—ing…

The Journey of the Fool is from where you are to where you want to be.

In both of my books: Journey to the Temple of Ra and Scribe to the Pantheon of Rome, the above is explored in detail from many angles. In Ra, John’s journey is highlighted. In Scribe, John’s journey continues, but his is not the only one observed.

The Journey of the Fool is also the journey through the Major Arcana in the Tarot, from 0 – The Fool himself to XXI – The World. Within that one journey are many treks.

One such trek is from XIII – Death to XX – Judgement, which is also known as Resurrection. We all know (and are living) the journey from physical birth to physical death, but none of us really knows what the next journey will be like. And so we can only view the journey from death to rebirth philosophically, archetypally, anecdotally.

I did a reading for myself last evening, which sat on my desk overnight. This morning, I decided to analyze it. Highlighted within the reading is the journey from Death (in the first position: me, now) to Judgement (in the 6^th position: the immediate future).

Another journey was also highlighted, albeit more subtly. This one is from the 8 of Swords (position no. 2: underlying and/or unnoticed aspects of the present) to the 9 of Wands (position no. 8: the higher and potential outcome).

In my mind, the Minor Arcana depicts bits and pieces of the Major Arcana. They break bigger pieces down to smaller pieces, which helps us better understand.

Spirit described the journey from the 8 of Swords to the 9 of Wands like this:

You don’t need to see that it is done, you only need to see that it has begun.

The point of life is not the destination. Observably, every life ends in death. When it’s done, you’re done. Yet, most of us are not in a hurry to die.

Of course, many of us now know that it’s not that simple. When you’re life is done, you are not done. More and more of us are coming to understand this experientially and not just conceptually.

Furthermore, I do have to admit that spirit is exactly right: I don’t need nor do I even want to see it done. I most want to see that it has begun. I want to feel the movement of the journey, and experience the joy of being, doing, having, becoming, and experiencing. I want the ‘—ing’.The frustration depicted by the 8 of Swords is two fold: there is a lack of movement (being tied up) and a lack of clarity (being blindfolded). Notice the many similarities between the 8 of Swords (the woman stands among vertically stacked swords) and the 9 of Wands (the man stands among vertically stacked wands). Also note the differences. Once such difference is the woman’s blindfold has become the man’s headband. It is still there, just moved a little.

At the 8 of Swords, the castle (our desires) sit atop a steep, rocky hill…behind us. It seems an impossible or improbably journey. At the 9 of Wands, we no longer see our desires, but why? Where did they go?

In my reading in position 7: the guidance position, is the 7 of Pentacles. Our desired are not shown because they have been planted as seeds. Each wand in the 9 of Wands is a stake. That’s where our desires will spout.

You don’t need to know that it is done, but it helps to know that it has begun.

You have journeys within journeys on top of more journeys. There is always where you are and where you want to be. You are thus always journeying. Your only choices are: journey further or rest. It really doesn’t matter whether you go left or right, but that’s another discussion.

Look for evidence that it has begun. You have asked for what you desire; the seeds have been planted. The stakes show you where. Just as March surely follows February and Spring surely follows Winter, your desires surely will sprout, and will bloom, and will bare fruit.

Enjoy the becoming!