This week’s Harrow card, The Idiot, is not quite as harsh as it may appear. And like many Harrow cards, it does appear rather harsh. The card is dominated by a man wearing an oversized mask resembling a clown. His clothes are in tatters, his hands are tied behind his back, and he has been wounded by arrows. On either side of him, a goblin with a wicked grin is taunting him.
The Idiot’s meaning might be apparent just from the card’s title, but like many Harrow cards, it goes deeper than that. The card is from the suit of Books, which corresponds to intelligence, which is somewhat of a given. The card’s alignment of Neutral Evil, however, hints at its layered interpretation. While Neutral Evil is usually associated with evil performed for its own sake, it is also associated with a supremely self-centered outlook and an inability to see beyond our most immediate needs. This is especially true if we fulfill those needs with no regard for how it may affect those around us.