The Fool in the Media

The Fool has done an about face in my psyche. When I first started studying tarot, I was not a fan of the fool. In my mind she was naive, weak, easily manipulated. She was obnoxious in her constant inquires. I couldn't connect with her child-like spirit.

Now the Fool is one of my favorite cards. When I see her, I feel my mood lighten. She is refreshing. She is laughter and dance. She is throwing her hands up in the middle of a thunderstorm, lightning be damned. She is soft and sweet and adventurous. She is actually quite the badass. Yes, she can be hasty and a "jump first, think later" kinda girl, but when she is in her element we can learn so much from her.

A few high flying, lovely fools are (Spoilers) :

1. Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

Jack definitely has his magician moments, which almost made him a contender for that list, but for me he is a Fool. He is brilliant, but also brilliantly lucky. He is always making up the plan as he goes along and it works for him. To onlookers, he is a drunken sea rat who isn't worth his salt. Little do they know that he is the Captain of a fearsome ship, a master swordsman and as crafty as a fox. That is part of the brilliance of a Fool - people often underestimate them to disastrous ends. Jack is definitely a "Jump first and think later" kind of man - but I would want him on my side. He laughs in the face of danger and knows what he is all about.

2. Arya Stark, Game of Thrones

Arya changes drastically over the series so when I refer to her as the Fool, I am mostly talking about her early seasons. Arya is bold. She is an innovator who goes against social norms. She is a fighter in a time where women are expected to be demure. She goes her own way early in life. Although she lacks the whimsy and light-heartedness of the others on this list, Arya is the Fool in her student aspect. The Fool reminds us that it is OK to be a beginner. We all have to start somewhere. Arya wants to learn to sword fight, so Jon gives her Needle and she starts her own Fool's journey. She puts in many hours training and transforming herself into a master assassin. That kind of change only comes from hard work and determination, and you have to start as a Fool. Everyone does. Arya doesn't look at her path with frustration. She doesn't get down about how far she has to go. She is excited and hopeful and gets right to work.

3. Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter

Luna is a fan favorite for good reason. I believe her to be the heart of Harry's inner circle. She is kooky, odd and bizarre (and in a world fully of witches and wizards that is impressive) but she owns it. She is also brave and gallant and loyal. When everyone seems to have turned against Harry, Luna never does. She makes him laugh even in dark times. She is very plugged into her inner child, which gives her a much needed perspective on the dark events of the later books. She reminds all of us to lighten up. Although she is whimsical and fairy-like, she is also tough and a very powerful witch. Luna proves that you can be soft and smiley and believe in fairies but still kick someone's ass when you need to.

4. Logan Huntzberger, Gilmore Girls

Logan may not have been the best choice for our lovely Rory, but he had some strong points as a boyfriend and a person. He was adventurous and rebellious. He had a devil-may-care attitude about life which was a great complement to Rory's serious nature. He wasn't the model student but he was street smart. He knows how to get what he wants, for good and bad. His downfall comes from his inability to think about the consequences of his actions, which almost get him killed. He loves the parts of life that flirt with danger - high flying stunts, raucous parties and petty crime. He brings Rory out of her goody-two-shoe shell. Although this has some heartbreaking consequences it ultimately helps her to grow as a person. Logan reminds us that we often learn more from our mistakes than from our victories and sometimes we have to jump to learn we can fly. After all, "you jump, I jump Jack".

I will be back next week with the Hermits.

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XOXO