The Fool Archetype

Nurturing the Magical Child

The Fool archetype represents journeying through life with a certain innocence, ready for any possibility the world might offer. Sometimes called the magical or mystical child, this is the archetype of manifestation and possibility. This past year I focused attention on cultivating consistent creative energy in my life, carrying the Fool’s image in my mind’s eye. We cannot begin something new if we aren’t willing to access this energy. Fools are willing to take risks and unbothered by the opinions of others – the foundations of a creative life. We will never grow if we aren’t ready to appear foolish and make mistakes. Accessing this energy, we feel courage and joy. 

The Fool moves toward the unknown with faith that everything will be alright, confident they are loved just as they are with nothing to prove. Trusting our belovedness is something that we unlearn as we become adults (or even earlier if we did not have basic safety in our childhoods.) 

The magical child represents a simple life, a wisdom that comes not from the mind, but from the heart, which can penetrate deeper truths than minds attached to convention. When we conform to a world that values productivity and efficiency at the expense of all else, this way of moving in the world gets lost.  

When we access the magical child, we live in a place of no limitations and complete faith in potential. We tap into energy that is not available to the rational mind, which has its place, but without other ways of knowing, it is limiting. Access to our magical child leads to the understanding that what we make doesn’t empower us. It is the energy we invest in what we are making.

Fool energy is not something we have when we are young and grow out of, but something to carry with us at every stage of life’s journey. To live as adults with access to the mystical child energy is not naiveté. With adult responsibilities and histories of hurt and disappointment, maintaining access requires practice. The challenge is to create structure in our lives to meet our responsibilities without crushing our spirit. While a delicate balance, it is possible to protect our youthful energy – spontaneity, curiosity toward the unknown, and flexibility – which is the foundation of creativity. 

How can we get rid of the need for approval from others? How can we become untroubled by uncertainty, an inevitable part of life? How do we embrace ambiguity, which is essential to creativity?

In the new book, Lessons From an American Stoic, author Mark Matousek writes that Ralph Waldo Emerson recommended rebelliousness as a countermeasure for balancing the herd-like mandate to behave and fit in. The rebel is the youth within us, the irrepressible mystical child. The nonconformity Emerson encourages promotes authenticity, which brings joy and vitality to ourselves and our communities.

I carried a picture of the Fool on a recent month-long road trip from Rome to the Dolomites, sometimes looking at it before my morning meditation. On days I moved to a new location, I had difficulty connecting to my sense of adventure. I was preoccupied with the logistics of getting to the next location, even when my destination was only a two hour drive away. I become preoccupied with the details and the thought of forgetting something, my body's discomfort not discerning the difference between an easy mountain drive and an all day international flight. 

The morning I was to leave my hotel in the mountains above the town of Brixen, driving a short distance to hike near Sasso Lungo Mountain, I planned a short walk on a path next to the hotel. Hyperaware of the time so that I'd be back by checkout, I encountered the concierge near the front door. He had given me helpful hiking tips during my stay, and asked if I had taken the path all the way to the little church on the hill with beautiful views of the mountains. I hadn't, and asked him how long it would take to get there and back (and if I could make it back by 11.) He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said, “There is time."

I interpreted his comment as a broader invitation to embody the Fool’s faith that everything will work out fine, and enjoy the day’s transitions. Today, there were likely no negative consequences for returning to the hotel slightly after checkout time. Still, it took a real effort to relax.

When I reached the little church, there was just enough time to take in the view and walk at a leisurely pace back to the hotel and collect my luggage by 11 a.m. Instead, I went inside and meditated on a bench. Returning to the hotel at 11:30, the concierge asked me how I liked the church before he went to retrieve my car. He said he was happy that I had decided to walk to the little chapel with the mountain views.

Practices

• Reflect on how you feel guarded, judgmental towards yourself, or too heavy with responsibility. 

• Ask yourself where you might take a leap of faith (and expect that doing so will put you in a panic). The practice is to be willing to take leaps of faith despite fear.  

• Think of a decision you would make based on what brings you joy and pleasure. (Not something that brings transient happiness, like buying something, but pleasure from celebrating who you are.)

• Where in your life can you engage the Fool’s irreverence to challenge the rules? Where might you bring in a bit of rebelliousness?

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