My Favourite Fool

US Games Systems: Universal Waite, Smith-Waite Borderless and Radiant Rider Waite.

The Fool card is arguably the most important card in any Tarot deck. It's often the first card you see when you open the box. It represents the very beginning of the journey through the Major Arcana. 
The traditional RWS card shows our hero on the cusp of a new adventure, so enchanted by the opportunity that he fails to see the cliff edge he's about to step off. So many of the Fool cards in my deck library are clones of the RWS with their own design aesthetic applied. When I picked my favourites, I was surprised to see that it was the cards that show beginnings in a different way that made it into my Top 5. So, like a beauty pageant from the 1970's, here they are, in reverse order, my favourite Fools. 

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5. The Alice Tarot

The Fool card in the Alice Tarot makes me feel like I could be standing in the field right behind Alice and the White Rabbit in the moment just before they pop down the rabbit hole. The beautiful woodland scenery really makes this card come alive. This won't be the last card by Karen Mahoney and Alex Ukolov in my Top 5's. 

4. Oak, Ash and Thorn Tarot

This has quickly become a favourite deck as the art work is so beautiful and many of the cards are able to stand as delightful images in their own right while working well with the rest of the deck during readings. The fawn on his wobbly legs in the dark forest evokes the message of starting a new journey early morning before the rest of the woodland creatures have wakened up. Just a beautiful deck by Stephanie Burrows and Adam Oehlers. 

3. Lili White and Lili Black

Is it cheating to have two cards in third place? Well, as I'm making up the rules, no it isn't! There's no Fool in these Fool cards but the glorious old trees clinging to the precipice with the deceptive clouds hiding the sheer drop do enough to give the impression that something's going to happen, any moment now. Different yet equally as stunning, I couldn't choose between these cards by Celia Melesville. 

2. The Mermaid Tarot 

First runner up is from a deck whose style I wouldn't normally choose. It's also a mass-market deck with card stock not everyone likes. Which just goes to show that a powerful image can speak for itself and drown out noise about the other aspects of a deck. I can almost hear the sound of the waves rolling onto the beach as this mermaid emerges from the water, her tail morphing into legs. If she has given up her voice for the chance to walk on dry land, this image speaks her message clearly. This is from a Llewellyn deck by Leeza Robertson and Julie Dillon. 

1. Forest of Enchantment Tarot

This couldn't be more different to the RWS image. It's another mass-market from Llewellyn and it has surprised me just how much this card stood out as my favourite. Why? Maybe because the Fool is the reader and the White Hart is inviting you, whoever you are, to follow him into the lush, mysterious forest beyond. The animal's gaze is soft but direct and makes me feel a bit uncomfortable but perhaps that's what's needed to get me out of my comfort zone? In the RWS you're an onlooker. You watch the Fool as he takes a leap of faith. In this card, you're the hero and it's your adventure. If you're willing to take it. This deck is by Lunaea  Wetherstone and Meraylah Allwood. 

Decks

• Universal Waite by US Games Systems 
• Smith-Waite Borderless edition by US Games Systems 
• Radiant Rider Waite by US Games Systems 
• The Alice Tarot by Karen Mahoney and Alex Ukolov, Baba Barock Ltd
• Oak, Ash and Thorn Tarot by Stephanie Burrows and Adam Oehlers, Three Trees Tarot Volume 1
• Lili White Tarot and Lili Black Tarot by Celia Melesville 
• Mermaid Tarot by Leeza Robertson and Julie Dillon, Llewellyn Publications
• Forest of Enchantment Tarot by Lunaea Wetherstone and Meraylah Allwood, Llewellyn Publications

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