Significance of the Fool In the Fools Journey
The Major Arcana cards tell the story of the Fool's journey. They embody the major life events and influences that shape the human experience.
In each cycle of our lives, we progress through the Fool's Journey and face the manifestation of Tarot card at some point in the cycle, although not necessarily in order. Therefore, understanding the story of the Fool's Journey is vital to successfully interpret the Tarot cards of the Major Arcana.
This piece will dive into detail about the character of the Fool, the meaning of the Fool Tarot card, and how the story of the Fool lends itself to reading Tarot. The information here will be especially helpful for Intuitive Reading as you can better understand the messages your Intuition is telling you.
The Fool of the Major Arcana
The Fool Card is one of the most significant of the major arcana cards in tarot. The fool's journey is labeled as '0', and it can be the first or last card of the Major Arcana. This is because it represents the beginning of a new cycle, so like a circle, the Fool exists at the beginning and the end.
On a deeper level, the Fool is the zeroth card because he exists outside of his journey. He is the character progressing through it, not any one particular event or attitude.
In a traditional deck, the fool is often the first card you see when you turn the deck upside down. Looking at the fool as the first card in a tarot deck symbolizes the initiation of the inner self.
The card describes a time when an individual is embarking on a journey of self-discovery, where they'll gain a tremendous understanding of the world and universe at large; they'll also truly learn about themselves on the deepest level as well.
The Number Zero Numerology
The numerological meaning of zero is new beginnings and that anything is possible. The Fool travels from zero to experience a variety of major events and attitudes. He is not bound to anything, not held back by anything, and nothing is expected of him. The world is his for the taking... if he makes it through.
The fool's journey truly never is complete because once you travel throughout the cycle, you'll be presented with the next.
You will experience many fool's journeys throughout your life as you move through the different cycles and seasons of life. Zero states that you currently have a fresh start, no matter your back story, you have the potential to go in the direction of your heart's desire. In life, you will have many points where you stand at the very beginning of a personal adventure, free to carve out whatever path you choose.
Wholeness is also an attribute of zero, and it describes the feeling you may feel at the beginning of a journey or new opportunity.
Each person will discover their own adventures, shaping their future with their own free will. The Tarot Cards of the Major Arcana, beginning with the Fool, simply characterize the events and attitudes that exist as common themes throughout any human undertaking.
The Fool Card Symbolism
The fool card depicts a young man draped in a colorful robe, yellow boots, and a feather on his head.
He carries a small sack of his belongings on a pole, resting on his shoulder. By his side is a small dog that seems to be accompanying him along his adventure. One description of the dog may be that he is trying to get the fool's attention, but the fool's head is towards the sky, focused on the beauty above him, unable to hear the dog's bark.
The fool embarks on his journey on a magnificent sunny day. Behind him, a sun sits atop the sky, and the sky is painted with a bright, hopeful yellow. The magic of the day creates feelings of peace, power, justice, and freedom within the fool.
Unknown to the fool, he is approaching the edge of a cliff, which may lead to his demise if he doesn't ground himself and become aware of his surroundings.
Meaning of the Fool's Symbolism
The bright colors and weather of the day show The Fool's optimism. He is excited for his adventure, thinking of all the wondrous things to come. The feather on his head represents the 'flight' he's about to embark on and the new things he will experience.
He stands, however, at the edge of the cliff indicating he is unaware of the dangers ahead. He is so wrapped up in daydreamy optimism that he doesn't notice the peril he faces.
The mountains in the background represent the difficulties to come. This is a recurring theme throughout the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
He is called the Fool because he is naive of the struggles, obstacles, and growth experiences that lie ahead.
The Fool embodies the energy of being at the start of a new journey. At the completion of the journey (represented by the World card), he will be a totally different and evolved person, with greater wisdom and understanding of self.
The Fool in a Reading
Upright
When the fool appears upright, the situation at hand is full of hope, and you have the power to create a brand new experience for yourself. From here, you can experience fortune, meet new lovers, explore the world, and do anything your heart desires.
The situation at hand is very positive and beneficial, and you should pursue it as it's in alignment with your highest good. But, you must remember to be cautious and stay away from any potential challenges or obstacles before you.
The fool may also signify a sense of innocence in a tarot reading.
This could come after a period of hardships, helping you reconnect with your inner child and ignite your love for life again. Your inner world is beginning to become bright again, and its light is shining outward into your external world.
You're the main character of your story, and you're at a point of a fresh, new stage in your life. From here, you know that anything is possible for you.
The Fool Reversed
If the fool appears reversed in a tarot card reading, it may signify that you are being reckless within the current situation. You have your head in the clouds, and you're wearing rose-colored glasses. You aren't being objective and acting irrationally.
Currently, you make lack self-control, and the path you're walking may present a challenge for you.
The fool in reverse also symbolizes a lack of faith and a sign that you have no hope within yourself at this time.
The fool in reverse could also describe the situation at hand in this way, showing you just how weak of a foundation it has and helping you decide whether or not it's something you should invest your time and energy into.
If you draw the fool in reverse, it can also symbolize a delay or slow start along your journey.
If you're prepared to embark on a new project or begin a new path within your life, now may not be the right time to start. Give yourself enough time to prepare, understand any potential challenges, and start again when it feels right.
The Progression of the Fool
The Fool's Journey is a period of growth, knowledge, and experience. Throughout this process, you awaken to your inner truth and gain experience that helps you throughout the rest of your travels.
The first time the Fool steps from his innocence and hopefulness is when he opens himself to the magical energy of the Magician. The Magician is about harnessing your inner power and utilizing all of your strengths in order to create the life you dream of.
You should note that the Magician Tarot card has the symbols of the four Minor Arcana suits pictured on the table. This indicates that having everything necessary in order to achieve your dreams and realize your desires.
From the Magician, there is a wide array of happenings and attitudes that will manifest in the journey. (They will not all be covered here, but our program to learn Tarot reading dives into much more detail)
The Fool’s Journey concludes with The World. Through the adventure, the Fool has grown as a person and enlightened himself to better know the world around him.
Examples of influences represented by Major Arcana Cards
For a few high-level examples, the Fool will be supported by the feminine energy of mother earth. This is embodied in the High Priestess, which represents intuition and spirituality. In any undertaking, we pull from our spiritual resources and receive the mother-esque healing energy of our own manifestation of the High Priestess.
The Chariot represents times when we charge ahead in full force. The Hanged man gives us a sense of surrender, or "letting go" of things outside of our control. This attitude is especially important when we hit the inevitable lows of feeling overwhelmed. The Wheel of fortune describes the ever-changing seasons of life perpetually moving from one stage to the next.
We'd be remiss not to mention the Death card, the most notorious of the Major Arcana Tarot cards, which represents transition. Also notorious in the Tarot is the Devil card, which points to times when we succumb to the lower-frequency temptations and desires of the ego self. Encountering the devil does not mean we stop growing or have lost our way, it simply acknowledges that carnal destructive impulses affect us as humans.
In some instances, the Universe will challenge us with sudden upheaval, which is reflected in the tower. In our soul search, the Universe may throw us curve balls to see if we can uphold our values as in the Justice card.
How Tarot guides our experience
There are ultimately no rules in life, as we have free will, but our future will be the direct result of the virtue that we show when we are challenged. A fundamental aspect of Tarot is understanding what our values truly are, and how we can live true to them in whatever circumstances we may face. You must never let the light within you fade.You will have personal cards that stick out to you within the 78 cards of Rider-Waite Tarot decks. They might resonate with you because of a particular experience, or because you associate heavily with its energy.
Embracing the Fool's Journey
When the fool appears for you, recognize the power of this card and welcome it in its positivity and brightness.
The fool is a reminder of the importance of holding on to your hope and innocence to help push you towards new experiences to experience as much of the world and yourself as possible.
The world is your oyster, and you have the ability to travel through any route you desire.
Before the journey, make sure you're prepared and hold on to a bit of practicality and rationality, as this will help you navigate these uncharted territories without being blindsided by any challenges that present themselves.
Keep your chin up as you walk this path, feel the sun's warmth on your skin, and trust your Intuition to guide you to where you need to go.