The Fool's Number

In this article we focus on the number of the fool- ZERO. And just as zero plays a central role in mathematics, The Fool plays a central role in the Tarot. In fact, he's the main character of the deck and the one that passes through all the other cards and scenarios. He represents AIR and his number is zero because he is nowhere at once, yet he's everywhere at once. Zero is neither positive or negative and so is The Fool. Since then he's really not accountable to either side or of any special definition or designation, HE JUST IS!

He lives his life without any plans or goals and anywhere he is, that's where it's happening. Quite often I have used the analogy of Kate Hudson in the movie Almost Famous. If you saw the film you know she played a rock n roll groupie who whenever she showed up in a scene, she would raise her hands up around her and say "It's ALL Happening" as if to imply that wherever she was, that's where the party is. So it is with the Fool.

As a year label in the BC Calendar year era, the year 1 BC is the first year before AD 1; no room is reserved for a year zero. And so The Fool is of no time, and yet he's of all-time. Time does not constrain him nor is he concerned with it, in fact time simply does not even exist to him. Sounds pretty cool to me.

The sum of zero and zero is zero and zero divided by zero is zero, get it? Or as one of my favorite Black Crowes songs says, "Anywhere is everywhere and nowhere is nothing."

THE FOOL'S TRUSTY DOG!

ALWAYS BY HIS SIDE

We already know from basic knowledge of this card that The Fool is the main character of the deck and in the Tarot he passes through all the 77 other cards besides his own. He represents air and his number is 0 because he's nowhere at once, yet he's everywhere at once. Let's take a look however at a major component of this card that's often overlooked- his trusty dog. 

Besides clearly being along for the ride and journey, of note are a few meanings. First, he is depicted as white because white is a color of purity in the Tarot cards. He represents all the pure motives of his master even though his master lives his life without any plans or foundation and is subject to folly. Wherever the Fool goes, even should it be off a cliff, his trusty dog will follow. 

But the important message of the Fool card is that he just IS. And here is where the main reason for the dog being on this card lies. Dogs do not have to be saddled down with the error of their choices or even making choices for that matter. They are happy to just plain exist and treated properly they will always have a smile and wagging tail for you just like the dog depicted on this card. 

The Fool is clearly human though and must deal with the ramifications of his choices and speech. And this is the biggest lesson of the trusty dog- better living and a higher quality of life come from just being and existing and willing to go wherever life takes us, especially when we're at the edge of a cliff. 

TEN of CUPS

"PERFECTED SUCCESS"

The first thing we want to take note of when examining this card is the number 10. In the minor arcana, the 9's are always the fullest possible expression of the element, just like a rose for example at it's fullest opening.  The 10's (and this card is no exception) take the element, in this case, cups, one step further, but now to excess. The Golden Dawn name of the card is "perfected success" but Aleister Crowley who was a member calls the card "satiety" which is an even more fitting title as it's definition is "the quality of state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity" and the "revulsion or disgust caused by overindulgence or success."

In a way, this scene of total happiness and joy is almost too good to be true, and even though the card depicts material comforts such as the house, garden and river, in fact nothing material matters here, just the eternal happiness and love of the spirit. The rainbow of golden cups reminds us that the greatest power in the world is that of love and through love we get a glimpse of heaven. And herein lies the interesting paradox with this card as it pertains to it's astrological correspondence which is Mars in Pisces. 

Normally the gross, disruptive, and violent force of Mars on the watery sign of Pisces would disrupt the energy and cause a degree of frustration. But instead here the fire of Mars on the final sign of the zodiac causes the waters to have a rushing calmness which results in great happiness and fulfillment in the material world and great success on the material plane. When the card shows up in a reading it's usual interpretation and meanings are contentment, a happy heart, permanent and lasting success, however if ill-dignified by other cards around it can have the previous negative connotation of looking too good to be true.