The Choice

[Jade]

I have to argue against my analysis being "too meta". The archetypes, as presented by Ra, are primarily meant for use by the adept, and are almost impossible to divorce from the source material, which places the archetypes in a position of meta. The archetypes are about peering through the illusion, so the end goal itself is meta, therefore I think analysis of the cards, particularly of the Fool, should probably be somewhat meta.

As far as the column, if we look at where the column symbol is echoed - the Priestess, the Hierophant, the Chariot, and the Hanged Man - so primarily the mind cycle, seeming to indicate that the fear is more psychological ('illusory') than actual literal physical danger. The symbol of the knocked over column is also echoed in the Spirit cycle in the Lightning card - the fallen over construct of the mind - and oh look, there's the Hierophant and Hanged Man who are the ones falling out of the tower. So again we refer to the question being - is it fear or is it danger?

The most poignant symbol to me in the Fool card is his baggage. The Fool starts off with a humble sack of belongings - sitting on his left shoulder and echoing the downward slant of the left hand side of the card - I believe this is the symbol of the artifacts constructed in third density, specifically technology. Ra says that balancing the body cycle is all about "understanding the body in its natural functions", and the role of most modern technology is that of thwarting or deviating from nature. As the Fool begins and ends the journey, the small knapsacks represent the few things we actually need to progress on our spiritual journey, having abandoned all the extra things/distortions we have accumulated along the way. Contrast the simple Fool with the frivolity and ostentatiousness of the Hierophant - all of his accoutrements and fancy hats upon his stage. The Fool wears naught but the hides of animals. The Fool is the balance between the Hierophant and the completely ascetic Hanged Man, who basically has nothing but the ropes he has bound himself with.

I want to emphasize that saying the knapsack represents "technology", I mean that in the broadest of senses, including the constructs of society (being an attempt at "engineering" based on observations), and also the menial physical things that distract us, like cheap smart phones and buying new cars. I think the journey of the Fool primarily revolves around what he chooses to keep in those bags of holding.

Anyway, just some musings, thanks for the talk, guys.