Fools Belong - Vision Forward

Vision Forward- Mantecon Studio

FOOLS BELONG (this was originally written in 2019, but it seems as appropriate as ever)


One of my mentors and teachers was the late Angeles Arrien, cultural anthropologist, educator of indigenous cultures, and spirit weaver.

She had the gift of gently nudging her students from places of fear to the embodiment of visionaries.

I fondly remember her rubbing her delicate hands together and in an ever so coy manner-shrugging her shoulders up and down, and as if magically becoming an elf, would say in a sing-song voice, “Don’t move the way fear wants you to, instead begin a foolish project, like Noah did!”

She was referring, of course, to the story of Noah and the Ark,
in which a flood is on the horizon and Noah receives a vision to build a vessel.

Angeles’ statement is one of the most visual and auditory memories I have of her.
Over the years, I have referred to it in cheering myself and others on with creative endeavors.
But, what does being a fool really mean?

A fool can be one lacking in common powers of reason and understanding, but also one fearless in revealing emotion- and helping people laugh at absurdity and hypocrisy.

For me, I have felt the most foolish in life when experiencing the sensation of being a misfit. This is usually the feeling of a deep divide- of not belonging to the self.
When I am separated from self, I am thrown into fear.
Feeling a deep, inner sense of belonging is a life-long practice for me.

Noah was a visionary. He saw the future forward.

He belonged to himself enough to move beyond fear- fear of overwhelming outer stimuli of an impending flood. Noah's ark can be viewed as a metaphor for the collection of humanity where difference is embraced, as well as a vessel holding and brewing our creative ideas into focus.

In the tarot deck, the Fool represents new beginnings- stepping off the edge and having faith in the unknown, belonging to the entire universe. The ultimate risk taker.
What might actually appear foolish could be just what we need to step into the abyss and unknown.

What is going to be your foolish project as you move your vision forward this year?

I would love to hear more… Comment below!

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Thanks for reading,