The Fool is thought to have evolved from the court jesters of late medieval Europe, but he may go back as far as sufism.
Early decks from 15th century Italy and France depict him as ‘Le Mat’ and ‘Il Matto,’ meaning madman or beggar.
An old European word for jester, “Gastharo” translates to ‘guest of the army’ and it’s believed that early jesters were holy men & clerics/ sufi mystics.
The 14th century French ‘gestour” meant “storyteller.” Fools were licensed entertainers, and if they had trouble getting a job at the royal court they became traveling bards who delivered messages & news across towns.
The common thread between the Fool, the madman, traveling storyteller/ musician, beggar, and Sufi mystic is they feel guided to go beyond the material world. And maybe that’s why we see the Fool walking off the edge of the earth without much worry.
They travel light, with just a knapsack. They have a feather on their cap, a symbol of freedom and communicating from innocence/ trust. They are barefooted, meaning their vulnerability takes them places.
They carry a sacred Mistletoe plant. The people of ancient Celtic civilization believed Mistletoe to be a gift from the Sun God and it was thought to be so sacred they wouldn’t let it touch the ground once harvested; they even sacrificed their livestock for it. It was believed to ward off evil, cure health ailments and bring lasting love.
The loyal dog is ready to jump off the cliff with his master, a symbol of keeping our animal instincts/ wild self in tact on the journey.
On the Fool’s hat is a figure 8 or infinity symbol, which represents abundance of faith & Divine support.
The Fool’s green and brown clothes symbolize being in tune w/ earth and nature’s laws- fools don’t hoard anything, their impulse is to share, and they know land cannot be reduced to ‘private property.’
The path behind them is long and winding, showing they’ve travelled far to make it to this point and are ready to take the leap.
The sun is shining/ rising in the distance. They completely trust the unknown and that wherever they land they’ll be Divinely supported and guided to the next step.
Message:
On a collective level we need to put down our ‘toys,’ drop our belongings, stop hoarding, and adopt new values which will lead us on a new journey. It’s just the beginning.
We need to balance our steps with the pace of nature. What can you do today to harmonize with nature? Plant something? Share a resource that others need? Donate to an environmental organization? Study up on climate change?
On a collective we are now being called to think of future generations and the innocence that’s being lost, and how their future is in our hands and how we tread on the earth.
Now is a time to follow our instincts to survive as climate change progresses and old structures unravel, even if that means taking a leap & leaving behind the comforts we’re used to.
We need to trust in a bigger, divine plan that’s unfolding. Take one step each day by praying, meditating, or reading about spiritual evolution.
What’s your ‘mistletoe?’ What gives you faith/ a sense of protection? If faith is hard to come by, ask the Divine to show you a sign. Remember that all destruction taking place now is a catalyst for evolution of human consciousness.
We are all dropping our masks and becoming more innocent/ pure like the Fool. This is just the beginning.
Sources:
- Wikipedia
- Uncovering the secrets of the Fool Card, Arcane Alchemy
- WikiTree: the Jester, History of the Word, Name, and Occupation
- Ireland-calling.com