This is the first card of the Major Arcana - and the last card, as the cycle renews after completion and begins again.
It is both the beginning and the end.
THE FOOL's number is ZERO - similar in many ways to Oroborus, the snake that eats its own tail: cyclical, eternal.
[Just as The World, number XXI, the completion of the cycle of the Major Arcana, appears as a sphere, cyclical and eternal (alternative title: The Universe).]
This eternal, cyclic nature of the Major Arcana should be noted. It is a theme that runs throughout both sections of the Tarot, but is especially pronounced in the Major Arcana - which deals exclusively in archetypes.
A youth who proceeds towards the edge of a cliff, eyes to the heavens (fixed on his* dreams; looking at a butterfly) not paying attention to the earth under his feet or the imminent danger ahead, enjoying his journey. An animal that accompanies him gambols around his feet.
He seems oblivious in his bliss.
And oddly, he is quite safe. Protected in/by his innocence. ... He'll deal with any danger when he gets to it. - If he should come a cropper, he'll just pick himself up, dust himself off, and continue on his happy way.
...In the meantime, he'll continue to enjoy his adventure.
He is the start of the journey, he has placed his foot upon the first step of his Way, and is unconcerned about the hysterical jabbering or opinions of others.
The Fool follows his journey, heedless of others. It is his Way, and he knows it is right for him.
Open, free, honest, innocent, trusting, loving life, unprejudiced, and ready for any opportunity - confidence, follow your inspiration, follow your instincts: a new life journey.
If The Fool is reversed, it is an indication that you need to stop, and take a good long cold look at your behaviour: you're probably acting like an idiot, or maybe you're about to rush in where you might be better off staying put and keeping quiet.
The Fool as the first card in a reading, may indicate that you are asking the wrong question.
*The Fool can just as easily be "her". I was about to say that archetypes are sexless, but as we will see with Strength, a female energy is in play. So, The Fool holds a male energy, but the person he represents can be of either sex.
Showing posts with label My Tarot Journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Tarot Journey. Show all posts
Monday, 19 July 2010
Friday, 27 November 2009
Self-publishing - Part I
I've just received the finished artwork for the second of my two tarot books, THE YES / NO TAROT ORACLE, and I am extremely happy with it. Jo Spaul is a very accomplished illustrator, you can look at examples of her work on her website, here.
And I thought some of you might be interested in my experiences so far while trying to get published.
Basically, I've written two books on the Tarot* and have been unable to secure a publisher for either of them, so in the end I decided to do it myself.
Initially I was going to use LULU, but after some quick research decided against it (the new owners had increased postage rates to non-competetive levels, and some authors claimed they were having trouble getting their work taken off the site when they wanted to go elsewhere [I haven't checked them out since. So whether this is still the case, I don't know.]) - and in amongst the complaints thread someone recommended another self-publishing company, Authors OnLine. To cut a long story short, I decided to go with them.
Their fees are reasonable, with a low annual fee for remaining in publication, and the books are Print On Demand - so someone places an order, the book gets printed and shipped out. Quick, easy, no need to store quantities of books. Also a PDF version of each book will be available for those who prefer electronic media.
Best yet, the books they sell are available to all the usual book retailers - so whether you prefer to buy via Amazon, or via your local bookshop, or direct from them, you can!
As the author it is up to you to advertise your book. Just because it's published, doesn't mean it will necessarily sell any copies.
So far I have found the process pain-free, which is always good. Although they tell me that it does generally take about 2 months to get into publication from the date you sign the contracts.
The Christmas rush (which starts in August!) combined with a flu outbreak has delayed things slightly, but I am expecting both books to be available from January 2010.
I am using the delay to do a final edit on THE YES / NO TAROT ORACLE, while I await confirmation of the ISBNs.
I'm providing the text PDF files, they are doing the covers (under my direction) - Which makes my 'Control Freak Self' very happy.
They do various different packages to suit your needs, and they are very friendly, very helpful, and very busy (at the moment).
If everything continues according to plan I expect to be a very happy customer.
... Should you plan to use them, they are quite happy to vanity publish for you (for example, if you want that green crayon text, unspell-checked book of "My Favourite Moles in Dresses" that you wrote when you were six, published to show your friends), but if you are looking for a more professional publication that will be available in the shops, they do require a basic level of competence from their authors.
So far, so good. If things change, I'll let you know.
*THE LOVERS' SPREAD: A TAROT GUIDE TO RELATIONSHIP COMPATIBILY
and THE YES / NO TAROT ORACLE
Read Self-publishing - Part II here
And I thought some of you might be interested in my experiences so far while trying to get published.
Basically, I've written two books on the Tarot* and have been unable to secure a publisher for either of them, so in the end I decided to do it myself.
Initially I was going to use LULU, but after some quick research decided against it (the new owners had increased postage rates to non-competetive levels, and some authors claimed they were having trouble getting their work taken off the site when they wanted to go elsewhere [I haven't checked them out since. So whether this is still the case, I don't know.]) - and in amongst the complaints thread someone recommended another self-publishing company, Authors OnLine. To cut a long story short, I decided to go with them.
Their fees are reasonable, with a low annual fee for remaining in publication, and the books are Print On Demand - so someone places an order, the book gets printed and shipped out. Quick, easy, no need to store quantities of books. Also a PDF version of each book will be available for those who prefer electronic media.
Best yet, the books they sell are available to all the usual book retailers - so whether you prefer to buy via Amazon, or via your local bookshop, or direct from them, you can!
As the author it is up to you to advertise your book. Just because it's published, doesn't mean it will necessarily sell any copies.
So far I have found the process pain-free, which is always good. Although they tell me that it does generally take about 2 months to get into publication from the date you sign the contracts.
The Christmas rush (which starts in August!) combined with a flu outbreak has delayed things slightly, but I am expecting both books to be available from January 2010.
I am using the delay to do a final edit on THE YES / NO TAROT ORACLE, while I await confirmation of the ISBNs.
I'm providing the text PDF files, they are doing the covers (under my direction) - Which makes my 'Control Freak Self' very happy.
They do various different packages to suit your needs, and they are very friendly, very helpful, and very busy (at the moment).
If everything continues according to plan I expect to be a very happy customer.
... Should you plan to use them, they are quite happy to vanity publish for you (for example, if you want that green crayon text, unspell-checked book of "My Favourite Moles in Dresses" that you wrote when you were six, published to show your friends), but if you are looking for a more professional publication that will be available in the shops, they do require a basic level of competence from their authors.
So far, so good. If things change, I'll let you know.
*THE LOVERS' SPREAD: A TAROT GUIDE TO RELATIONSHIP COMPATIBILY
and THE YES / NO TAROT ORACLE
Read Self-publishing - Part II here
Thursday, 28 May 2009
A beginning
How did I get in to the tarot?
Like most people, I was a teenager once.... ;)
The mother of one of my school friends gave me my official introduction to the tarot when I was in my early/mid-teens. I'd seen the cards before that on television and in films, but this was the first time I'd actually got to handle a deck and have it explained to me. So thank you Sheila, if you're reading this.
Fast forward several years, and my first live-together boyfriend was a warlock (he was an interesting chap) who also practiced tarot. Some might think life was hinting at me a bit. :)
It was a while before I got a deck of my own. ... My favourite graphic novel artist Dave McKean was the illustrator for The Vertigo Tarot, written by Rachel Pollack, with an introduction by Neil Gaiman - what's not to like? The moment I saw it I was hooked. This was the deck for me, knew it in my bones.
I started reading for myself, and after I'd got my head around that for a while, (we're talking many years) I started reading for others as well.
It does take a while to get to know your own intuitive processes, and learn the difference between imparted/osmosed information and general crap your unfettered brain spews out ... focus is the important thing, and learning the feel. I'll have to work out how to explain that a bit more clearly....
Stay tuned.
Like most people, I was a teenager once.... ;)
The mother of one of my school friends gave me my official introduction to the tarot when I was in my early/mid-teens. I'd seen the cards before that on television and in films, but this was the first time I'd actually got to handle a deck and have it explained to me. So thank you Sheila, if you're reading this.
Fast forward several years, and my first live-together boyfriend was a warlock (he was an interesting chap) who also practiced tarot. Some might think life was hinting at me a bit. :)
It was a while before I got a deck of my own. ... My favourite graphic novel artist Dave McKean was the illustrator for The Vertigo Tarot, written by Rachel Pollack, with an introduction by Neil Gaiman - what's not to like? The moment I saw it I was hooked. This was the deck for me, knew it in my bones.
I started reading for myself, and after I'd got my head around that for a while, (we're talking many years) I started reading for others as well.
It does take a while to get to know your own intuitive processes, and learn the difference between imparted/osmosed information and general crap your unfettered brain spews out ... focus is the important thing, and learning the feel. I'll have to work out how to explain that a bit more clearly....
Stay tuned.
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