The Western Gate

Loki’s Day

Akitu – The Babylonian New Year

Any festival that is not natural, isn’t really of consideration. What does it mean to say April 1st? why not the 3rd. As an anniversary it could be noted. i.e. as a birthdate/deathdate/ time something or other happened…. but as a wayfarer, it’s not a natural event like say the Spring equinox or the approaching Full Moon in Libra. This coincides somewhat with the ‘old’ new year ( and by this we mean the Threefold season of Spring, Summer and Autumn) as Spring is the rebirth (alike Easter/Oestra of nature.)

The origins of April Fool’s Day can be traced back to the late 16th century in France, where it was known as “Poisson d’Avril,” which means “April Fish.” It is believed that the custom of playing practical jokes on this day was first introduced by King Charles IX of France in 1564.

At that time, the Julian calendar was still in use, and New Year’s Day was celebrated on April 1st. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar was adopted, which moved the New Year’s Day to January 1st. However, some people continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1st, and those who did were mocked and made fun of by those who had adopted the new calendar. This mockery eventually evolved into the tradition of playing practical jokes on April Fool’s Day.

The tradition of April Fool’s Day spread throughout Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, with different countries developing their own unique customs and pranks. In SCotland, for example, April Fool’s Day was known as “Gowkie Day,” and people would send each other on absurd errands or tell them outrageous lies, Gowkie refers to the Cuckoo, seen as a trickster bird.

Personally, there is much analogy in the term, to be the king for a day as applied to Fools Day, when the jester/fool becomes the ‘King’, and then of course ceremoniously beheaded or suchlike at the break of noon or sunset as a votive oblation. As all good wayfarers know, neither God nor Master, and of wisdom when asked at the door of passing?¹ “Nescio”, we reply, the point of existence is continuous evolution and if all was known? Are we then stagnant. Indeed, the wiseman is the fool that declares himself the fool.

The cruel joke that the fool is lorded and treated as a king, believing themselves to be superior over everyone else, is still played out ironically when the ‘real’ head of they that sit on the throne return. And like our luckless Fool, now dispersed of, The youth and the young, the seekers and those who want change forever silenced by the objects sat upon opulent splendour. The young sent to war fighting for old peoples old, out of date reasons.
The only people who should wield power, as the wayfaring demand, are Mothers or Gardeners. It’s a concept that is lost on those who wish to accumulate, those who are ill and see both power and wealth in the same light. The value of a person is not determined by what they own, accumulate or influence, but by how they are fondly and lovingly remembered… The Egyptian ‘Ba’ ~ That distinct personality, the individual ‘soul’.
It is weighed by the feather, “but where, oh Maat, is the heart?” …is the heart heavy with want and alike the cuckoo, which will rob and steal and plunder to get what it thinks it needs? Or is it light, and whose touch is as the air we breathe, whose only nature then is to make gentle the passage of life to all we meet.
Alas, it is only in death when those, the kings, the leaders, the wielders, the CEO’s, the landlords and all the other manipulative hierarchy of deceit understand life’s true meaning, by then they have wrought misery and suffering to all those they have met and which is continuous in the heirs they proclaim to follow them.

So then, the question is, Who Is the Fool? to finish, here is an old Rhyme, used somewhat to remember the aspects of the Tarot.

There’s a fool that they all laugh at, he doesn’t care at all.
Living life as on a dare. now, who is the fool?
A Craftsman has gained insight and using all that skill,
will live by the tenets yet always flexible.
A Priestess has blessed wisdom, living in that light,
of knowledge revelation, she knows what is right.
Empress as marriage, that of wealth and grace,
a feminine distinction, becomes the fruitful race.
The Emperor the leader, power in his soul,
stable and convicted, aware of his own goal.
Hierophant of mercy, in ritual to serve,
religion or that of virtue, he’ll show you how to learn.
Lovers being tested, their trial has begun,
beauty is harmony, when sacred and one.
The Chariot of Victory, passes the ordeal,
triumph on the path if upon sturdy wheels.
There is Justice and honour, as balance in the air,
Two sides of one story will show you what is fair.
A hermit lay in solitude, reflecting on all past,
lives on discretion, cautious to the last.
The wheel of fortune turns, it holds all our fate,
the unexpected comes, it will be, come what may.
Strength in our heart, of love over hate,
that is the only inner strength that souls can never break.
A Hanged man in suspension, for this a sacrifice,
abandoning old values to regenerate new life.
Death reaps new eras, causing failure but change,
altering the status quo, to end the present age.
Temperance co-ordinates for fusion is divine,
where patience seeks the outcome, the outcome comes with time.
The Devil binds as bondage, violence or temptation,
to lust for things material is spiritual enslavement.
The Tower smashed to ruins, as dust return to dust,
Danger here ! the root of fear, will break down any trust.
The Star shines of hope and faith restores the future,
inspired by good omens, brings satisfaction pure.
The Moon shrouds dishonesty, slander and false friends,
deception around the corner, the unexpected trend.
The Sun of love and joy, it touches all our hearts,
health is also happiness that leads a perfect start.
Judgement comes to us all, for promotion or rebirth,
to readjust all things gone by, and all we do on Earth.
The World completes this destiny,
the end cares not for success,
That which is, shall always be,
there’s always life, no less.

1/ “The Door of Passing” ~ When traversing the paths by astral meditation or lucid dream, refers to imaginary ‘gatekeepers’ (Tylers) who will ask a password to enter. the answer is always “Nescio”.-‘I do not know.’ For want of a better understanding if interrogated further, As a ‘true’ Londoner born, we say ” I’m sure I don’t know, say the great bells of Bow” … but now we are heading into absurdity, Or are we playing the gatekeepers game?