Leap of Faith - Tarot's Fool Card
by Donna Thomson
The 'Fool', being the first of the tarot's Major Arcana cards, is at the start of a journey which continues through the rest of the Major Arcana. He is often depicted as a court jester or carefree (some may say naive) young man. To me, he represents the ability to take a leap of faith and trust in the Universe. I would like to share with you my story of relating to the Fool's trusting attitude along my own journey.
When the Universe started showing me what was possible, leading me in the direction I am now headed, I sat down and did a three-card tarot reading for myself. At the time, I had owned my tarot deck for many years but had only explored it on a few occasions and didn't really know much about their meanings. One of the cards that showed itself in the spread was the 'Fool' card. I looked up its meaning to see that it represents faith and innocence; taking a leap. I read the card as a sign to trust in my developing abilities. However, it soon became clear that not only was the 'Fool' card a message for me...but it actually represented me and how I move along my journey.
I realised that I am someone who in essence already trusts in my path, especially my spiritual path. When I am set a task (my Guides are hard task-masters, but don't tell them that!) I will ask few questions and just take the leap and see what happens. I have grown in leaps and bounds with my abilities and I am learning so much about the Universe through my own experiences rather than from the hundreds of books I used to read. I used to dream of one day having abilities and feeling more connected with the Universe, but instead of using books as the motivating tools they are to take action, I kept reading and wondering. I was missing the 'action' that would see me blossom into the 'true' me (though I'm still a work-in-progress of course!).
It was my guides who showed me how to take action. They basically said "stop reading", and I did. It was extremely hard at first and I slipped up a couple of times. I started learning how to 'feel' things intuitively and exploring things first-hand, for example with crystals. When I did fall back into reading, I would find that I set myself back two steps because I would then find it harder to trust my own intuition and experiences as much. I would compare myself to the authors, who I came to realise took my power away from trusting myself. I recommend to anyone first starting to explore their spirituality and psychic abilities, to leave the books behind and just see what you can experience for yourself. Write everything down and you may be surprised at what you find out about yourself.
The Fool has many positive qualities, but he is not without fault and either am I. At times I haven't looked before I've leapt into new areas and as a result I've had to backtrack and start afresh with renewed focus. For example, in developing new abilities I found that I would hit a wall and I would look around and leap to the next thing that caught my attention. What I learned from this in hindsight was that I needed to connect to my inner guidance (which includes my guides) before leaping. If I had stilled myself long enough I may have stayed closer to my intended path. Instead, I was a busy-bee flitting about for a while. Not to worry, I am on the right track now and I believe that it is a matter of balance and staying in tune with your personal path.
Now I work closely with my guides and can actually feel them hanging around as I write this. So I would like to include their perspective on the Fool's message and how it may help others on their path.
The following is channelled directly from the Guides, to answer the question:
"What does the 'Fool' represent for most people?"
"When we begin our journey as an infant, we hold no fear of what is to come. We seek new experiences and finding obstacles only encourages us to try harder until we get it right...such as walking, learning to talk, learning to run, and all of those wondrous 'new' things that we all must learn in order to continue to develop. At some stage in one's life, one loses this innocence and joy of learning. Fear often becomes prevalent, and closes us off to many new and valuable experiences. To take on the attributes of the Fool, is to once again bring that sense of innocence into one's soul.
When perusing the Fool Card (Note: This analogy refers the 'Mythic Tarot's' fool card pictured above), one sees a delightful young chap who teeters on the edge of a cliff. He is carefree and curious. If he should step over that cliff, he should find that he can integrate himself with the eagle that sits over his shoulder...he can take wings and fly to freedom and all possibilities. The golden sun rises in the distance, lighting the path ahead...a path not to be feared. Genuine 'truth' and 'freedom' is the essence of the Fool's card. It is to have 'blind faith' in all things, so that your path can unfold as it should, with fears washed away, long forgotten.
Become the child once again, and seek discovery. Trust that you will be guided to the right place at the right time. The Universe always has faith in each soul on its journey. Return that faith to the Universe and see where it leads you. In innocence and curiosity there is joy...fun...excitement. So serious can we become as we age, that we forget to find the joy in life. You should always have the spark of inquisitiveness within you. Find the humour that so often eludes you. Enjoy your path and the world you live in. Charge towards that cliff and take an almighty leap to see where YOU can fly to! Behold the 'Fool' and its lesson."
So there you have it - the essence behind the Fool and its lesson for all of us. I am personally reminded, once again, to take life less seriously and to find more enjoyment around me - to create that enjoyment. What would it mean for you? Do you need a little of the Fool's lessons in your life too? If you have a tarot deck of your own, why not meditate on the Fool card to tune into its energy and to bring forward any relevant messages? Imagine letting go of your fears and putting trust in the Universe, that it will lead you in the right direction!