The Fool represents a sense of innocence and joy, a time in life when everything seems new and we have not preconceived notions to weigh us down. The Fool is like an innocent child just starting out on life's journey - a clean slate in search of new experiences. The Fool trusts in life and is unaware of limitations or restrictions. The Fool is a Major Arcana card but its number is 0. The Fool is often seen as symbolizing the Fool's journey or our soul's journey through life.  The Fool is all about trust and being willing to start anew and take a leap of faith. 

The Universal Fantasy Fool looks like a hippie who got lost at a Renaissance Fair.  he has blue feathers or streaks in his light brown hair and a shaggy goatee.  He wears striped, multi-colored pants and a burgundy shirt with gray trim and burgundy half-gloves.  Hi bindle has a purple flag on it which mergers into the sky - you cannot tell where the flag ends and the sky begins..  Blue butterflies flitter across the purple swath of sky/flag.  He is accompanied by a strange creature that seems to be part dog and part goat.  Its coat is gray with patches of blue and streaks of brown.  The Fools legs dangle over a cliff but he appears unconcerned and at ease.  Is he too foolish to realize his danger or is he confident in his ability to remain safe. 

The Ma'at Fool looks more like a shaman, garbed in robe of multicolored strips of fabric.  He holds a drum in his right hand and a sistrum  in his right.  A horned headdress adorns his brow.  And a white dog dances at his feet.  He stands at a cliff's edge and the sky behind him is shades of deep purple and orange reminiscent of images from the Hubble telescope.  The constellation of Orion shines on his body with Sirius near the white dog.

Both images of The Fool suggest a connection to the mystical universe and a complete trust in their own ability to move forward and do what they need to do.  Fear does not tinge their consciousness.  Both exhibit a faith and almost naive trust that they Universe will provide for them.  And I think that is my lesson for today.  I need to move forward and take some of those steps that I've been dreading and trust that the Universe will make sure everything goes the way it should.  I need to trust that things will turn out for the best for everyone and accept that the best might not be what I perceive "the best" to be.

I think one of my biggest challenges with The Fool and with this situation in general is the realization that I have to give up control.  I cannot steer this situation in the direction I want it to take.  I have to accept that sometimes in life the gods have plans that are beyond my understanding.  I don't like giving up control and I don't like change - I guess that my Capricorn Moon making its energy felt.  It's exacerbated by my hubby (Cap Sun and Cap Moon) who feels that if he can't fix things then he's a failure.  This is one situation that he can't fix without help and that I can't control.  That is a bitter pill for both of us to swallow.  We are acting like fools because on some level I think we both know that we're just postponing the inevitable.  We need to take the steps necessary to start getting help for his family or else we'll carry the burden of responsibility if something goes wrong.  I don't think either of us needs that.  To paraphrase a Christian slogan, we need to "let go and let the gods".