Bard: The Steadfast (or Enlightened) Fool

Now we use all five fingers and see where they take us.

The Bard is the thumb, the finger in opposition but the one that makes it all work.

Let’s review the whole Fool/Finger thing:

The pinky is the smallest finger, and represents the beginner’s mind. The simple fool. The Dunce.

The ring finger is the weird one that gets decorated. The one that doesn’t work like the others. This is the silly fool. The Jester.

The middle finger is the one we use for catharsis and emotion. This is the sensual fool. The Clown.

And the pointer is the one that judges and pokes. This is the scorning fool. The Joker.

Now, the thumb works in opposition and in concert with the other four fools.  This is the transformed fool—the one that has taken all the counterculture gifts of the five fools and turns them into a force of transformation. Turns them into a force of healing and renewal.

This is the steadfast or enlightened fool.

Think of bards. They have a sparkle in their eye. They have a lute. They know stuff and will sing about it in a metaphoric way. They move from town to town and bring the news of other lands.  The bard lives in “no matter where you go, there you are”  but passes through town like a gentle brook.  Bring the news, bring the truth and move on.  

The Bard keeps the humility of the Dunce.

They keep the levity of the Jester.

They keep the shadow-work of the Clown.

They keep up the commentary of the Joker.

And as one hand, the Bard brings transformation.