January 2 - The Fool       

Again, we're following the Tarot of the Cat People.  Reviews I have read on this deck claim it to be both Rider Waite Smith inspired and Marceilles.  I personally am more familiar with the RWS variants than the Marseilles, and I see it as a RWS style tarot deck.

Today, we start our journey through the Tarot of the Cat People with the Fool.   The Major Arcana has been referred to as the Fool's Journey, so it does seem a fitting place to start.

Illustrations from the Tarot of the Cat People reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902.  c. 1985 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Before I provide the standard definition of this card from the LWB, I'm going to break down what I see when I look at the card, and what I get from this particulr card.

The card reflects a walker in a yellow patterned overcoat and billowing pants.  He has his hair up in pony tails.   His boots have poms and bells.   At his heel is a cat clawing to his leg, but he is not bothered.  He has a walking stick and he walks over a path of boulders.  He seems to be walking at night, and through a cave out to the expance.  He's not looking to his destination -- but rather off to the side.   Is he going out for a short jaunt or a long journey, it is not known, but the walker is not concerned about it either way.   Hia companion is not trying to stop him, and is not worried.   It more seems to be a cat playing with his leg.   

What do I get from this?  Walk with confidence and assurance, even to the unknown.  Don't let fear hold you back.

The standard meaning of this card is a combination of variations of Boldly Go and Watch Your Step or Pay Attention.   Those are showing in this card for certain.  However, this Fool feels less foolhardy than the RWS version.  

Now obviously, those meanings are a little more in depth than Boldly Go or Pay Attention.  The book that came with this deck indicates that the card is indicative of the beginning of an adventure, enthusiasm, new opportunities, unlimited possibilities, pleasure, passion, rashness, obsession, etc.  

So when you're looking at all of the meanings that this card could have, it is important to note the surrounding cards and see what else is going on in the spread.  As a stand alone card of the day reading, I would consider it to be an indication of new opportunities to be aware of.

But using in a spread, it could mean many things, depending on what was surrounding it, or the purpose of the spread.  So the best way to demonstrate that is to lay out a spread.

The spread I'm using was created by my friend Kathy Briget and is a New Year's Spread.

Looking at it at first, I see that this ten card spread has three Pentacles, one each of Wands, Cups, and Swords, and Four Major Arcana, and Four Court Cards.

The First Card is the Theme of the Year:  Two of Pentacles.   This is a card of balance.  Ups and downs.   The balance theme is also very well shown by looking at the cards that have been drawn for this reading.

The Second Card represents the Outcome or Goals for the year:  Page of Pentacles.   I tend to view Pages as heralds or announcers.   I am also an elemental reader, so I do put a bit of focus on the elements that are representated.   This is the suit of Earth, security.    That said, I am actually going to draw on this from the image itself on this card.   The woman in it is reading or writing in a large book.   That is a goal of mine, to write more (which is why we're here in this blog)

The Third Card represents the Energy from the Past Year that's moving away:  The Fool.   This is where we look at the position of the card to determine what it means.   The energy of the Fool is a new adventure, and that makes sense.   This last year was very much the beginning of a new adventure.   Now I'm on that adventure.  I have already set out.   Perhaps the path will continue, but the adventure is no longer new. 

The Fourth Card represents the baggage that is being left behind:  The Tower.   The tower is a card that represents foundations being shaken, upheaval, change.  It's actually a card I do like -- It means that a new beginning can occur, that a new set of goals and desires can be formed.   This one also makes sense.  

The Fifth Card represents the Opportunities for the New Year:  Knight of Pentacles.   Knights to me are repreesntative of action.   This particular knight is very strong and steady.  He's not running ahead without a plan of action.  He's steadfast.  He's reliable.  You can count on him to be where he says and do what he has promised.  How does this relate to opportunities?   It could mean that because of that reputation, more opportunities could become available.

The Sixth Card represents the Challenges that will come with the New Year:  The Ace of Cups.  Aces are about beginnings, and Cups are representative of the element of water, which is about emotions.   So this indicates that the challenges could be emotional.   Looking at the card though, the challenge seems to be overcoming contentment or complacency.   The cat in this card looks perfectly happy where it is, and while the woman is dressed to go out, she does not seem to be  moving.  For me, this makes sense as well.

The final four cards represent the seasons, and Kathy chose to order them according to the Wiccan calendar and begin in the Winter

So the theme or challenge for the season of Winter is the Queen of Wands;   Queens are nurturers, and Wands are Fire -- Passion.    Combined, this represents a generous energy that nurtures those surrounding her.  Looking at this card, the Queen seems to be lighting the way, leading.  She's not leaving anyone behind.  So this will be a time of nurturing and leadership.

The season of Spring brings The World.   The World is frequently considered the "end" of the Fools Journey.   The card features a dancer, light on her feet, holding a globe of energy in her hands.   It could mean that there is some recogntion or acknowledgment.

The season of Summer brings the Queen of Swords.    She's tough, when she has to be.  She doesn't start fights, but she will fight if she needs to.  She defends those whom she cares for.  I like to call her the Xena card.   This card shows a very powerful woman.  She is draped in softness, but the hard edges on her face reveal that she is not as soft as her presentation might lead you to believe.   The energy reflected here is indicative of readiness.

The season of Fall brings the Wheel of Fortune.  The Wheel indicates that the things can turn.   However, it mostly falls to opportunities, solving a problem.   Because of the surrounding cards, this feels more positive than negative, so Fall brings out a positive outcome.

Word Count:  1226