Abrac
I thought I'd take a look at some of Waite's comments on the Fool in chronological order and see what he has aid about it. First, from Manual of Cartomancy, 1889 (the section on "The Book of the Secret Word and the Higher Way to Fortune," after the descriptions of the trumps in the three worlds):
This is pretty self-explanatory. The Fool is described as starting at 0 and passing through the whole series.
Waite's article "The Tarot: A Wheel of Fortune" in the Occult Review, Vol. 10, No. 12, Dec. 1909:
Here he describes him as at the beginning, but also says he can be seen as either first or last.
Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911:
Though he doesn't state it specifically here, the language implies he's starting his journey.
Pictorial Key to the Tarot, "Conclusion as to the Greater Keys":
He's clearly described as at the start of his journey, at least this is what he commits to writing. In the descriptions of the trumps, the Fool is in the number 21 position hinting that there's another way to look at it. This is consistent with what he's said about the Fool's position being flexible. His other statement, "to shew that many sub-conscious memories are stored up in the soul," is interesting in itself for what it reveals about the contents of the wallet.
In Shadows of Life and Thought, Ch. 20, Waite discusses the classification of the trumps as allegorical, symbolic, or doctrinal. For the Fool he says:
Again, this shows how Waite saw the Fool as in a class by itself. It also sheds light on what he may have meant in the previous quote; the "stored memories" in the wallet are memories acquired as he passes through this world.
All this speaks for itself, but to sum up, Waite saw the Fool as belonging anywhere.
"As regards the Fool, this card, which has been sufficiently explained already, signifies the consummation of everything, when that which began his initiation at zero attains the term of all numeration and all existence. The card which bears no number passes through all the numbered cards and is changed in each, as the natural man passes through worlds of lesser experience, worlds of devotion, worlds of successive attainment, and receives the everlasting wisdom as the gift of perseverance."
This is pretty self-explanatory. The Fool is described as starting at 0 and passing through the whole series.
Waite's article "The Tarot: A Wheel of Fortune" in the Occult Review, Vol. 10, No. 12, Dec. 1909:
"Last or first, as you please, in its own series, is the card which represents Zero and is entitled The Fool. It is in no sense, though it has been called, a type of humanity as the blind slave of matter, though in the common traffic of fortune-telling it may, and does, stand for extravagance or even for enthusiasm and the folly which its name implies. It is said by Eliphas Levi to signify eternal life; it is a card of the joy of life before it has been embittered by experience on the material plane. On the spiritual plane it is the soul, also at the beginning of its experience, aspiring towards the higher things before it has attained thereto."
Here he describes him as at the beginning, but also says he can be seen as either first or last.
Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911:
"He is a prince of the other world on his travels through this one—all amidst the morning glory, in the keen air. The sun, which shines behind him, knows whence he came, whither he is going, and how he will return by another path after many days. He is the spirit in search of experience."
Though he doesn't state it specifically here, the language implies he's starting his journey.
Pictorial Key to the Tarot, "Conclusion as to the Greater Keys":
"In conclusion as to this part, I will give these further indications regarding the Fool, which is the most speaking of all the symbols. He signifies the journey outward, the state of the first emanation, the graces and passivity of the spirit. His wallet is inscribed with dim signs, to shew that many sub-conscious memories are stored up in the soul."
He's clearly described as at the start of his journey, at least this is what he commits to writing. In the descriptions of the trumps, the Fool is in the number 21 position hinting that there's another way to look at it. This is consistent with what he's said about the Fool's position being flexible. His other statement, "to shew that many sub-conscious memories are stored up in the soul," is interesting in itself for what it reveals about the contents of the wallet.
In Shadows of Life and Thought, Ch. 20, Waite discusses the classification of the trumps as allegorical, symbolic, or doctrinal. For the Fool he says:
". . . .while the Fool is very difficult to class. On the surface he may be referrable (sic) to that estate which inhabits the low-life deeps—the mendicant and vagabond type. He suggests the Italian Lazzaroni, except that he carries a wallet, as if he were on his way through the world."
Again, this shows how Waite saw the Fool as in a class by itself. It also sheds light on what he may have meant in the previous quote; the "stored memories" in the wallet are memories acquired as he passes through this world.
All this speaks for itself, but to sum up, Waite saw the Fool as belonging anywhere.