A Study of the Fool’s Journey 2

For an overview of and foundation for this series, see HERE

Today we look at the Basic Issue of the first row, represented by the Magician and High Priestess. It is helpful to use the idea of childhood development as a metaphor. Some of the concepts we deal with in the journey are very abstract and so having a down-to-earth metaphor helps communicate these ideas.

The first two cards do describe a basic issue and they do so by representing opposing facets of that issue. In this case, the issue is about negotiating your experience in and of the world.

The Magician, being an active and extroverted card, represents how you express yourself in the world.

The High Priestess, being a passive and reflective cards, represents how you experience the world.

The basic issue of the first row, then, is our inner and outer experiences as we interact with the world around us.

Next time we will look at the main test or challenge of this row.