Have you ever had someone, or something, that you wanted so much that you were willing to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation? I’m not saying risky, I am saying a time where maybe you tried a new restaurant, a new outfit, hair colour, or drive somewhere that you’re unfamiliar with the route? These are maybe small examples, but to some very real ones, as well as ones that take a certain amount of energy and preparation to do.

This is where I find tarot energies, like The Devil and The Fool, play into everyday life. The Fool asks you to take a leap of faith. To trust something new and unfamiliar. To believe that higher powers are leading you to something wonderful and creative, and hopefully abundant. However, in order to bring these energies in, one must take that first step. For example, maybe there is a new restaurant open that you and a friend want to try. How willing are you to make the reservations? To drive to a new location?

Then we come to The Devil. This card can bring forward many negative or apprehensive emotions. However, The Devil is also a choice. It reminds us that the desire can compel us to do things we may not always appreciate later. It can also cause us to create so much fear that we hesitate with our choice and that can lead to various results.

So if we look at the example again with the restaurant, The Devil would keep us stuck in the negative response. It would have us worrying about various factors like how going somewhere new is stressful for route planning, we don’t know if we will like the food, the potential dress code, etc. But the Fool encourages us to move forward and just try.

I also believe that this seemingly innocent decision is rather minor, when compared to larger scheme of life. But is it really? Ask yourself… who would you be willing to go with to this new place? Who wouldn’t you? Now, what if instead of a restaurant it was helping someone move? (I’m sure now you have a better picture of who you are willing to feel uncomfortable or “put out” by, and who you would not, LOL!)

The reason I am looking at these two cards is because these energies have been on my mind this past week. Sometimes during readings there are questions that circle around doing something for love, whether that be for a person or for something we enjoy. But what if we look at it instead from the point of view of asking yourself: Who would you be uncomfortable for? And then ask yourself why. Once you have the answers, you have a better understanding of yourself and what drives your motivation (whether it’s a healthy habit or not). If you ask yourself this question and you’re like yeah no, I don’t want to make myself that uncomfortable or for that person, then cool, you can move on. The question and answer circle is complete. Yet, if you answer “yes”, I will be uncomfortable for this person, is there a limit as to what you will or won’t do? This is the tie back into the Devil card.

This is not to say the Devil or the Fool are all bad or good. They can be appreciated as a “flip of a coin” type of energy. This is also about sometimes we need to put ourselves into different situations or be uncomfortable for a loved one. Perhaps we go to a movie we aren’t particularly excited to see. Or we go to a work party we don’t really know anyone. But if one person asks and you say no, and another person asks the same thing and you say yes, maybe ask yourself why. Is it because of the specific person that asked, or is it more your own hesitations (and the Devil energy) that is taking control?

Another thing to consider is when is a fear keeping you safe, and when is it hindering your growth? The same can be said when considering the Fool. When is it good to take the leap, and when is it better to hold onto stable ground and wait??

These are just some random thoughts that were twirling through my mind and wanted to share. I also wanted to explore a little more of how The Devil and The Fool energies could work together, and to your benefit, or sometimes hold you in a stuck position. Perhaps there’s a situation (or common thread) in your life that you can see these two energies competing? I would love to hear your thoughts!

-Brandy