“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
In my opinion, there is no better sentiment that so
effectively sums up the idea of the Chariot (Major Arcana card 7).
This line is believed to have originated in a poem written
by Alexander Pope. The piece, entitled An
Essay on Criticism, attacks the literary critics of the day who were so
quick to pass judgment on the work of others – while at the same time never
quite creating any quality work of their own.
Although other notable figures of our past (such as Edmund
Burke and Abraham Lincoln) have used this line to relay messages of caution, I
prefer the initial interpretation as delivered in the original work by Pope.
Without getting into a full analysis of the poem, it is safe
to say that Pope had little respect for individuals who criticized the efforts
of others when they really had no basis for claiming expertise in a given area.
His anger was directed at self-absorbed, arrogant pseudo-aficionados who
claimed to have a real feel for the literary pulse of the era. One of Pope’s
biggest gripes was with the damage these self-appointed demagogues were doing
to the young writer’s reputation both within their own being and within
society.
Understandably, Pope found the critics’ irresponsible rush
to judgment both self-serving and counter-productive.
We all know people like this don’t we? These are the
Negative-Nellies of the world. They look for any reason to criticize your
progress and effort. Often times, they are cloaked as friends, co-workers or
relatives, and offer a feigned-concern for your well-being. They watch as you
undertake an activity they are too afraid to complete themselves. Sometimes,
they secretly wish for your failure – not because of a personal dislike for
you, but because they interpret your success as a sign of their own inadequacy. They see
that you have accomplished something great, and now they have no excuse to give
about why they are sitting on the sidelines.
The fact is these people will always be around. Just like the
ideas expressed through the Chariot card (from this week’s Fool’s Paradise),
critics will always be there and will attempt to drive you in a direction that
is really your polar opposite. Rather than perseverate on their negative
energy, your focus should be on the goal. There will definitely be trials and
tribulations. You can expect to fall and fail as you move toward your plans.
However, you will not be defined by your failures. Instead, they will serve as
stepping stones, turning points and inspirations.
I believe failures really are blessings in disguise. The
purpose of failure is to stop us when we are moving in the wrong direction.
Failure tells us what is not working, so we can switch directions and see what
does work. Think about it. So many great people in history experienced repeated
failure before they eventually succeeded. This struggle made their successes so
much sweeter for them, and motivating for us. Don’t believe me? Look up these
names: Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Abraham Lincoln, The Wright Brothers, Bill
Gates, Steve Jobs. Those are just a few.
My guess is these people had lots of naysayers around them,
but they did not listen. They embraced the energy of the Chariot and rushed in
with the enthusiasm and courage of the Fool. That is how we must live our life.
We only go around this way once and we don’t want to have regrets. When we
become like the Chariot, our higher-self triumphs. Even if we never reach our
targeted goal, our spirit grows because we kept our eyes on the prize. That
alone is one of the greatest victories we can achieve in this lifetime.
