April Fool's Day originated in times when people loved to play jokes on each other as sort of a fun way to welcome in spring, because as we have experienced, often weather fools us as we move from winter into spring.
Practical jokes and mischief are played to provoke laughter and humor. It was originally a holiday dedicated to the Roman goddess Cybele, whose blessing they invoked for a fertile planting season, and Hilaria was a holiday for being cheerful and merry, from which we get the word hilarious. Games, masquerades, mocking and jokes were the spirit of the time.
Hilarity and humor are attitudes that help us keep our sanity and balance our energies in stressful times. And who among us could not use a little more lightness in our lives? Research in recent years has proven that laughter can help boost the immune system, as do music and love. That is why I frequently use humor when I am talking with you. Humor is a great way to illustrate an idea and make a memorable point.
Another aspect being foolish is that often when we are trying something new or different, people might say that we are being foolish. However, it is good for us to remember that this is simply their opinion at this time.
How many of you have had someone wonder if you are just being foolish because you quit your previous employment to start your own business? Or they wonder how such a silly idea could become a real business?
The photo above is from one of my favorite tarot artists, Ciro Marchetti. What he did in his deck Tarot of Dreams is to make the Fool the beginning and ending cards in the majors for this deck. By bringing the Fool back into the center of the World card, he is showing us how what some might consider foolish behavior can lead to great success. Sort of another take on the old saying that great journeys begin with a single step.
Some people think that the Fool is the lowest card in the deck because he is numbered 0. And some people think that he is the highest card in the deck and position it in the end position among the major cards because they feel that the Fool is the only character who knows that he does not know everything. On his life journey, he learns all the major lessons: love, justice, overcoming obstacles, kindness, mentors, teachers, birth, death, honesty, family, friends, prosperity, health. And as long as we live, as long as we are on this Fool's Journey, our whole life, we always have more lessons to learn.
People used to say that a person who would leave home and venture out in the world was foolish because they might encounter dangers and unknown challenges and difficulties. Throughout history, it was common for people to spend their entire lives within 20 miles of the place where they were born.
Of course, the person on the Fool's journey is one who enjoys meeting new people, seeing new places and trying new things.
For this reason, many people call the major arcana cards from the tarot the story of the Fool's Journey through life because these cards contain all our important life lessons.
So take the opportunity to reflect on your journey through life this April Fool's Day. What are the things you have done that you thought were foolish?
And what were the things you have done that other people thought were foolish?
How did these things turn out? Which ones were stupid mistakes, and which ones proved to be strokes of genius?
That foolish feeling may be leading into your next big adventure. That foolish feeling may lead to setting off on a new path, expanding your life experience and your future prospects.
Are you feeling foolish today?
Happy April Fool's Day!
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If any of you has any idea you would like me to include in my newsletters, I will consider all suggestions.
Have a wonderful day! | 
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