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Tiny Tarot Story
Read a short story inspired by the Fool.
She lives by the “sure, why not?” code of life. Doesn’t look things up before doing them. Doesn’t stalk dates before meeting them. The results are mixed, but always surprising. And it’s not like knowing an assortment of facts can prepare a person for the reality of something. Every guidebook on Paris will never add up to a minute in Paris.
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It’s this attitude that landed Ginger on a plane headed to Armenia. She was hired to be the videographer for a cultural pilgrimage. All those miles in the air, she thinks of her mom, all those miles away. Pinned to the ground.
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Ginger’s mom hasn’t left the house in years. She calls herself cautious, and rightfully so. She’s read up on things, enough to know it’s not safe out there. "Ginger," she said, when she told her about the trip, "You’re acting like a fool. You’re going to get in trouble."
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Ginger pretends as if she never will get in trouble. It's not some naive, "glass half full" perspective. It's more like the world is a glass and she’s lucky enough to drink from it. Still, sometimes, mid-sip, she hears her mom’s voice. She hears it now, as she accepts a ride from a tour guide to visit a remote church, high up on a mountain. What did I just agree to? For a few moments fear envelops her. Where is she going?
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Then she remembers: She’s prepared. She has a phone that works. She had seen the tour guide with his wife and kids. She may have the spirit of a fool, but she doesn't have the judgement of one. The church comes around the bend, and she's astonished.
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This is how she wants to see the world. Eyes open. Arms stretched. Never knowing what might happen next—and letting that thrill of mystery propel her to find out, rather than shut her in.
Check out this story, which was part of my November storytelling challenge, on Instagram. Here’s how to join the challenge yourself.
The Fool Reflections
Musings
The Fool is the only card in the tarot not associated with a number. Let me correct myself: For years, across many civilizations, zero wasn’t considered a number. I recently listened to a podcast about the invention of zero, a number once so controversial it was literally banned (in 1299 in Florence, look it up).
Though the concept popped up in a few ancient civilizations, zero was first used as a proper number in India in the 5th century. The symbol was also used to symbolize nothingness, in addition to having a mathematical role: “The idea of nothing being something was already deep in their culture. If you think about ‘nirvana’ it’s the state of nothingness—all your worries and desires go. So why not have a symbol for nothing?” Alex Bellos wrote, per the BBC.
While my younger self used to groan in math class with the usual, “I’m never going to need this in the real world!” speech, that is simply not the case. The power of zero, of the Fool: We need it all the time. The Fool represents the infinite possibility of being unburdened and unafraid.
We say “go back to square one” to indicate starting over, but maybe we should say “go back to square zero.” Zero is the beginning. After a bad break-up, for example, what we should do is heal our way back to square zero. Instead of moving forward, do the work of undoing. De-calcify your heart. Forget the ways you were hurt and the ways you hurt. Shed it all. Only then can you be brave enough to do the scariest thing of all: Start over. Be vulnerable enough to do it all over again, despite knowing what might happen.
As I grow up, I think of the Fool as one who refuses to harden. I’ve been reading The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer, and he has a chapter about being open to life, daring to love your life.
“The most important thing in life is your inner energy. If you’re always tired and never enthused, then life is no fun. But if you’re always inspired and filled with energy, then every minute of every day is an exciting experience. Learn to work with these things. Through meditation, through awareness and willful efforts, you can learn to keep your centers open. You do this by just relaxing and releasing. You do this by not buying into the concept that there is anything worth closing over. Remember, if you love life, nothing is worth closing over,” he writes.
And how does one achieve this constant state of openness? Obviously, it’s not easy, especially for people like me who literally were told to practice a face for wearing in the world, because the world is a dangerous place. But Singer’s advice is so simple and stunning I read it over and over again: “Do not let anything that happens in life be important enough that you’re willing to close your heart over it.”
He goes on to write, “When your heart starts to close, just say, ‘No. I’m not going to close. I’m going to relax. I’m going to let this situation take place and be there with it.’ Honor and respect the situation, and deal with it. By all means deal with it. Do the best you can. But deal with it with openness. Deal with it with excitement and enthusiasm. No matter what it is, just let it be the sport of the day.”
Through this, Singer says we can “get for free” what everybody else is struggling for: Love, enthusiasm, excitement, and energy. Maybe something a bit like the pose in the Fool card. Always being on the edge of an adventure. Not knowing what’s around the corner, and not letting that not knowing hold you back.
I’m not advocating for regression when I say embody the Fool. Preserve all the learnings you learned along the way, of course. Have the judgement of a wise man, but the spirit of a fool. It’s a paradox, yes, but we live with paradoxes all the time. We’re smart enough to understand the concept of zero when we’re kids. We can get this concept as adults.
Journaling Prompts
When was the last time you weren’t afraid? When was the last time you felt open to experience?
How would you define spiritual bravery?
When you call someone “foolish,” what do you mean? How can you use the word “fool” as a compliment?
How would you go back to “square zero?” Plan your route.
Start a Story of Your Own
Write a story of your own inspired by the dynamics present in the Fool, starting with this sentence. If you email me your story, I’ll share it in the next newsletter.
That morning, she decided to say yes everything she encountered. By midnight, she couldn’t believe where she’d ended up.
Extra Credit
Do something unabashedly goofy. Do not apologize.
Do whatever you need to do to move on from something. Cut those ties.
Do something you’re afraid of. Forget you’re afraid.
You’ll notice a lot of these are about doing. That’s because the Fool does: He (or she!) does not think first. The thinking, the hesitating, the waiting, all of it is unnecessary. The Fool doesn’t know enough to think, hesitate, or wait. You’re at square zero. Only one place to go but forward/