Fools Journey Through the Major Arcana Part 1

The ‘Fools Journey Through the Major Arcana Part 1’ is the first of three parts and was written by members of the Lifewave Meditation Group of the 1980s. This information formed part of the esoteric teachings on the tarot at that time, and the original document will be presented in its entirety and the end of part three. I have added only images to the original text, which are of a vintage quality, as this information was written around 35 years ago.

The Fool

 

The Fool is the only card of the Major Arcana to exist in the modern playing deck where he is represented by the joker. He is unnumbered & represents all or nothing. He is about to enter the supreme adventure – passing through the gates of experience to achieve divine wisdom. He must therefore pass through the experiences of the other 21 cards.

His multi-coloured clothing represents the muddled desires & impulses within him. The prepace symbolises the Fools ignorance of the trials & pitfalls that await him, yet he is prepared to abandon his old ways & take a leap into the unknown. The bundle he carries represents his past experiences of which he has no immediate need, whilst the high mountain peaks indicate the difficult terrain or lessons that lie ahead of him.

The greener valleys show easier times to bestow him on completion of his tasks.

 

 

The Magician

 

The Magician is the first person that the Fool encounters. He wears white symbolising inner purity & his red robe symbolises purposeful activity (1st Ray). He draws power from above bringing it into manifestation (through the left hand). The 4 suits represents the 4 elements; Wands=fire, Cups=water, Swords=Air, & Pentacles-Earth.

He reveals to the Fool potentials & possibilities & lays before him a map of personality in terms of the 4 elements. He acts as the Fools Initiator, & will accompany him unseen along his way (cf. to a spiritual master).

 

 

 

The High Priestess

 

She represents the Fools spiritual mother & sits between 2 Qabalistic Pillars, B=Boaz , pillar of severity, femininity, passivity & J=Jakin, pillar of mercy, masculinity, activity. The scroll reads TORA which means natural law. Rearranged the words read TARO, hence the taro represents the natural law of life.

The scroll is slightly unrolled indicating that these laws of creation are partially hidden from the ordinary eye & may also indicate that unseen talent & potential needs to be brought to the fore.

The High Priestess holds the solar cross which symbolises the union between the 2 pillars. The hidden fruit symbolises the hidden riches of spiritual knowledge which lies behind the duality represented by the pillars.

 

 

The Empress

 

 

 

The Empress represents the Fools earthly mother & from her he learns the female aspect of nature, learns to care for himself & others.

She is a symbol of fertility & abundance: The long dress hides her pregnancy which symbolises her potential fulfilled. Her crown has 12 stars which = 12 zodiac signs, 12 months of the year, 12 hours of the day & night.

The Empress thereforeteaches the Fool about nature & its cycles, nurturing & receptiveness.

 

 

 

The Emperor

 

The Emperor represents the Fools earthly father. His armour under his cloak symbolises inner strength, jewels = material wealth & status. The Emperors task is to teach the Fool the material side of life & to provide guidelines on moral & ethical behaviour.

He is seated against a background of starkbare mountains representing the stability of regulation & unyielding power.

The Emperor & Empress therefore represent 2 parents for the Fool & together they show that a balance is needed for his growth. This concept of balance is one that the Fool continually encounters on his journey through the cards.

 

 

The Hierophant

 

 

This is the Fools spiritual father. The pillars representing the duality & balance that needs to be struck between opposites. He holds 2 fingers upwards & 2 curled in the palm of his hand. This symbolises spirit & matter, Gods & men, & the Hierophant acts as the link between the two.

He represents the urge to find spiritual meaning in life & is the energy behind the desire.

His teachings are more clear & direct than the High Priestess, whose teachings are more concealed.

 

 

 

The Lovers

 

Love is one of the first trials of youth. Behind the male lies the tree of life, bearing 12 fruits representing the 12 signs of the zodiac, which the Fool must pass through (cf. 12 labors of Hercules). Behind the female is the tree of knowledge bearing 5 fruits symbolising the 5 senses.

The mountain is halfway between the two, which means that each partner has equal distance to travel to obtain harmony with the other. The card teaches that love is not a simple matter of physical and intuitive attraction, but is also the union of mental (male), emotional, (female) & spiritual (represented by the angel) levels.

 

 

 

 

The Chariot

 

The white sphinx symbolises mercy whilst the black sphynx symbolises severity.

They both pull in different directions & it is the job of the Fool (Charioteer) to keep them under control. From this card the Fool must learn how to steer a middle course through the battleground of his opposing feelings, thoughts & desires. Having experienced the complexities of love, this card brings forth the next trial of youth, namely conflict.

The first stage of the Fool’s journey is complete.He has received the benefits of his education with his teacher & parents; he has learned lessons in love & war & is now ready to learn the 4 moral lessons namely, Justice, Temperance, Strength & Prudence (The Hermit).