REELING AND WRITHING VIII: A FOOL'S PROGRESS

REELING AND WRITHING
or,
Miss Dermark's 2015 Advent Calendar

DAY EIGHT

A FOOL'S PROGRESS
or
THE MAJOR ARCANA AS A MAP OF THE QUEST

The twenty-two Major Arcana of the Tarot deck, numbered from 0 to 21, portray archetypes of characters and scenarios that have reoccurred through the ages and across cultures in myth and fiction. When read in ascending order (from 0 to 21), these cards map out the structure of the quest story pretty well, as the journey of self-discovery of the youthful, androgynous Fool on the card numbered zero. The Fool stands for any innocent young person who ventures into the wide world to fulfil a mission, but also winds up discovering themselves. In my original writings, the Fool's Journey is the blueprint I follow most usually for describing my characters' quests. More than one character in the same story, since these have ensemble casts, embarks on a different Fool's Journey at the same time. In this article, we will discuss the motifs of the Major Arcana in The Stars' Tears, the first and second arcs of the Ringstetten Saga, and my latest project Pleasure Past and Anguish Past.

0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

So here are the character arcs in question:

Gerhard Wilhelm von Ringstetten:
0: Innocence: Born in Küstrin, a fortress on the border of Prussia and Poland, on a confluence of two rivers, he is born the eldest surviving son of the local commandant and his lady wife.
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments


Liselotte von Tarlenheim/Ringstetten:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments


Alois van Lijd-Ivanovic:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments


Hedwig Luise von Ringstetten/van Lijd:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments


Gustav Adolf von Ringstetten:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

Ekaterina Alekseievna Larina:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

István Esterházy:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

Kareena Isadora Violet Desdemona Fitzwilliam XIV:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

Asuka Akizuki:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

Catherine Saunier:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

Friedl Schönherr (née Friederike von Lieberecht)
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

Irina Alekseievna Larina:
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments

EXTRA!
KÉTKEDÉSVÁR
Rainer von Waldheim
0: Innocence
1: Activity
2: Secrets/Mystery
3: The Caregiver
4: The Authority Figure
5: The Mentor/Education
6: The Crossroads
7: Success
8: Strength/Tolerance/Self-Confidence
9: Introspection
10: Turning Point
11: Justice/Responsibility/Cause and Effect
12: Sacrifice/Worldview Turned on Its Head
13: Change/Transformation (Leave-Taking, Metaphorical Death)
14: Patience/Balance/Golden Mean
15: The Id/Unreason/Intoxication/Entrapment
16: Things Fall Apart/Shattered Worldview
17: Hope/Inspiration
18: Dreams/Illusions/The Subconscious/Deception
19: Clarity/Understanding/Enthusiasm
20: Revelation/Resurrection/Awakening/New Beginnings
21: Full Circle/Fulfillment/Accomplishments