deck by Rosie Björkman and Hans Arnold (whos made all the illustrations). I took a photo of the card in the book that goes along with the deck.... and its not the greatest quality...

Now there are lots of animals around in this card and I'd love to here your opinion on what this card could stand for, and especially what all those animals stand for... :)

I am not entirely clear on what all the animals stand forbut here are some of my thoughts... The tiger, like a cat but this is a wild animal so hmmm I don't know but I get the idea of adventures, possible dangers that may be ahead. The tiger doesn't look all that dangerous here though and it also sends me a feeling of calmness actually which I guess is rather weird.

The butterfly to me stands for death, I don't know why but it stands for some kind of death, but rarely for physical death. In this card it too says (to me anyway) that there is no telling of what is to come, good or less good. Or perhaps a small sacrifice has been made already so that one could go on this journey...

The magpie is a clever bird to me which enjoys the good in life. It likes shallow things and can be a little tricky, it can go rather far to get what it likes. The magpie is a beutiful bird which like beutiful things, telling me that there might be beuty on the road ahead.

The other bird which in Sweden is called a domherre, I don't really know what to think of. In Sweden this is a winter bird and it is said that if you see this bird it will get really cold and that snow is probably to expect in the next couple of days. So does that mean that this bird is telling us that there might be colder times ahead? That there may be rough times to come? If the fool stands for the beginning of a journey through all of the cards in the major arcana I guess it could be so, since there are some cards later on that talks about more difficult times to come...

The crocodile, well, a predator that reacts on instincts only. But here it gives me a sense of a holy, sacred animal... don't really know what to make out of this one.... But maybe someone else does? :)

The fool is called narren in swedish which means the fool, or the jester.

B*B

[Emy]

Oh I forgot there is a grasshopper too in the picture. Well, does it have anything to do with biblical grasshoppers? Or perhaps it is a more innocent version, like the grasshopper in the old swedish tv program for kids? To me the grasshopper actually often stands for hope, isn't that weird? And the only reason I can give to that is that the way it jumps and plays makes me think of hope :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Hmmm...I see the crocodile & the tiger as protectors of the fool, where as the birds or the butterfly might show the "flightiness" or undecisiveness of the fool ~ being unable to make well thought out decisions.
As for the grasshopper, I think it's more of a happy thing ~ you know how kids always chase grasshoppers and try to catch them? :)
And the butterfly... hmm.. I think it might mean peace (that's what butterflies have always meant to me anyway).

This one doesn't seem to have as many warnings in it, like the ones I did before. :) (or maybe the tall grass is. -.o)

[Myst]

Actually grasshoppers often symbolize hope and/or luck.

[Flaire-FireStar]

I'm saying for me..That's what they mean to me.

[Myst]

Uhhuh and I was responding to what Emy said here;


Originally posted by Emy
To me the grasshopper actually often stands for hope, isn't that weird? And the only reason I can give to that is that the way it jumps and plays makes me think of hope :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Aah, okay..sorry.

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Emy
This is what the fool looks like in one of my decks. The Tarot Deck by Rosie Björkman and Hans Arnold (whos made all the illustrations). I took a photo of the card in the book that goes along with the deck.... and its not the greatest quality...

Now there are lots of animals around in this card and I'd love to here your opinion on what this card could stand for, and especially what all those animals stand for... :)

I am not entirely clear on what all the animals stand forbut here are some of my thoughts... The tiger, like a cat but this is a wild animal so hmmm I don't know but I get the idea of adventures, possible dangers that may be ahead. The tiger doesn't look all that dangerous here though and it also sends me a feeling of calmness actually which I guess is rather weird.

I see the tiger as a symbol of courage. In a lot of the Eastern folktales, the tiger usually represents bravery, courage, facing the situation boldy.


The butterfly to me stands for death, I don't know why but it stands for some kind of death, but rarely for physical death. In this card it too says (to me anyway) that there is no telling of what is to come, good or less good. Or perhaps a small sacrifice has been made already so that one could go on this journey...

For me, I see the butterfly as transformation, spiritual progress, enlightenment. I can see how some kind of death would fit here too. As the larvae goes into it's cocoon, it sleeps. Some older beliefs thinks that sleeping is a little death in itself. The person comes through the other side, changed, refreshed, new.


The magpie is a clever bird to me which enjoys the good in life. It likes shallow things and can be a little tricky, it can go rather far to get what it likes. The magpie is a beutiful bird which like beutiful things, telling me that there might be beuty on the road ahead.

Magpies also makes me think of telling stories, tales. They love to chatter & talk. Knowing things.

Ok...these are my guesses. :D

[Emy]

Thank you for your thoughts on the animals on my fool card, I loved hearing your ideas, they have made my understanding of the fool deeper. :)

[Silver Venus]

Freedom of the self is the key to the Fool card for me, as its the beginning of the deck its the only card that has no past (sp to speak) it is the beginning card, he has no past to dwell on.

It means new beginings and outlooks, a new childlike jolliness to life, and the surrounding cards often can change this card quite alot I find dictating the mood and the erengy flow from forward, positive moving to maybe needing a new approach to life.

He has not known anything before, so he is totally free and unbias of judgements, this card is teaching us to be the same and have faith in ourselves. have faith in the unknown and that we will alwasy be alright, even if we jump of the cliff, or just play our flute and only need a nap sac on our back.

Thanks for this great thread :sunny:
I love all the animal explanantions too!

The Fool is typically shown with a little dog, his best friend, I think this is his guide, and as with all your animals Emy, these guides are always with us, protecting us from danger. Again this says to me, have faith in any new experience (or just yourself) as your guides/gods/goddesses are always by your side!

[Flaire-FireStar]

It means new beginings and outlooks, a new childlike jolliness to life

I've been wondering, though...Why the Fool isn't shown as a child, but more of a teen... 8O

[Myst]

I think it's because children are mostly sheltered by their parents, and teens really start to show their own independence and everything, and insist on directing their own lives to every detail, and often move out on their own for the first time.

[Emy]

Originally posted by Myst
I think it's because children are mostly sheltered by their parents, and teens really start to show their own independence and everything, and insist on directing their own lives to every detail, and often move out on their own for the first time.

Interesting thought, I too like Flaire have wondered why the fool is never a child... And I think you're right here Myst :) That could very well be it :)


I loved what you said Silver, about the card teaching us to have faith in ourselves, cause in some of the readings I've done where the fool has been involved it has been exactly that the card has been trying to tell me. :)


So are we ready to move on to the next card? The magician? Anyone who's up to it, feel free to start a new discussion (and thread) on the magician... I'm gonna get my deck to meditate on it tomorrow morning, and then I'll share with you my thoughts on card nr 1, the magician. :)

Blessings

[Azure]

Anotehr quick Fool note:

the Sun is often shown as a child, recalling the delight that a child can truly take in things, that adults sometimes try to censor from their experiences. Likewise, the Fool is a teen or adult because he/she is past the stage of blind acceptance and has become a different sort of blank slate - the Fool can tie his own shoes, and read and write and has all those life skills that childhood is about acquiring, but the other life skills - the ones that really make us who we are, are encountered once we're past the basics.

[Flaire-FireStar]

:) Interesting thoughts on the Fool.


the Sun is often shown as a child, recalling the delight that a child can truly take in things, that adults sometimes try to censor from their experiences. Likewise, the Fool is a teen or adult because he/she is past the stage of blind acceptance and has become a different sort of blank slate - the Fool can tie his own shoes, and read and write and has all those life skills that childhood is about acquiring, but the other life skills - the ones that really make us who we are, are encountered once we're past the basics.

Well said, Azure..Makes a lot of sense

[Emy]

I loved all your thoughts on the fool, I actually printed them all out so that I can put them in my BoS :)

[Silver Venus]

I think I'll do the same Emy :)
I never thought about the Fool being a child in an tenn/adults persona before!
& its really interesting about the sun too, it is so true!
Thanks Ive really discussion :D

[Flaire-FireStar]

bump

[Xander67]

I had written an essay in my journal on the fools card ..




ok we all know the widely accepted meaning of the ever infamous
"Fool Card" he is the first one we encounter on our jouney to self
discovery...hmmmm the scarecrow was the first person dorothy met on her way to OZ
way to OZ, .........

let us look at mr Fool for a moment shall we? at first glance we see a jester like person, now the traditional meaning leads us to believe that the jester is a comedian, but did you ever stop to think that it takes a great deal of intelect and creativeness to keep the King entertained... comedians , Bards, etc, they all entertain us with thier funny jokes, but it is thier intellect that helps them to come up with these funny jokes.

The fools card is the first card we encounter on our journey, on the surface, he appears as nothing more than a village idiot, but he is the one we have to go through to get to the yellow brick road... he has the keys... and when we get to emerald city and we finally meet the Wizard, we learn that we have all that we could ever wish for right inside of us, it was there all the time, we just needed to journey deep within ourselves to re discover it :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Well said, Xander. :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

I felt this card was a real good representation of the beginning of the Fool's journey. :) It's from the Glastonbury Tarot- "Percieval the Fool" is the name of the card.

Glastonbury Tarot (http://www.gothicimage.co.uk/books/glastatarot-major.html)

[Silver Venus]

OO that deck is really something! Very different and impactive! :)

I deffinatley agree that the fool sums up new beginnings and a innocent outlook in that card!

[Faery-Wings]

A young man stands at the crossroads- he needs to decide which road to take. The book states that these are spiritual crossroads. I tend to be a bit more, umm, general, Earthbound, maybe *struggles for right word* and I haven't used these cards to read much with. However, I feel that this young man is making decisions, his dragon guides/Higher Self are there waiting to see which direction he is going in. This fool seems to have a plan, more so than the Fool in Universal Waite. He is better prepared (scrolls tucked under his arm) and he is more intent in making this decision as oppsed to the UW fool who is not watching where he is going. Still, this Fool represents a journey, and a beginning.