This new feature will be a long work in progress since it will showcase a labor of love: my new Terra Tarot Deck, one card at a time. The first card available for download is The Number 0 card of the Major Arcana: The Fool.



The symbology used in my rendition of the Fool includes the common and the more esoteric meanings of this card. First off, I have chosen to assign the Number 0 to the Fool in the tradition of many tarot theorists such as Aleister Crowley. Some theorists give it the Number 22, but in my mind,. the Fool should be at the beginning of the Trumps.

Since the theme of this deck is Terra, our Mother Earth, I elected to begin this illustration using the traditional backdrop of a natural cliff in a mountainous region. The Fool sauters along, in nonchalant bliss along the edge of these dangerous caverns. I chose to use the natural colors of blues and greens and daylight to provide the foundation for this card. The Fool himself combines both male and female traits with his ringleted long coiffure, classic Grecian facial features, slender lean body and colorful attire. On the back of his tunic you can see the Ouroboros, which is a symbol that is esoterically linked to the Fool, offering a deep message of the circle of life as well as the two sides of life and death.

The Fool has the traditional small pack on his shoulder which holds the symbols for the four Tarot suits: the cup, the pentacle, the sword and the wand. The mystic symbol for Air decorates his satchel. In his left hand, he casually holds a full blooming white rose and at his back, he feels the nip of a slender silver hound. His body is rather contorted as he ambles along, giving him a whimical air. Near his feet lies a blue key and at his right elbow, a mysterious temple awaits, with a regal eagle soaring above symbolizing clear sight despite the Fool's precarious position on the rocky crags.

I am presenting an online version of the Terra Deck for our Bella readers. Just click on the banner below to download your copy of the Fool. Right click on the image that comes up and save to your selected folder.