The Minor Arcana Storyline - Part III |
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Still amazed by the hard work required even though things seem to be going so well, The Fool begins to learn the lesson of the nines: the inner self. There are times when it seems that no matter what he tries, nothing is going the way he wants. He rearranges his plans, tries something else, and still it doesn't seem to work out the way he intended. At the brink of exhaustion The Fool finds his inner strength and stamina, the lesson of the Wands, digs deep and tries one more time. This time, the last hurdle is crossed and the end is finally in sight. But, he wonders, what if things should still fall apart? What will happen to him, his wife, his employees, and everyone that he cares about should his plans fail? His worries breed nothing but nightmares as he tries to sleep, leaving him no peace. He comes to realize that he is blowing his fears way out of proportion, only dealing with his own inner demons. This is the lesson of the Swords. The Fool understands that the worry is pointless and lets go of these fears and phantoms that haunt him in the dark of the night.
With a renewed sense of peace, his work takes on a sense of the spiritual. He has earned his wealth through hard work and the life that it has brought, not only to him but also to everyone in his care, is nothing but abundance. He can be justifiably proud of this, but instead The Fool feels humbled by it. He sees it as a gift from above, the Creator watching over him and rewarding his efforts. It is a deeply gratifying feeling, this lesson of the Coins, and it gives The Fool the sense that even though one must earn money to survive in this world one can also transfer the abundance to others and to the afterlife. The spiritual feeling also begins to trickle into his relationship with his wife. With the lesson of the Cups, The Fool sees that the work he has put into maintaining his marriage has led to an emotionally fulfilling abundance, a satisfaction on every level. The Fool wisely enjoys this feeling of security, happiness, love, and abundance, knowing that the winds may turn again.
Now The Fool comes to the lesson of the tens, cycles completed, lessons learned, and struggles ended. Through every struggle that he has encountered, his main concern has always been for someone else: his wife, his employees, his family, and friends. Now, with a sudden disaster from the sea, his entire business has been wiped out and there is no way for him to recover from the loss. The Fool has come face to face with the lesson of the Swords, the ultimate teacher. This is the final ordeal: what does he do to either recover from this or be able to move forward? At this point in his life, he is too old to begin again with a new venture. But what about his family, his employees, and their families? What will they do now? Suffering under the burden of these responsibilities, The Fool learns the lesson of the Wands. He has learned from his limitations and grown stronger over the years, learned that he had to take care of those in his charge until they could learn to take care of themselves, and learned when he had to ask for help under his own limitations when he simply wasn't able to do it on his own. Now the only thing the Wands still need to teach him is when to walk away. There is nothing more that The Fool can give, nothing more that he can do; he would only be wasting his energy if he tried. In despair, he simply locks the door and heads home.
Upon explaining the devastating news to his wife, he is presented with a solution. His wife reminds him that his son has now come of age, studied the business backwards and forwards, and is ready and willing to take over the reins. The Fool now learns the lesson of the Coins: passing on his wealth and knowledge as a legacy to the future generations to ensure their comfort and success. Gratefully and humbly, The Fool signs the business over to his son, remaining nearby during the transition to ease him into the full control of his own new venture. He proudly watches as his son takes command like a general, but with the calm words of a patient teacher and the caring hand of a protective father. He realizes that his son has also learned the burden of responsibilities over the years, and instinctively knows to care for all who work with him and for him. In a very short time, the business has recovered and again begins to grow under his son's charge, and now The Fool can retire and enjoy the simple pleasures of home and hearth. With a wife who loves him dearly, a stable marriage that has survived its share of hardships, and a happy, healthy family, The Fool feels the blessings of the divine all around him. This is the lesson of the Cups: the cycle is completed and a lasting peace and serenity rule, the eternal happiness of a life well lived among his fellow man.
As with most people in retirement, The Fool begins watching and learning about the people around him. In his grandchildren and the young children in the streets that laugh and play as soon as their chores are done, he gets a sense of the Pages. A small group of girls that huddle around the duck pond just beyond his backdoor has really captured his imagination. He and his wife watch their games and overhear snippets of their conversations. The differences in the personalities of the four friends astound him. One of them seems to be the natural leader of the group, fiery and creative. She is never still, a free spirit that is always thinking up new things to do with a great passion for life. She embodies the spirit of the Wands. Another is just as creative in coming up with new ideas, but is calmer and more balanced, a real thinker. She seems to be more fascinated with puzzles and riddles, and is forever bringing a new one to the group every day they are together. As studious as she is playful, she is never far from her books. This one embodies the spirit of the Swords.
The third is the mother hen of the group, always grounded and down to earth, taking responsibility for everyone. Her friends always know that she will be there to lend a hand, or lend a coin, when necessary. She embodies the spirit of the Coins. And the fourth, quiet and serene as the pond water itself, dreamy and imaginative, wears her heart on her sleeve. Her concern for the feelings of the others is nothing less than selfless, amazing at her young age. Every day that the girls get together, she brings them flowers or treats; little gifts that she makes, from shell jewelry to watercolor paintings, to show her appreciation of their friendship. This one is the very spirit of the Cups. The Fool marvels at what he learns just from watching them.
This pattern, he notices, is repeated just about everywhere. A group of young men, just out of school but not yet ready to begin work, who gather to talk at the corner near his front door all exhibit these same qualities, but their energy is always on the move. Young people are never content to stay in one place longer than they have to. Here he gets a sense of the Knights. The men that come each day to talk with him, each of them as different as the next, gives him a sense of the Kings, while his wife's circle of friends gives him a sense of the Queens. While the men plan and ponder, the women develop their ideas in a slow process of gestation, trial and error until the problem is solved. The Fool sees that these qualities abound in everyone to some degree, but there is always one who seems to embody them more than anyone else. He marvels that he never took the time to notice this before. In studying the people around him, The Fool is familiarizing himself with the very pieces of his own soul. What a revelation!
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