Comparative Tarot 00: The Fool

[Rose Lalonde]

Please see the discussion thread if you'd like some background about the study group.

 

If you post about more than one deck, please add a separate post below for each to make it easier to index. You can write about the same deck someone else did.

 

As a visual start, here are the Pierre Madenie, the RWS, and the Thoth. (You don't have to compare your deck with these, though, if you have another deck in mind.)

 

If you'd like to add a small image of the card you're discussing that would be great. If not we can google it.

 

Feedback on Fool comments are welcome here! For general questions and suggestions, please use the discussion thread.

 

 

 

Anna K Tarot

Crystal Tarot (Trevisan)

Fantastic Menagerie Tarot

Marseille Cat Tarot

Medieval Cat Tarot

Röhrig Tarot

Rosetta Tarot (Papyrus)

Tabula Mundi Tarot (Colores Arcus)

Thea's Tarot

Tarot Mucha

Victorian Fairy Tarot

[Rose Lalonde]

Tabula Mundi

 

 

 

 

In place of a RWS cliff we get a wormhole. The Fool can't even see where he's going to land, so he's got 100% possibility and 0% certainty, an idea taken from accompanying Book M. I get more of a Zen feeling of the Fool as original mind here than the sense of  youthful folly the RWS brings to a reading.

 

The book also mentions that a wormhole can be traversed in either direction.  Given that the Universe card in TM shows the woman rising up and out at the other end, that two-way street means the Fool's journey is both an upward and a downward one, as well as existing in all places along the way. It gets across the Qabalistic idea that Kether, where the Fool's path originates, is in Malkuth, where the Universe's path terminates. That idea of the complete unity of One at Kether was what originally drew me to the Golden Dawn and Thoth, so I love to see it in the art here.

 

Our journey also mirrors the steps of alchemy as shown in his tattoos of mercury, salt and sulphur. And there's a lot of Thoth influence (it's a Thoth inspired deck, so no surprises there). The dog is the Thoth's tiger, which ups the stakes. I'd rather be bitten be a little dog! And the crocodile Sobek is there, along with fire and water from the top of the Thoth. We get the three ouroboros serpents as the counterpart to the umbilical looking Thoth cord to represent the Qabalistic negative veils, and the ouroboros reappears throughout TM in ways that can refer back to this card. Again like the Thoth, Aleph and Air are noted. But TM streamlines the message a bit, leaving out some of the symbols in the Thoth, like the dove and caduceas.

 

[Bookworm]

Rosetta Papyrus

 

There is too much going on in this Fool card for me to adequately describe, but I’ll give it a go, since this is my DOTW deck. Since this, like the Tabula Mundi, was also created by M.M. Meleen, there are many similarities to the card above. Unfortunately, I really don’t know all that much about Tarot symbolism. An added complication is that this deck is based on the Thoth, which I am also unfamiliar with.

 

Fortunately, I also have this deck as an app, which includes the very informative Book of Seshet.

 

So, as the book explains, the Fool here is an androgynous Dionysus figure, being chased out into the air by a Thothian tiger. He’s headed right for a crocodile (Sebek, the Devourer, who ends and restarts the cycle which we are at the beginning of here), but he’s oblivious to the danger. Surrounding him is an Ouroborous, also referencing beginnings and endings. With one hand he pours water, with the other he pulls a flaming pinecone; combining them creates air (symbolized by the dove and the butterflies). “The Fool is that point at which all things in the universe are created from the void.” Also pictured on the card are a sperm and an egg. He can represent “the seed of procreation,” as well as new beginnings and risk taking.

 

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to paste the pix into the text. I'll try to figure that out before my next post.

[Rose Lalonde]

 

Thanks for joining in, Prism! Great post.

 

(You mentioned the pinecone... I think on the top right of the Thoth card, that's meant to be the a flaming pinecone too, though it's harder for me to make out; MM Meleen and Susie Chang mentioned it on the Fortune's Wheelhouse podcast the other day.)

[Onaorkal]

 

The Medieval Cat Tarot is inspired by both the RWS and Marseille decks. The Fool reminds more of the RWS, while being more simplistic in its depicted symbolism.

 

The Fool is wearing a typical medieval jester costume, albeit being more sober than what is usually seen.

There is no dog or other animal in sight behind him, which is unusual, but as I said this deck seems to have a simplistic imagery in general.

He's walking towards the edge of a cliff and is not watching his step, like the RWS Fool.

A bright Sun is shining from behind, like in the RWS, which holds very positive symbolism.

Instead of having mountains in the back, we have a few clouds next to the Sun. Both are common symbols for challenges and potential hardships.

 

Overall, despite the minimalist approach in terms of symbols and colors, I still feel the important duality the Fool card brings. There is positivity, but also negativity ; there is hope, but also fear ; he's looking back, but moving forward nonetheless.

[Rose Lalonde]

I'd never seen that card before. It's the first Fool I've seen where the hands are covered, like he hasn't made things or 'gotten his hands paws dirty' with life yet.

[Onaorkal]

Sorry for the large image, I coudn't find a smaller one!  :-[

 

 

So, I found that the Marseille Cat Tarot (MCT) is heavily based on the Universal Tarot of Marseille (UTM).

 

 

The most notable difference is the presence of the medieval trumpet on the MCT instead of the usual bundle on a stick. He's still carrying a bundle though, but it's attached to his waist.

Instead of a dog, there are 6 grey mice running after and jumping on him.

Like in the RWS Fool card, he's walking towards the edge of a cliff and not on 'normal' ground like in usual Marseille depictions.

Also like in the RWS, we can see mountains in the background, with one particularly high peak surrounded by a small cloud.

 

Other than that, the colors of his clothing are very similar to the UTM, he's walking with a wooden staff in his right hand (paw) and his pants are ripped on his right side. The background color is similar as well, being a greenish blue (or bluish green).

 

Overall this depiction of the Fool (or Mât) seems more 'lively' than with the other TdM. He looks proud and truly carefree, playing music  while he's about to fall down that cliff.

I'm also not sure *why* there are mice following him like that, but they don't look really threatening. Were they charmed by the music the Fool is playing? That's my hypothesis.

 

Since I've never studied any TdM or TdM-inspired deck, I'm not as familiar with the different elements and symbolism generally found in the cards. I think that for me to be able to do a good comparative work, I'd have to look that up a bit more. I will update when I'll have time.  :)

[Onaorkal]

I'd never seen that card before. It's the first Fool I've seen where the hands are covered, like he hasn't made things or 'gotten his hands paws dirty' with life yet.

 

You're  right, this seems like an important detail that I totally had not notice. I mean, I noticed how we couldn't see his paws because of his oversized clothing, but it didn't strike me as something worth noting before you mentioned it. I like your take on it. It definitely reminds me of a child wearing their parent's clothing to play and pretend he's an adult. The word 'innocence' seems appropriate here.

[Bookworm]

Crystal Tarot (Trevisan)

 

Since I added this to the 22 Favs thread, I thought I'd add it here as well.

 

This is a blissed-out Fool, not being chased by anybody or anything. I like this image could be either male or female. He or she is in danger of falling off the cliff because of being so caught up in joy. The ecstasy of discovering one's own existence in the world and of the world itself, which links it to the World card. Not a typical Fool, but a beautiful one.

[Lantana]

 

The Fool card in this deck has been renamed Innocence. The card features a shirtless and barefoot child, freshly picked flower in hand, standing in a field. Mountains loom in the background, similar to those we see in the RWS fool. The child doesn't have a foolish grin nor is dazed in awe, but instead looks toward the viewer with a neutral expression.

 

This card, like many Fools that feature youths, illustrates the more positive side of this archetype. Not so much "folly", but "endless possibility". As young children we have few responsibilities, and the world feels like a big place where anything is possible. As such, this card illustrates a time when we might have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Of course, children do not possess the knowledge and experience that adults have, so there is still that danger of naivety.

[Lantana]

@Onaorkal, I have no idea there was a cat themed Marseilles deck! I've been thinking about getting into Marseilles, but the art style of the original doesn't really grab me... I like the coloring of this one much more, and of course cats only sweeten the pot. Thanks for posting it!

[Onaorkal]

@Onaorkal, I have no idea there was a cat themed Marseilles deck! I've been thinking about getting into Marseilles, but the art style of the original doesn't really grab me... I like the coloring of this one much more, and of course cats only sweeten the pot. Thanks for posting it!

 

Haha same for me!! I'm slowly getting used to the  Marseille art style, so I thought that replacing people with cats should do the trick for now! It seems to be fairly consistent in following the traditional Marseille imagery ; in fact we'll see to what extent while I'll be participating in this comparative tarot study!  :)

[Trogon]

Sorry for the large image, I coudn't find a smaller one!  :-[

 

So, I found that the Marseille Cat Tarot (MCT) is heavily based on the Universal Tarot of Marseille (UTM).

 

The most notable difference is the presence of the medieval trumpet on the MCT instead of the usual bundle on a stick. He's still carrying a bundle though, but it's attached to his waist.

Instead of a dog, there are 6 grey mice running after and jumping on him.

Like in the RWS Fool card, he's walking towards the edge of a cliff and not on 'normal' ground like in usual Marseille depictions.

Also like in the RWS, we can see mountains in the background, with one particularly high peak surrounded by a small cloud.

 

Other than that, the colors of his clothing are very similar to the UTM, he's walking with a wooden staff in his right hand (paw) and his pants are ripped on his right side. The background color is similar as well, being a greenish blue (or bluish green).

 

Overall this depiction of the Fool (or Mât) seems more 'lively' than with the other TdM. He looks proud and truly carefree, playing music  while he's about to fall down that cliff.

I'm also not sure *why* there are mice following him like that, but they don't look really threatening. Were they charmed by the music the Fool is playing? That's my hypothesis.

 

Since I've never studied any TdM or TdM-inspired deck, I'm not as familiar with the different elements and symbolism generally found in the cards. I think that for me to be able to do a good comparative work, I'd have to look that up a bit more. I will update when I'll have time.  :)

 

That is a very cool image. It immediately made me think of the legend/tale of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". The critters do appear to be mice rather than rats, but the image still fits. I could just about see that cat leading off the children next ...

[Trogon]

Röhrig Tarot - The Fool

 

I decided, since we're doing this, that it was a good time for me to run through the Röhrig Tarot again - haven't used it since October.

 

The Röhrig Tarot is Thoth based, but the artwork and images are pretty different. The art is much more detailed, but still has a lot of symbolism in it. In this card our Fool appears to be more mature, but the dual nature (male/female, innocent/foolish, young/old) that gives us the card's meaning. He can go on to be anything he wants. The Tiger of the Thoth and Sobek from other decks are both there, as is the jester's hat. But these symbols are portrayed as being a part of the Fool's personality, they are a part of them.

 

From the book; The Röhrig Tarot depicts the Fool as a figure with two faces. The left side of his face embodies the masculine aspect: smiling, knowing and unconcerned, he represents chaos, where there is ample room for everything with a huge, disordered oneness. A crocodile, caught in the act of swallowing a live tiger, forms the cap that crowns the male half of the Fool's face. Tiger and crocodile are holy beasts but, at the same time, they also symbolize animalistic tendencies. The other half of the Fools face shows a beautiful, also smiling and knowing woman who represents wisdom and the principle of order. Her cap is an artful composition of delicate feathers. The Fool is both she and he, chaos and wisdom, beginning and end.

[Trogon]

Anna K Tarot - The Fool

 

The Anna K Tarot is new for me, so this is the beginning of my study of it! It is RWS based and, as such, has a Fool who is reminiscent of the one we are familiar with. We have a youth who could be a girl or a boy, joyously stepping out on a new journey. We see the bundle containing what is needed for the journey and the mountain peaks and a valley below, in the back ground. We also see that there is danger in the road, though it is not as certain in this card as it is in the RWS deck. Though the Fool walks along a high mountain path with a sharp drop off, we can see it is only a break in the road and they can step past it.

 

I do miss the dog or cat in this image. I've always rather liked some sort of depiction of our lower nature, our instinct either urging us on, or attempting to warn us. Also, The Fool in the Anna K is a little more vagabond-ish in appearance that that of the RWS. In the RWS the garments worn by The Fool appear to be rather expensive and rich-looking. While those in the Anna K Fool are worn, torn and patched which gives the card more of a feel of waywardness. It feels as if this Fool not only has no specific destination, there is also nothing left behind. Whereas The Fool in the RWS may be leaving a great deal behind (and my have to return to, someday).

[Genna]

I love The Fool in The Fantastic Menagerie Tarot by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov (Baba Prague). I can not put up the card, but the link is here. www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/fantastic-menagerie/  with The Fool as first card in the picture.

It is RWS based.

 

You can see the old battered Fool, who is a lion, followed by his faithful rat companion. They have been out on many adventures togeather, and taken many "leaps of faith", but though The Fool is old and has been through a lot, he never gives up. I think it said somehing like that in the guidebook; it is not here with me but in my other home.

 

The Fool is not young as in the RWS, he is well prepared for his leap (even with an umbrella), and with a concentrated look about him. I do not think he is at all sure this will go well, but he is sure he is going to do this. The faithful companion (with a back-pack) is not trying to hinder him, like in the RWS, but he has taken the road beneath the cliff. Falling off it could be fatal to a small animal like a rat? Especially as he has decided to follow this Fool through all of his leaps.

[Bookworm]

I do miss the dog or cat in this image. I've always rather liked some sort of depiction of our lower nature, our instinct either urging us on, or attempting to warn us.

That's a very good point that I had forgotten about. I like that too.

[Bookworm]

I love The Fool in The Fantastic Menagerie Tarot by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov (Baba Prague). I can not put up the card, but the link is here. www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/fantastic-menagerie/  with The Fool as first card in the picture.

It is RWS based.

 

You can see the old battered Fool, who is a lion, followed by his faithful rat companion. They have been out on many adventures togeather, and taken many "leaps of faith", but though The Fool is old and has been through a lot, he never gives up.

 

Yes, that is a great Fool also. I'm a huge fan of that deck. And I think it's important to have images of an old Fool, though that may have something to do with my own rather advanced age!

[GreenFaerie]

I also could not figure out how to paste images into the text, so I will work on that.

 

I love this fool card for many reasons. First of all, the setting is a forest rather than the usual cliffside path in RWS. Forests can be dangerous, but they are also beautiful and peaceful. The young man in this picture looks rather spellbound by the fairies who are pulling at him; he is caught in their spell and feels compelled forward. Life is a journey we all take, and the only questions is whether you are going to embrace the beauty and enchantment (as well as the possible danger) or shy away from it. (This forest glade is also full of bluebells, which according to the index in the VFT companion, actually stand for enchantment in the language of flowers).

 

The dog in this picture might be a little apprehensive, or he might be just as fascinated by the fairies as his master is. He's looking up, as if following the fairies with his eyes, but he might be unsure whether to follow them or not.

 

Also, when one is dealing with fairies, you are also making the choice to traverse in their world as well as our own. I think that can apply to any spiritual path; the rules and revelations of a spiritual journey might not be the ones you are used to - which is, again, both attractive and risky.

[GreenFaerie]

I wanted to post both of these because they have such a different feel, and my reasons for enjoying them are very different. First of all, in the Tarot Mucha, our Fool is female! Although Fools/Jesters were traditionally male, it's nice to see a female figure here. The other thing I love about her is that she looks so happy! She is almost dancing along her path, covered in bright sunshine, as though life is a joyful journey, to be embraced. Even her faithful dog looks happy!

 

Also, there is no break in the path under her feet. Thought this could be seen as part of her innocence (she doesn't see the potential pitfalls ahead of her), it could also be read as the idea of a continuous journey - the path of life doesn't stop or  break, even if it is rocky along the way.