Tarot In Nine Words – The Fool

Something I do to release my creativity is write poetry. Writing fiction and writing poetry, for me, have a similar feel because I am trying to tell a story with both. Poetry is simply more obscure, if you will. On a board I frequent, I started a thread called 9Words: A Poetry Challenge. The premise is simple. A list of nine words is given. Everyone writes a poem that uses those nine words.

The hard part is in posting that poem. Some of what I have posted is utter dreck. Some is not. One of those poems I submitted to BellaOnline for possible publication in their Mused Summer 2008 edition. Three were rejected. One was accepted. To say I was thrilled is to somehow lose the flavor of my joy. Over the moon comes much closer.

In response to a fellow blogger’s query about what other writers did to release their creativity I commented that I utilized Tarot and poetry.

Which got me to thinking that I rarely combine the two. I’ve looked into certification as a Tarot reader on numerous occasions. One thing that continually holds me back is the cost. Still I’d like that piece of paper and initials to add to my name. Part of certification on several boards is to write something for each of the 22 Major Arcana. It occurred to me today that I could combine my love of poetry with my 9Word challenge and tarot.

I am setting myself a goal. I will study each of the Major Arcana and list nine words that can be associated with that card. Then I will craft a piece for the card and post it here. I predict that some of the poems will be banal, insipid and trite. I also predict that some will be more than that.

If you care to follow along, subscribe to this blog. Do let me know what you think of each one-good or bad. I will still blog about other things so don’t worry that this blog will transform into a bad night at the local coffeehouse poetry slam.

My process will be to extract words and then write the poem. I tend to write off the cuff with very little editing of my poems. I think this is an act of rebellion against all the editing my fiction goes through. My writing partner and I edit continuously. Then our editor gets in on the act as well. So to be able to not edit is a writer’s ultimate fantasy.

Let’s begin with the traveler of the Major Arcana: The Fool.

Tarot In Nine Words – The Fool

My clothes hang in tatters and threads
Still optimism consumes me whole mouth
Dog faithful to life’s unexpecteds
Close my eyes Take that next step
Each leap from a cliff a roof a ledge
Pack this life with brash experience
Protection of angels for innocence
Speak of peace like a Dervish whirl
Dance through all the highs and lows
Let me be always Life’s hungry fool

Stephanie Arwen Lynch
5/24/2008

The nine words I used were:

Dance, Dog, Pack, Tatters, High, Fool, Leap, Brash, Optimism

I’d love to see your own efforts if you decide to try this challenge. The trick is to just let yourself flow. Grab a thought and swim with it. See where it takes you. Like the Fool, step off that cliff trusting that life will catch you.

Image: Fool, World Spirit Tarot

Author: TarotByArwen

Arwen is the professional Joy Seeker. Her true calling is as a Professional Joy Seeker. She co-creates solutions with her clients to help them find their joy again. "Seek joy, y'all" is her motto. Her decks include The Fairy Tale Lenormand, Secrets of the Mystic Grove, Bianca Niero Tarot, the Elle Qui Oracle, and the Field Guide to Garden Dragons (all published by U.S. Games INC.). She is the author of 33 Days to Finish Your Book. View all posts by TarotByArwen