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The Fool God is not truly a fool, but he'll fool you into fooling your self. So by being a fool, the Fool fools you while mostly fooling himself that he isn't a fool. What a fool. You and he are both the fools. This young energetic God is lusty for food and lovemaking. Dionysus is a perfect example of such foolishness. Foolishness is good for the soul when we take ourselves too seriously. The One Who Tricks us is always around the corner. So when you find that during the most important moment of your life (and you are taking it extremely seriously) you find toilet paper stuck to your shoe or spinach in your teeth, the Fool has fooled you! Better than that, if you don't laugh at yourself and learn to take it in stride, the Fool will only try to fool you more...why, he might make sure you trip, or stumble upon your words. The Fool is there for us when we get to serious. He reminds us that we are only in one incarnation for a brief time, so we might as well have fun.
This is truly the being of fertility, the One who will chase you on a wild hunt, or, better yet, make you chase Him through a sylvan glade. He is lusty, passionate, and a lot of fun to be near. He is the one who protects the Forest, for She is the Forest, and He cares for Her. If you are a Witch who enjoys hunting, make sure that you treat the Woods with great respect, and leave two apples behind for the Horned One to enjoy after you are finished hunting (to do so beforehand to catch an animal would be considered poaching). Also, keep in mind that the Horned One watches over aim and precision in hunting, so if you hurt the Forest, He will be sure to take aim upon you! The Horned One is sometimes mistaken for the devil---a rogue He may be, a Lover of Many, even, but evil intended? NEVER! He is kind-hearted, unless, of course, you take advantage of the one He loves so much. Do not be fooled by His kindness, because He is not a doormat. He demands respect, and the Father of the Woods deserves to be treated well. If you are camping, always clean up after yourself. Make sure there is nothing left that will hurt the hair of the Mother, and that your campfire is extinguished thoroughly! Respect Her, and He will repay you in kind.
No need to fear this Reaper of Souls. He is the one who sets us free from regret and burden. He harvests our souls and gently guides us into the next life. He is not the throes of Death, but is the one who ends the pain. Although Death is sometimes seen as female, I really like the kindly old man who comes to take us away. When He comes knocking on your door (or you knock at His), give him a big smile. He likes that. He is the one who knows everything about you. He keeps track of who is in the Summerland and who is on the Plane of Things. Speak to Him through meditation, and you will touch the mind of Death...and you will understand grief, suffering, and the necessity of pain. If He gives you something in meditation, take time to thank Him by visiting a cemetary and leaving a flower at a grave. Pick something you think He would like. From my personal experience, he likes dried red roses, but anything you think He will like is important. He also likes clove incense, but sometimes that can be a very strong scent...so use it wisely. Honor the Reaper, and He will make sure that you fare well.
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