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Thoth-0-the fool
ZERO
Fear not. What is not real, never was and never will be.
What is real always was and cannot be destroyed.
-Bhagavad Gita
Rather than just being assumed as being mystical, transpersonal, transcendent, and ecstatic in its nature, the Fool represents the power of wonder and ecstasy that is so apparent in the very young (and the “enlightened”) before they succumb to indoctrination and form a "cultural identity". The cultural identity is not real so Cabalists call it "reality" which we all know as relative and subjected to the identity of the beholder. The Real is the infinite part of ourselves that shouts "I AM"!
The Oriental symbol for fear is the tiger. In the Thoth card, fear is seen as attempting to gnaw on the leg of the fool who isn't giving any consideration to fear. He looks forward, and the tiger can't even make a dent in his perspective.
The Fool is the unmeasurable energetic essence of who we are---an unflappable immortal spiritual flow of energy identity that flows from the Infinite Source. This card symbolizes the creative expression that is needed to give birth to new parts of our lives and to boldly take risks that are so necessary to evolutionary development!
When this card falls in a reading it shows us that this is the moment to do what you fear and trust the spirit within!
As a Qabalistic Path of initiation called Aleph, THE FOOL connects Kether (Crown) with Chokmah (Wisdom). To the Qabalist, Kether is known as the Source of All, and Chokmah is known as Father God/ and Chokmah, the 2nd Sephiroth, is connected to Binah/Mother God-simultaneously. Simultaneously because when one creates He-She is also created and visa versa . Hence, the effect is always created with the cause. Therefore, the Supernal Triangle Trinity of Kether, Chokmah, and Binah, is the Divine Creative and/or the I AM.
The Path of Aleph, (The Fool) a Hebrew letter meaning OX, is about the "flowing of Life Force and creative power", showing that the SPIRIT had a beginning aim to be that of intimacy with creation and/or Sensual I AM. Or as Crowley has written: 0=2 . Those 2 are Animus and Anima, or Chokmah and Binah. To make it easier for us moderns I will just call them the First concepts of male and female. Neither of which came first, but appeared in the Mind/I Am, simultaneously. Astro Physics would call it the appearance of Electricity (male-will to force) and Magnetic (female-will to form). Which is easily understood, for you can't have Electricity without Magnetism and you can't have magnetism without electricity.
Crowley symbolizes this "Holy Spirit" (The Spirit on every level of the Tree of Life) as a dove in the Thoth Deck Card. Crowley also called The Letter Aleph, a phallic symbol.... but then so is the Projected Will that is THE MAGUS, and one wonders if Crowley was so besotted with the Phallus, that he was unable to see anything else; However, truth be told, by reference to Sexes and sexuality do we come to the minutest glimmering of understanding about the Electromagnetic Universe. We begin seeing that the Below is a mirror reflection of the Above and the Divine Spirit/One Energy, is all we know, we breathe it, we live within it, it is ourselves. Because we know this Divinity to be "The One Energy that cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed" (Psychics-Thermodynamics 1st law), we know that everything is of this One, as symbolized by THE FOOL the Path of Aleph.
In this context, Aleph is attributed to Air and means Life-Breath. Just as Spirit is from the Greek root word Spiro, which means Breath. The One Spirit, the Holy Spirit/Fool, is then the Life-Breath. This is well known in Eastern cultures, and Pranayama (Breath yoga) are a major if not primary part of all Spiritual development. The Sanskrit Word Prana, is the Life-Breath energy; Prana meaning life and Yama meaning death. Simply, inhale and exhale.
The Qabalah and I have described the Magus/Will as relating to "Words" (vibration), the underlying sonic of patterned manifestation. However, it is the power of breath that expels the sound.
Therefore, the FOOL activates the MAGUS.
The Science of Crowley’s time, considered Air to be a vacuum, as related to THE FOOL, so did Crowley, but the Ancient Wisdom is that the Element Air is not a vacuum, as in empty of anything, but rather a No-thing who is the fertile No-thingness and egg of Spirit (0). The universal Egg of Spirit is known by students of the mysteries, to be the EGG OF AKASHA, the zero of THE FOOL, also represents this egg of spirit, and is the mathematical formula of one Male, minus one female= 0 . Therefore, the understanding is that the Egg of Akasha, is a fertilized ovum of undefined sexuality, but having the potential for both! Hence, 0=2.
About the Thoth Fool, I have already insinuated that the Tiger, "fawning about" THE FOOL'S leg, is an archetype symbol representing the Animal Nature of Survival thinking, as related to the Higher Spiritual process of Love that is fearless. Again, as this cannot be said enough, the Horns on the Thoth figure represent those ancient mysteries of Dionysus Zagreus. The green clothing is that of the Celtic Green Man of Spring, the grapes at his feet are a tribute to Bacchus, the Greek God of Ecstasy, and the Crocodile (great creative energy) is “a swimming at his feet in the Nile" (Crowley quote). Making this 0, a complexity of subtleties and far from empty space.
Images referring to the Godhead in the Thoth card, are also the dove of Venus and the vulture of Maat the Dark Egyptian Goddess of Judgment. Modern physics would call her the Mother- Dark Matter. Then there is the triple egg shape created by the caduceus in motion, symbolizing the Ain Soph Aur (The 3 states of No-Thing/limitlessness). The Butterfly symbol on this card, is commonly used to symbolize the Soul.
As you may realize, the imagery is so subjective that we haven't the words to detail it all; for words are a communicated understanding of measurement and fail in defining the 0. If you need more detail, and you do, I would recommend reading Crowley's BOOK OF THOTH., Robert Wang's Book: THE QABALISTIC TAROT and also investigating the Mythology of the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians.
To even begin understanding THE FOOL, we must entertain a multifaceted and fluid interpretation of Force and Form.
Dr.Paul Foster Case, the founder of B.O.T.A, calls this the 11th Path of Aleph, and in his book THE THIRTY-TWO PATHS OF WISDOM, the fiery or Scintillating Intelligence. Which makes sense as The Path of Aleph borders on the Limitless Light (Ain Soph), which is "naught" or 0. Light without limit is darkness to us who need a beginning measurement and an ending measurement to see. So here we try to explain what can't be seen as The Fiery Darkness which is the possibility of vibration/frequency and/ or motion and the First Perception of the One having potential for activity. This would make a modern definition of “Dark Energy” as the “first I” or identity and dark matter as the first-"Am", both being simultaneous in creation as I Am.
In the context of Masculine sexuality, the Fool is the Testes(Represented by the three flowers beneath the spread legs of THE FOOL) , and the Magus is the Phallus, as He directs active first flow from the Fool rather than potentiality doing so. However, I fear that is a rather limiting concept of the ONE as the Ain Soph is 0, but then, all concepts are less than the potential for conception and associations with what we can see is all we can do to explain "no-thing".
We may reason that the potential for Thought, comes from the Dark Energy as Dark Matter (The First Material). The appearance of Thought emanates Mind, which is the vessel for Thought and/or Womb of Thought Forms, i.e. The “I-magi-nation”, transcending all reason. Thus, as often is so with the Supernal Triangle, our reason leaves us with more questions than answers which is no different when using our personal muse/ imagination. Hence, the entire Tarot Deck of 78 cards are used to explain the Fool.
By now you may understand that Limitlessness is a very difficult concept! To say that THE FOOL represents the initial potential for thought which transcends reason, i.e. the All Seeing I, is about the best I can do with words.
The special reality we may touch in sleep, often gives us images that do not correlate to our mundane understanding of reality. This being so, our dreams seem to be so much abstraction and are considered as nonsense to our waking condition. However, the Great Work (As above so below) involves the assimilation of The Real, not a reality conceived of mundane ideas and definitions supplied by our rulers. And the Real Concepts are from what is not- making what is- from Dreams of Potential- Self! To think of the Universe as God Dreaming (Darkness Dreaming it is Light) is very difficult to grasp, and the fact that you are a "Lucid" Dreamer/ image maker who is intimate with its creation (Imagination) , who has been given the Power of Observation that changes a thing, meaning you can change the Principle that is Things just by observing them, is just about as mind boggling as it gets. But I dare postulate that just such a glimmer of insight requires a more than mundane understanding of self! But this wouldn't due, for the knowledge of Self, wouldn't keep you a slave to your rulers definitions. Therefore your Divinity is not often acknowledged by the mundane world of Master/Ruler and Slave/Citizen. Instead your divinity is separated from you and is owned by Ruler defined Theology. However, your Spiritual Womb, the conception of I AM ME, is the invisible Sephiroth, Daath (knowledge-represented by the Priestess card) seated within the abyss, and is the Child of the Goddess (Understanding) and the God (Wisdom) who are face to face (Yab Yum), as represented by the Empress card who is the 14th Path of Daleth (meaning door). The Empress crosses the middle path of Union is known as the Path of Gimel (meaning Camel); THE HIGH PRIESTESS OR HIGH PRIEST; the Divine Androgyny, creating a cross. This "cross roads" is the Vesica Pisces that gives birth to the Soul/Tiphareth-the 6th Sephiroth-called Beauty. In short, you are the Me that is created by the Union of Wisdom and Understanding. For knowledge (Priestess) is information, and in this Universe, information is known by in-form-action. Other words, data becomes information by manifesting, i.e., Truth is made manifest.
All the Paths leading upward to Kether, THE FOOL, THE MAGUS, AND THE (HIGH) PRIESTESS, must be approached with a certain understanding of whimsy, as we realize that by going inward, and crossing the Abyss approaching Kether (As above, so below) means the total annihilation of Self as we perceive it. Thus presenting us with the irony of our attempt to grasp such esoteric and refined principles from an earthly-mundane perspective of ruler-made definitions.
Often, when teaching the Major Arcana and knowing what I speak, cannot truly convey what I am saying, brings a smile, if not outright laughter to my face. To me, the subjective I AM- potential is ironically displayed as a limited conception—a Me. Being a Me must never be taken too seriously, for that concept will change daily, when one enters the Higher Self realm of I Am. Personality becomes a master of subjectivity-Magic- when As above so below are no longer divided by definitions/words.
To reiterate, THE FOOL- 0, is the initial potential for thought, transcending all reason. Thus objectifying the Upper Regions, the Supernal Triangle is a futile endeavor. However, once we recognize the impossibility of consciously approaching the Highest Levels of the Tree of Life, i.e. The Universe, in a direct manner, we are forcibly driven into the key Principles of the Mysteries/Metaphysics of as Above, So Below by going inward, introspection. For in Qabalah, going inward is going up the Tree of Life and going outward is going down the Tree of Life. As we travel this inner Tree of Mind, we begin seeing that the Below is a mirror reflection of the Above and that the Divine Spirit is all we know, we breathe it, we live within it, it is ourselves. Because we know this Divinity to be "the One Energy that cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed" (1st law of Thermodynamics), we know that everything is of this One, as symbolized by THE FOOL, the Tarot image of the Path of Aleph.
In this context I dare to repeat, Aleph is attributed to Air and means Life-Breath. Just as Spirit is from the Greek root word Spiro, which means Breath. The One Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is then the Life-Breath the “one rope of Life” that we are all woven strands of. This is well known in Eastern cultures, and Pranayama (Breath yoga) are a major if not primary part of all Spiritual development. The Word Prana, is the Life-Breath energy and is also called the Sex force and means “life-death”. Now I have described the Magus as relating to "Words" (vibration), the underlying sonic of patterned manifestation. However, it is the power of breath that expels the sound. Thus THE FOOL activates THE MAGUS.
The Tarot of The Spirit-The Fool-0
the tarot of the spirit-0-the fool
The Tarot of The Spirit-0-The Fool, uses an artistic interpretation of the Traditional Tarot Cards of the Medieval period. The author-Pamela Eakins, has applied many years of research and learning to these Tarot Cards, hoping to create a system of aid for the serious student on the esoteric path of the mysteries. These are a serious learning potential where nothing has been reduced nor are they convoluted. Now I am not going to try and explain her reasoning nor that of her research, for she has done what all serious scholars of the Esoteric Mysteries has done and that is study, research, study, research and study some more until the Inner Self and the Outer Self are one and the Same. So buy the cards and the Book-Tarot of Spirit, by Pamela Eakins, P.H.D.. You can find them on Amazon.com
In her excellent book, she guides the reader through the purpose and meanings of the esoteric path and tarot, including meditation techniques on the Tarot Cards. I am not going to go into detail for she has already written the book and needs not my interpretation of her writings. Read for yourself, for you cannot help but learn more about the "Above and Below" that constitutes Self-YOU.
The Fool, as painted by Joyce Eakins and described by Pamela Eakins, is an artistic-metaphysical interpretation of all that is movement and change. For there is only One energy that cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed, and I might say, transmitted. Change is transformation and it is a Universal Constant. Perfect love created you, perfect love is the "inner you", so walk fearlessly, placing one foot in front of the other, no matter how high the climb up the mountain of Time.
Since the Fool represents the first mode of empowerment in the Tarot Deck, one must detach from outcome, to walk this inner path faithfully. For Faith in the "Psyche"/soul that creates you as its personal avatar in the World of Material Matter, knows you and has manifested you because you are approved as its in-form-action. With Love, the Lover has created its most Beloved...you. The Soul is a collective of Spiritual identity, of I AM, and the I AM doesn't create what it doesn't want; especially as a persona of itself. In Spirit, all that is unseen shall become seen, as Self-Awareness progresses in the continual transformative manifestations of Self-image and/or the intimacy between "I Am" and "Me". Me, being the child of I Am. Trust your Soul, walk tall, for the Soul/inner self. will not kneel to your indoctrinated or dogmatic/trained weaknesses; You must Stand if you wish to Speak to your inner Lover.
The Fool travels through the Keys- Major Arcana (trump-) the subjective and the Minor Arcana (small cards)-the objective- representing the archetypal journeyer who is our very own inner traveler on the path (s) of Life. Here our personality emerges from the I Am, seeking the answers to why existence and why existence must die. The personal self wishes to understand the Great Mystery that is the Self. Hence, one must travel without fear, without need of result, as they become more and more self-aware in the transformative travels of "I AM ME". Self is not measurable, so "measurable self" must be created to "Above all things, know thyself"--- the great Esoteric Axiom. For to know is to possess information. Information is gathered by in-form-action, for it to become part of self-awareness. The Psyche, your soul, a collective of Self-Awareness, created "you" who is a "Me", to become its in-form-action. Walk with head held high, and enjoy you animal body companion, represented as the dog in the traditional art of the Fool card. You may think you are a body, but that is not your beginning. You are a Hu Man, the body is a homo sapiens sapiens. Many of us confused the issue by calling the human and the homo sapiens sapiens as different names for the same item. Not so. Hu is a Mandarin word for "god" and Man, comes from the Hindu root word-Manas, for Mind. Hence, human is a "god mind"-The Soul/Psyche (she who imagines) while the homo sapiens sapiens is the recipient of that mind's need for in-form-action. Unmeasurable Mind, needs a measured self-identity to "know itself". Hence, I AM Me.
One who travels the journey of life, without need of result and/or without expectation, is deemed a Fool by the Few who Rule the many, i.e. rulers. For then you cannot control such a mind to do your life journey for you. Such a mind is not a slave to fear. Hence, they can't be threatened to be other than true to themselves. Slaves come from fear of death. A mind that knows Death as Life's way to transform itself, fear it not nor expect it to act according to their wishes. That is why the Tarot of Spirit shows the Fool stepping off into the Abyss with his possessions/knowledge and the mysteries, all contained in a satchel, while also carrying the Western Lotus of the Divine Mother, the white rose which indicates purity, love, faith and trust, and accompanied by his/her faithful companion and guide.
Upon the left breast his/her blue and belled shirt is the symbol for the Universal Element of Air/Mind. Wearing a skirt, with rose toed shoes, representing the Western Thought of God without and/or the driving force of the heart. On the fools head is the white lotus of Eastern thought of *Samadhi, symbolizing "god within". The fool knows that Divine Creative lies both within and without for their is only One, who represents itself as "all things" and "no-thing". Or as the Tao states: "If it is Here, it is There and if It is There it is Here; for what is not There is not Here and what is not Here is not There". The Tao being Eastern philosophy fits the white lotus on the head perfectly.
*
samadhi
[səˈmädē]
NOUN
hinduism
buddhism
a state of intense concentration achieved through meditation. In Hindu yoga this is regarded as the final stage, at which union with the divine is reached (before or at death).
All of this clothing symbology helps illustrate this inner androgynous figure who is neither sex but all sexes. The Fool illustrates our True Identity, and not the one created for us by Rulers and/or those who control identity by propaganda. The Esoteric meanings for the Tarot of The Spirit-Fool are the same for the Thoth Fool.
When THE FOOL card is thrown of both the Thoth and the Tarot of the Spirit, during a reading the querent is in or experiencing:
- A state of ecstasy and/or a state of Peak experience.
- Fearlessness. Courage. And is completing all motion by Faith, absolutely trusting THE SPIRIT.
- A feeling of being protected, and that everything will work out.
- Being open to what the future brings!
- Magic, amazement and desire in a relationship.
- The Divine Creative protects fools and small children.
- Detachment from expectation.
- Idea, thought, spirituality, that which endeavors to rise above the material.
- One who has exorcised the boogeyman of Fear.
If ill-defined by accompanying cards, The Fool, implies,\:
- The harbinger of folly, mania, extravagance and even negligence.
- Stupidity.
- Eccentricity.
- Mania.
- The Fool represents that which is too ideal and unstable to be generally good in material things.
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