Fool

What I notice in the card:

Mirror/looking glass

Mardi Gras-like jester mask looking out of mirror

6 different butterflies around mirror

Greyhound balanced on edge of black and white marble mantel

Metronome or pyramid-shaped paperweight

Featureless artist mannequin

 

The mirror reminds me of "Through the Looking-Glass," the tale of Alice who climbed through the mirror to an alternate reality. Things are not what they seem!

The jester mask is on the inside of the mirror, about to come into our reality. Again the mask underscores the fact that what is on the outside is not necessarily a true reflection of what is. The jester's wisdom may not come across as politically correct, but he has a child's ability to see (and say) the truth.

The butterflies around the mirror represent the transformations the Fool will go through as soon as he steps through the mirror. So many things to learn...

Greyhounds were historically bred for coursing game and later for racing. I suppose the game he will be chasing will be the Fool.  It also makes me think of a bus line here in the U.S. that travels throughout the states, Canada and Mexico. A journey is definitely about to begin here.

There is a slender, pyramid-shaped object that reminds me of a metronome. It keeps time in a totally different way than a clock. It provides rhythm instead of "time ticking away." The Fool at this point is in the present moment and unconcerned with the passing of time.

The artist mannequin is featureless and can be moved in different positions. It indicates that the Fool has a fresh start - he can literally become whomever and whatever he would like at this point.

 

 

These items set on a mantlepiece could be seen as allegories for various areas in one's life. A mirror: be self-reflective on one's actions. Am I kind to myself and to others? The mask: we all wear them. The Japanese say we have three masks. The first mask, you show to the world. The second mask, you show to your close friends and your family. The third mask, you never show anyone. But above all, at least I can be sincere with myself and others, even when choosing the first two masks. The greyhound is a nervous creature, it may call us to strive and be more centered when we tend to get out of sorts. The metronome keeps time for us, its allegory is clear: it says for us not get caught up in the rat race. This is a timing device is not so much a counting down tool as a something used to help us movement forward consistently, as the metronome is a device for practice and not a deadline. We will get there when it is time. We will get there when we are meant to. The music when end when it is meant to. We can learn to pace ourselves without distraction or worry.