the fool
I am working with the Feng shui tarot deck today, a new deck to me. I love the images but do not understand them yet, but they are calling to me. The fool card in this deck is very different in that the fool is female dressed somewhat disheveled, almost like she has been through huge struggle, perhaps she had run, to get this place. To my eyes, she looks middle age, beaten down from not thinking for herself, for always placing others needs ahead of her own, for abandoning her own dreams. and now on this card she has thrown down her walking stick, a new red sun is beginning to rise behind her, a snake coils around her walking stick, and there seems to be energy around this stick attempting to cajol her to go back to living her life according to conventional belief, ie be a "good wife, a good daughter, take care of others, do not be selfish. do not think of yourself. She seems to be debating "do I listen to this voice that has dominated me for so long, that I have submitted myself so loyally to, or do I dare have the courage to follow my unique path?" Her face is neutral, she has not made up her mind yet. "Do I dare leave the security of being loyal to a life that is sucking the life out of me, or do I dare answer this stirring voice within me that calls me to walk my unique path?" I am beginning to see strength in her gentleness, coming forward. She is at point in her life where she knows she will die if she goes backwards and she is nervous as she does not know what lies ahead of her on this unique journey that is calling her so strong. She knows her life is calling her. Can she trust herself? Can she trust Life to provide what she needs? It must be better than this false life she has been living. There is strong feeling of leaving old traditions, following the safe path that deadens the soul, to entering the Unknown. Her hands are relaxed, empty. There is no one around her, other than this snake that seems to be trying to force her to turn around, but she is not looking down at it, not listening to it. Her eyes are tired but looking straight ahead, she is facing forward towards her path. She has made her mind up. She appears vulnerable. not having anything with her, other than her faith in Presence. There are palm trees in the background which seem out of place in this oriental image. The feels like of them is that they symbolize comfort zones, riches that imprison us. They look two dimensional, flat. artificial, symbolizing false security.