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8/4/2021 O. The Fool: How to Embrace Major Life Changes with Courage, Curiosity, Wonder, and TrustRead Now Hello Tarot Adventurers, Ready to go on a transformational journey? Well, then, meet the Fool. He is the perfect companion and guide to accompany you. . . . There come moments in each of our lives when we are being called to grow beyond our current self on our evolutionary path to express our highest human potential. When these major life transitions arrive—whether relative to a significant relationship, career, spiritual path, finances, health, physical location, etc.—they often carry a mixture of excitement and fear, for they call us away from familiar patterns, beliefs, and lifestyle choices and into the unknown, which may have none of these for the forseeable future. On the one hand, we feel the life-force energy pulsing through us again, invigorating our sense of expanded possibilities for ourselves and our lives. On the other, we may feel fearful of our ability to trust the impulse for change and to successfully navigate new territory. Depending on the strength of our inner conviction, we may find ourselves pulled to stay with what feels safe and comfortable, even if it is not as vital and fulfilling as it once was. What attitudes and behavior choices will best serve us as we try to figure out what to do about the major life changes that are beckoning? Do we stay with “same old, same old,” or do we heed Life’s call to grow beyond our current “box” and make a leap of faith into the unknown? How do we decide? Here is where the Fool can come to our aid. Qualities of the Fool The Fool (O), the first card of the 22 Major Arcana archetypes, is known for the qualities of courage, adventurousness, innocence, wonder, openheartedness, idealism, trust, creativity, freedom, and independence. He is nonjudgmental, is true to his own inner guidance, and has a propensity for exploring the unknown and taking risks. He has much wisdom to share with us about how to approach major life transitions. To begin, here are some clarifying questions he might ask you:
Self-examination is important when you are facing life-changing decisions. In answering these questions, be sure to remember that while the rational mind might be an expert at presenting pros and cons, it is critical to pay attention to the innate wisdom and guidance of your heart, spirit, and body as well. Symbolism of the Fool Card The energy of this card is one of bursting upon the scene, the first step forward, a leap of consciousness. In more traditional decks, the Fool is pictured at the edge of a cliff, symbolically standing on the brink of a new experience. His possessions are tied in a bundle on a stick he carries over his shoulder, and a dog is nipping at his heels. In the Thoth deck, which has much more complex symbolism, he is striding forward with a focused gaze, an umbilical cord wrapped around him in four spirals. Various symbolic images are scattered throughout the card. Gerd Zigler, in Tarot: Mirror of the Soul, gives a general overview: The long umbilical cord, connection to cosmic oneness, wraps the Fool in four spirals. The possibility of rebirth is given on all four planes of human existence: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical. The prerequisite is your readiness to change in all areas; your responsibility to self-development. [p. 13] Each spiral contains symbols, which we will touch on only briefly here:
Though the tiger is biting his leg, the Fool is not distracted. He trusts that when he steps off the cliff, he will not be smashed to smithereens at the bottom of the canyon, but rather he will be lifted up on the wings of Spirit to pursue his path. He trusts his inner wisdom, which has guided him faithfully to this point. New Cycle The Fool represents the beginning of a new cycle in a person’s life. On the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah, he connects Keter (pure Spirit, absolute will) and Chochmah (wisdom). (See the Tree of Life diagram in the blog post listings.) His natural home is the realm of Oneness, of all possibilities. He leaves this to set out on a quest to explore his next level of personal evolution. Another way to think about it is that Spirit (our Higher Self, Universal Intelligence, Source, etc.) is about to begin another adventure in search of experience in time and space—the realm of manifestation. This is a card of spring—the Fool is ever young, ever reborn. He is said to have the “heart of a child and the will of a warrior.” He has purity of feelings and motive; he is innocent, emptied of attachments, preconceived attitudes or judgments, or a personal agenda. He is wide open to the unusual, with no fixed idea of what should be. There are no limitations here—anything is possible! He is infinitely curious, knowing that each event, each set of circumstances, holds within it the opportunity to learn and evolve toward more authentic self-expression. He refuses to live by fixed social standards of behavior; he is often ostracized by society but is the instrument that will transform it. He is the cosmic joker who sees all life experiences as full of wonder, whether familiar or new. He delights in meeting the Divine in all forms. When You Get This Card in a Reading If the Fool card shows up in a reading, we are being encouraged to make a spontaneous move forward into the future without fear. We need to trust all to the Divine within: “The fool rushes in where angels [or ‘wise men’] fear to tread.” The Fool is able to do this because he knows that all is Spirit—both the known and the unknown, all that is manifest and all that is unmanifest. There is no place where Spirit is not. Thus, we are never alone on our path, though it may sometimes feel that way. In summary, his essential message is that each one of us must follow our own unique path and unique aspiration—we are here on purpose and with a purpose only we can fulfill. We can trust the flow of our personal evolution. The truth is, we are infinitely becoming that which we already are; the potential is inherent in us or we would not be seeking it. We have to awaken and unlock the full expression of our true, authentic nature. Periodically, on the evolutionary path, we have to step off the cliff and go for it! So, if the Fool speaks to you and waves you out past your comfort zone, make an intentional decision to say “Yes” to the call. Bring with you the tools of courage, consciousness, creativity, openheartedness, trust, wonder, and curiosity. You can be assured that you will grow from the experience and that you will attract good into your life. A Full-Blown Fool Experience Sometimes major change comes only to an aspect or two of our life a certain point, and other times it hits almost everything we hold dear at once! Remember at the beginning of this piece when I mentioned some of the major life-transition categories—relationships, career, spiritual path, finances, health, and physical location? When several of these are involved, that’s what I call a “full-blown Fool experience.” Our daughter has given me permission to share her “Fool” story, which falls into this latter category. At 28, having been out of college for six years and having experienced some serious challenges as well as life-enhancing experiences during those years, she felt the call to expand her world and her skills, and to do something where she is making a more meaningful contribution to others. For her, this meant applying to graduate schools at an older age than most aspiring graduate students. This required a significant investment of money for applications and to purchase a Graduate Record Exam preparation program, which necessitated extensive study to do well on it. Once in the throes of the application process itself, there was the pressure to do well in interviews, both to be accepted into a good school and then to be placed in an internship program, which is part of her school curriculum. Steadily and patiently, through periodic starts and stops, uncertainties, and frustrations, she forged ahead through the many details. Her intuition led her toward selecting a school on the East Coast, which would take her far away from family, friends, and almost all that had been familiar in her life, having been raised in New Mexico and having attended an undergrad college in California. This courageous choice evoked some initial concerns by “well-meaning others,” which she had to evaluate in herself:
Through this process, she has held to her vision and continued to trust her inner knowing that this is the right program, the right timing, and the right environment for her at this stage of her life. And with that attitude and commitment to her goals, more and more pieces have been falling into place, including finding a charming, safe, and affordable place to live. So now, at 29, she is scheduled to move east this summer to begin her new life. Like the Fool, she is looking upon this time of major change as an adventure and an opportunity to pursue her dreams. The entire process has reinforced that she has the ability to overcome obstacles and persevere in challenging situations. She is trusting her inner guidance that “it will all work out” and is confident that she doesn’t have to know in advance what the exact details of that will look like. We are in awe of her courage, determination, and willingness to follow her unique path, and no one else’s. I’m sure the Fool is applauding along with us. Symbolic Correspondences For those who are interested in the Fool’s correspondences in other mystical systems, as represented in the Thoth deck, here are a few that are useful:
Sometimes we understand symbolism more clearly in a system with which we are better acquainted. Though we are not exploring these correspondences in depth here, being aware of them can be useful in broadening your understanding of the energy of the Fool. Share Your “Fool” Stories I would love to hear your own “Fool” stories of leaving behind that which was no longer serving you and trusting that to which you were being called, even if your rational mind (and that of others) disagreed. What happened when you did this? Where are you now? To send an anecdote to me, fill out the “Leave a Reply” information below. Please be sure to indicate whether you give your consent to this being publicly shared on this blog. (This can be done with your first name only if you prefer.) May the courage, curiosity, wonder, and trust of the Fool guide your footsteps and life choices this week, Barbara Download a PDF of this post below 
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Hello Tarot Adventurers, Throughout these blog posts, as I do throughout actual tarot readings, I will refer to the diagram of the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah, to which I have added tarot and astrological correspondences. This will be useful to you as a reference as we explore the meanings of the individual tarot cards. I include it here as an easily available resource. Please feel free to ask me questions about it if they arise for you. Barbara  Download a PDF of this post below:
 Hello Tarot Adventurers, Every new venture benefits by acknowledging those who have gone before to make it possible. So often, during an experience, we cannot envision the long-term blessings that it may hold, but looking back, we see how this led to that, and that opened up the possibility of the next thing, and so the trajectory continues and unfolds. Trust in the choices we make along the way is a key element in the process, and honoring the people and situations that have been part of the journey is of profound importance. First Thanks While there are many humans and circumstances that have led to me writing to you today, at the foundation of it all is my cocreative essence, Spirit itself. This Universal Intelligence has sometimes gently, and sometimes more harshly (to get my attention!), led me inexorably onward toward developing and ultimately claiming my abilities and relationship with the Thoth tarot deck. There was never any doubt, from the moment that I saw the card images and symbolism, that it was to be “my deck” in this lifetime. (You can click on the “Meet Barbara” button above for more specific details.) So, thank you, Spirit, for hanging in there with me through my doubts about pursuing this path and other phases of my life that steered me away from doing readings for periods of time, and for gently guiding me ever back to this deep work of my heart and life purpose. Valued Influences Next, I would like to thank my first tarot teacher, Amber Waves, whose path crossed mine in the Haight Ashbury of San Francisco in 1979 and 1980. Over a period of eight months, she took us on an in-depth magical journey through the wisdom and wonder of the dynamic, multidimensional Thoth tarot deck, designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris. In his Book of Thoth: The Egyptian Tarot, Crowley added some new features to the more traditional cards and interwove them with esoteric symbolism of different traditions of ancient wisdom, including the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah, astrology, numerology, Christianity, and Egyptian mysteries. Also threaded through the course were the profound consciousness teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Over the years, other influences appeared through books and occasional courses by those knowledgeable about the tarot, including, but certainly not limited to, cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien (The Tarot Handbook), Sallie Nichols (Jung and Tarot), Gerd Ziegler (Tarot: Mirror of the Soul), Akron-Hajo Banzhaf (The Crowley Tarot), and various books on the Kabbalah. Special gratitude goes to holy man and healer Asher Katz, who assisted me with the appropriate spelling and pronunciation of the sefirot, or energy spheres, of the Tree of Life. My thanks to all who have made the mystical wisdom of the Thoth cards and Crowley’s esoteric teachings and explanations more intelligible to those wishing to use this deck and more applicable to our modern times. Encouraging Husbands In my own personal evolution with the tarot have been two beloved “cheerleaders” who have always believed in my ability to “read” the cards and be of service to people seeking illumination about their personal situations. In the early 1980s, then husband Gershon Siegel, who took Amber’s course with me, would enthusiastically offer me up to do a reading for someone. Initially I would be terrified and resentful, and then afterward awed by and grateful for the experience. And in the last more than three decades, my husband and lifetimes partner, Walter Drew, has encouraged me continuously—throughout parenthood, professional careers, building homes, diverse spiritual studies, and our teaching work together—to keep my tarot practice alive and expanding. He even orchestrated the building of the beautiful light-filled office that we added to our home, which has become the sacred sanctuary and creative hotbed for both my tarot readings (in person and on Zoom) and our “Creative Aging: Embracing Life with Passion, Purpose & Possibility” courses, workshops, talks, and retreats. I thank you both and am eternally grateful for your ongoing support. Tarot “Querents” (Seekers) None of this would have been possible had there not been those individuals over the past four decades who trusted me enough to spend several vulnerable and transformational hours with the cards and myself as instruments for them to gain clarity, expanded perspective, and guidance about various aspects of their lives. In this process they have been led to connect with their own inner understanding. For, in truth, we already have deep innate wisdom inside us that we may be seeking outside of ourselves—we just need to open up the channels for it to reach us (or dissolve our own inner “static” that blocks it). In the sacred “cauldron” of a tarot reading, the dross of old patterns and beliefs is burned away and the “pure gold” of the person emerges. What a joy! To all the “querents” who have come for a reading over the past four decades, my heart is full of gratitude and love for you. With them as a foundation, I extend a warm welcome to those who are yet to come. Life Experiences Lastly, I am thankful for all of my life experiences—the flowing, exhilarating ones and the more challenging, painful ones—which have helped me understand the various tarot cards from the inside out, rather than only from “book learning.” For the life experiences and qualities represented by the individual cards are universal for all of us. A goal of mine is to have personally experienced each card—Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, and Court Cards—while in this lifetime. It is only in this way that I can authentically transmit their meanings and value to others seeking the wisdom of their “voices.” The lessons and learnings that both my life experiences and the tarot cards continually provide me are invaluable on so many levels. Onward I look forward to beginning our exploration of the individual cards with you in the next post. Oh, the places we’ll go and the things we’ll see! … Blessings on our collective journey, Barbara Download a PDF of this post below:
 Hello Tarot Adventurers, Welcome to my “Voices of Tarot Blog: Exploring the Wisdom and Wonder of Tarot in Our Lives.” Here you will have the opportunity to better acquaint yourselves with the tarot archetypes, personality types, and life situations represented by the 78 cards of the Thoth tarot deck. My Vision My vision is that you come to know the cards intimately and are able to identify how they are interwoven throughout your life, on both a conscious and subconscious level. Each has a unique “voice” and message, with much wisdom and guidance to share. Through work with them, we can begin to identify and release old beliefs, patterns, and attitudes that no longer support us and cause blocks and challenges to the creative and expressive flow of our lives. The result: a more purposeful, conscious, authentic, creative, and inspirational existence for all of us! The “Wisdom” and ”Wonder” of the Process Along with a more systematic exploration of the meanings, or “wisdom,” of the 78 cards in these blog posts, you’ll find the occasional spontaneous piece, where I can be responsive to the relevant synchronicities that appear in the moment and want to be expressed. I might share a specific instance of how the cards are currently showing up in my life or that of another person, perspective from others knowledgeable about the tarot universe, and other, more unexpected things. I feel it is important that we tune in to not only what we might want from the tarot, but also what Spirit (Source, Universal Intelligence, your Higher Self) might wish to convey to us through the medium of the cards. This is part of the “wonder” of this mystical process, which no left-brain, linear approach can pigeonhole into a fixed formula. Each reading, each card is different, as are we! Personal Connections There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and share stories, leading to possibilities as yet unimagined for this space. For example, what might you like to see here in these “pages”? I look forward to not only sharing my understandings, but also learning from your experiences with and perspectives about the cards as well. Through the use of the cards as instruments for personal transformation, together we will continue our lifelong evolutionary path toward living from our highest human potential and making an ever more positive contribution to life on planet Earth. Other Resource Pages a Click Away So as to not be repetitive here with information available in my general tarot website, here are two additional resources to expand your awareness about my approach to tarot:
So, look for a new posting by Wednesday each week, and please be sure to let me know who you are by leaving a reply below. I am excited about sharing the “wisdom and wonder of tarot” with you and exploring where this adventure together takes us. Blessings on your journey, Barbara Download a PDF of this post below:
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