The Fool walked over the trampled sunflowers away from Hermes and his stolen herd of cattle. He felt like he was nearing the ending of his journey.
A figure stood in his path. He could see that it wore a dress that flared out and whipped in the wind. He came out of the sunflowers to stand before a beautiful woman wearing a crown. On her one hand was a hawk and on the other was a bouquet of roses with bees buzzing around them. The long dress she wore lifted up around her like bat wings. It had designs across the torso, but the rest was black.
You are almost done with your journey, the woman said. I know it has been long and arduous, but I can tell you: it has been worth it. You now have all the knowledge you need to be comfortable and useful in your life.
She had a knowing smile on her face. Her dress moved like it was underwater. The hawk on her hand wore a hood and it tried to look around, but to no avail. The sunflowers began to rise up towards the sun again. Petals began to swirl around the two figures standing among the tall psychedelic flower forest.
You are most kind, the Fool said, bowing to the woman, but you are already wise and rich. I am but a poor dumb Fool who keeps forgetting his purpose. I appreciate your kind words, but it must be easy to be so positive, being who you are.
She laughed. This is who I am today, she said. I had to travel a great way to get here and overcome adversity and life’s riddles, just like you. I didn’t get this for free, and neither are you.
The Fool was ashamed of his quick judgment of the woman. He’d assumed she was a rich woman who got to play with poor souls, but she was just like him, a wanderer looking for answers.
I was a Fool as well, she said. I danced and wandered this world with no direction, but after my own journey, I decided to become wise. I took what I had learned as a Fool, I mixed it up with the experience of many great people, and then I combined all that with my instincts and the ability to remain teachable. I have amassed great wealth and comfort today.
That doesn’t mean you will follow my path, the woman continued, it just means that there’s hope you can change, and be something that you like seeing in the mirror.
The Fool was very comforted by that. There was something special about meeting someone else who had been where he currently was, and was now somewhere greater. All he wanted was a purpose. He didn’t quite know what it was, but the idea that it was out there to be discovered gave the Fool great solace.
She stood to the side and raised her arm to show the Fool the way, the way he was already going, and it gave the Fool renewed confidence.
You are almost to the end of your journey, the woman said. Now keep your soul open.
The Fool marched into the rising field of sunflowers, trudging with vigor and his chin up high. He didn’t think he would feel this kind of pride as an old man, but he did, he was proud of his journey. He looked back and saw the slight silhouette of the woman amongst the thick sunflower stems.
He headed towards a copse of cypress trees where mist rose from the ground and the air got thicker.