For twenty plus years, I have shared my home with two hand-painted decks of Tarot Cards. One of them in an 8 by 11 format, framed, and hung as works of art. Every day I have been subjected to their undeniable influence. I have now reached a position on my personal Wheel of Life to expend the energy to acquire an understanding of the symbolic, cultural, and societal representations of the Cards.

What follows is a highly personalized account of the pulling together of the life's worth of lessons that I carry tucked into my bag of tricks. I have created a pastiche that contains intellectual insights, epiphanies, and inexplicable concurrencies. I can but hope that I have reached a greater level of maturation in the process of incorporating ideas from divergent venues into this FOOL'S journey.

My study of the Tarot has presented concepts that appear to be dualistic and exclusionary. Through contemplation and counsel I have learned that dualism is not necessarily the way of the Tarot. Seering the homogeneity of the complex relationships presented via the cards is a life's work. I can but speak to what I have personally come to understand. The ne plus ultra is the realization of what has the surface appearance of polarity and dichotomy is not division, but completion.

I am indebted to the many Tarot scholars whose tomes present the history of the Tarot and afford me the opportunity to use their work to my advantage.

I have modified and altered the names of some of the cards for a better personal fit. I find a few of the titles to be culturally and linguistically tainted or stultified. I ask no forgiveness for this arrogance. I have arrived at an unshakable conclusion that the Tarot must be personal and personalized for it to have significance.

My study of the Tarot fulfills all the imperatives of life, as I view them.

Laughter, joy, affection, wonder, enchantment, self-acceptance.

Laughter; the sound of rejoicing in the humour of living.

Joy; the satisfaction and pleasure of each moment accompanied by perception and comprehension.

Affection; given and received.

Wonder; the ability to be surprised, to be awed, and to accept astonishment.

Enchantment; to accept delight, and embrace bewitchment.

Self-acceptance; giving self permission to be.

Everyday is a celebration. I invite you to celebrate the Fool's Journey with me.

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