The Joker and the Fool: Beginning Steps in Life’s Journey
***“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. “- Lao Tzu
There is a deep need, spiritually based, that pushes us forward into new experiences and life-changing paths. Our course or direction depends on whether we can accept these changes that are presented and overcome any obstacles in our way.
I am writing today about two symbolic character cards that occur in a card reading; the Joker in a modern playing card/fortune-telling deck and the Fool card in a deck of tarot. Their history and status in Cartomancy (divination through cards) can show us how they have come to relate to human society.
Both are considered wild cards. For many, they are considered a symbol of madness or foolishness. To others, they are the fairytale archetype of a character called, “Jack”, who used cleverness and tricks to overcome his problems. In many ways, we are much like the motley pair. Wild and uncontrolled, we gallantly move forward in the search for our true life experience.
The Fool in American decks appeared in the late 1800s. It had originally been used from the mid-15th century on in various parts of Europe as a trump for a group of card games known as Italian Tarocchini and French tarot. It is considered the ancestor of the Joker card in standard playing decks.
The Fool’s placement in a tarot deck is traditionally the first card (0 placement) or the last (22nd placement)in the Waite-Smith number system. It represents the void or the beginnings of Life’s breath and has a strong connection between God, Man, and creation. As an archetype called “Jack”, he uses his cleverness and tricks and usually emerges triumphant. Unnumbered before the Waite-Smith deck was developed, its placement was at one time between Judgment and the World card.
Hope to get some feedback on my blog soon. The next write-up will be on my new book, Granny Buck's Dibs and Dabs: Appalachian Traditions and Magical Ways. Have a good one.
There is a deep need, spiritually based, that pushes us forward into new experiences and life-changing paths. Our course or direction depends on whether we can accept these changes that are presented and overcome any obstacles in our way.
I am writing today about two symbolic character cards that occur in a card reading; the Joker in a modern playing card/fortune-telling deck and the Fool card in a deck of tarot. Their history and status in Cartomancy (divination through cards) can show us how they have come to relate to human society.
Both are considered wild cards. For many, they are considered a symbol of madness or foolishness. To others, they are the fairytale archetype of a character called, “Jack”, who used cleverness and tricks to overcome his problems. In many ways, we are much like the motley pair. Wild and uncontrolled, we gallantly move forward in the search for our true life experience.
The Fool in American decks appeared in the late 1800s. It had originally been used from the mid-15th century on in various parts of Europe as a trump for a group of card games known as Italian Tarocchini and French tarot. It is considered the ancestor of the Joker card in standard playing decks.
The Fool’s placement in a tarot deck is traditionally the first card (0 placement) or the last (22nd placement)in the Waite-Smith number system. It represents the void or the beginnings of Life’s breath and has a strong connection between God, Man, and creation. As an archetype called “Jack”, he uses his cleverness and tricks and usually emerges triumphant. Unnumbered before the Waite-Smith deck was developed, its placement was at one time between Judgment and the World card.
Hope to get some feedback on my blog soon. The next write-up will be on my new book, Granny Buck's Dibs and Dabs: Appalachian Traditions and Magical Ways. Have a good one.
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