“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool”
Spo-fans know I am a Jungian in my psychological training and approach to the Human Psyche. From time to time I write about the concepts; you can look my previous entries under “Jungian Psychology” here at Spo-Reflections.
April Fool’s Day made me reflect on The Fool Archetype. I was surprised I haven’t written about it before. April 1st is an apt day to discuss Fools.
Like all archetypes, The Fool is universal and easily recognized. He (The Fool is usually male) is beyond the usual yoke of custom and convention. As the Village Idiot he is ostracized. But The Fool can see and do things others can not. He is often coupled with the King; they make a balanced pair. The King must be dignified and proper, while the Fool has the “Fool’s Privilege”. He gets to say things no one else dares. King Lear is an excellent example. The Fool chastises Lear when no one else will.
In the Tarot Deck he is numberless; he is the “0”, both starting and ending the Major Arcana. He is the only Major Card to survive into the modern deck of cards – the Joker.
Of course, he has a negative/Shadow side – all archetypes have such. I don’t need to tell you how to spot someone dominated by too much Fool energy.
Like all archetypes, we need The Fool. “A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men” capture this necessity. People with no Fool energy are sour pusses indeed – or frightful or dangerous.
So on this Day of Fools, let us celebrate this untamed zany Archetype.
My entry ends with one of the greatest group of Fools ever – Monty Python.
21 comments
April 1, 2011 at 2:36 AM
Buddy Bear
Speaking of the “Fool Archetype”, how is your “make a silly silly video of yourself “ challenge coming along?
April 1, 2011 at 5:04 AM
Urspo
Work in progress – still in the brainstorming phase
April 1, 2011 at 3:03 AM
the cajun
Now THAT’S the way to start a Friday, or even a Monday. Of course, we usually end both with olives. 😉
April 1, 2011 at 5:03 AM
Urspo
I am certainly looking forward to some myself.
April 1, 2011 at 4:17 AM
D@vid
I love the quote… I have a friend who is a sociopath… everyone knows he is a fool except him. One of my biggest fears in life is alzheimer’s… losing your mind. I can’t imagine a worse fate.
April 1, 2011 at 4:35 AM
Cubby
I’m aware I’m a fool, so that makes me wise, right?
April 1, 2011 at 5:02 AM
Urspo
Very wise, indeed.
April 1, 2011 at 4:52 AM
Sean
I am a proud fool in a sea of delusional self-designated kings…
April 1, 2011 at 5:02 AM
Urspo
wise man !
April 1, 2011 at 5:06 AM
Tiger Chanter
I don’t tend to suffer fools gladly, yet they all find me… 😉
April 1, 2011 at 5:08 AM
Urspo
You suffer from “The Green Acres Syndrome” – best remedy; drink the Kool-aid and go into the light…….
April 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM
jefferyrn
Have you noticed the site stats today. I think WordPress is playing the fool card.
April 1, 2011 at 11:42 AM
johnmichael
Happy April Fool’s Day!
April 2, 2011 at 2:46 AM
truthspew
And don’t you know, Spamalot is being presented at the Providence Performing Arts Center or as we affectionately know it, PPAC.
Yeah, I’ll plunk down money for that one.
April 2, 2011 at 3:56 AM
Steven
Happy belated Day! Hopefully you were not the prank of others yesterday.
April 4, 2011 at 6:45 AM
mrtaurus
Thank you for this post! what a fantastic post for April. AND you know about Tarot. Great minds.
April 4, 2011 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
thank you for stopping by again. Throughout my blog I have various posts on Tarot, and a few readings.
Michael
December 12, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Ron
I proudly admit that I am the Fool in my universe. Just ask Bill. In fact one of our private jokes is when I do something that is so unalterably true and against convention he will say with mock indignation (much like Claude Raines in “Casablanca” when his policed discovered there was gamboling at Rick’s Place) “YOU ARE A FOOL!” When in reality we both know that I am exposing an Inconvenient Truth.
August 7, 2013 at 11:05 PM
Pink
I love it!
I am also excited when the fool comes up in a reading for me as I see it as a new beginning (and yes, an ending to the last ‘phase’).
I didn’t know but suspected you were a Jungian! How Yay!
xx
Pinks
July 10, 2014 at 10:56 AM
charles reed
spo, I like the initial image of the fool on this page. may I ask where it came from? is is owned by someone or is it public domain?
July 10, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Urspo
It is a photo quite ‘common’ – I don’t know if it is technically in the public domain.