The Fools Journey Part 2
Last week we started the Fool’s Journey and looked at the meaning of the first 8 Major Arcana cards. If you missed it, you can read that one here. We will continue the journey from card VIII (remembering that The Fool is number 0) and discover what happens next.
Card VII is the Strength card. In the Alice in Wonderland deck we see Alice standing in the dark forest with a fawn. Alice doesn’t want to go through the dark forest because it scares her. But she knows that she has to go through if she is to become a Queen. The Strength card reminds us that we all have to face things that scare us. Sometimes that will require a great act of bravery to achieve what we want. Other times it is simply having the determination and persistence to just keep going.
The Hermit is the next character that the Fool meets, having decided on their destination and set out despite being a little afraid to do so. In the Alice deck, the Hermit is represented by the White Knight riding off on his horse as he leaves Alice to become Queen. Sometimes we need to be alone to process our thoughts and the things we have learned. The Hermit isn’t afraid to be alone as so many of us often are. This card is about sharing our knowledge while we are on our spiritual journey. It can also be a sign that you need to rest and be alone.
Card X is The Wheel of Fortune, a card that reminds us that life is always changing, and nothing is permanent. In the Wonderland deck, we see Alice chasing the White Rabbit on top of a wheel. As they continue this chase they will go from the top where everything seems to be going their way, experience that fall to the bottom, and then the climb to the top again. We often find ourselves at both the top and bottom of the wheel of life. Sometimes things go our way, and sometimes they don’t. Maybe the best place to be then is in the middle?
Justice is card XI, here represented by the Red King and Queen. The Red Queen is of course very temperamental, always wants her way, and is quick to punish others by calling for their heads to be cut off. While the King is calm and patient. He takes a more logical approach in the trial and pardons everyone as he follows the Queen around Wonderland. Which approach do you take? The Justice card is a reminder that our actions have consequences.
The next character that the Fool meets on his journey is The Hanged Man. In the Alice in Wonderland deck, we have the Mad Hatter as our Hanged Man. He is hanging upside down in front of a Grandfather Clock. In the Wonderland story, the Mad Hatter is stuck in time, it is always tea time. This card can mean that we need to have a time-out. Often we are so focused on the task at hand that we become overwhelmed by all that we need to do. Taking a break allows us to disconnect from the problem and go back to the task refreshed and with new ideas. The Fool has met many characters and learned many things already on his journey, now it is time to rest and see how they all fit together.
Card XII is the Death card, one of the most misunderstood in the deck. This is not a card of actual death, it is a card of change, new beginnings that come from endings, the Phoenix that rises from the ashes. In the Wonderland deck we see Alice blowing out a candle. Also on the table are an eat me cake and drink me bottle. Throughout her adventure in Wonderland Alice changes size, first by drinking from a bottle that makes her shrink, and then by eating the cake that makes her grow. When Alice blows out the candle, she will be in darkness and this is when things start to look different. Alice is not the same person that she was at the start of her adventure, she has grown. I feel that the candle represents the passing of time, like candles on a birthday cake.
I hope you have enjoyed part two of the Fool’s Journey and will be joining me for the final part next week.
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