Learn Tarot: The Fool Meaning
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#0 The Fool, Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
Every journey that’s ever been has started with the energy of The Fool — it’s that deep calling for new experiences, new lessons, and new opportunities for growth and advancement.
The Fool is The Seeker of Enlightenment, and the Major Arcana is The Journey of The Fool Towards Self-Realization.
It all starts with The Fool, and every Major Arcana card that follows The Fool is a new character he meets along the way — with lessons of their own to teach him before he advances to the next step.
If this is your first time learning about the tarot, you are quite literally The Fool right now — embarking on a journey of expansion and evolution. Exciting, isn’t it? Welcome to the tarot!
Keywords for The Fool:
New Beginnings
Taking a Leap of Faith
Trusting in the Process
A Brand New Opportunity
Innocence / Naivety
A Brand New Chapter (with new characters and storylines!)
Completely Un-Self-Conscious
Risk
Traveling
Associations:
The Element: Air
The Planet: Uranus
Card Symbolism:
The Cliff: The leap of faith — having the faith and courage to begin a new adventure.
The White Rose: Purity and freedom from base desires — a soul unburdened by material obsessions.
The Dog: Loyalty and protection — urging the Fool forward while also alerting him of potential dangers ahead.
The Red Feather: Transformation and the power of fire — having the vitality and courage to follow your instincts and listen to your intuition.
The Knapsack: Experiences and wisdom gained over time — the fool can pack light, because he has all the necessary tools for the journey already. The stick can also be seen as a magic wand — the power of manifestation.
The Floral Clothing: Impracticality and naivety — the fool isn’t dressed appropriately for the long journey, but his enthusiasm and willingness to get started remain unfazed.
The Rising Sun: A new day has begun, full of potential — a strength of spirit.
The Mountains: Ascending into higher consciousness — overcoming obstacles to reach peak of understanding.
Upright Meaning:
The Fool appears in a tarot reading when you’re at the start of a brand new journey — it represents that first step towards your personal and spiritual growth.
The Fool is young, and some would say completely unprepared for the long journey: “He doesn’t have enough supplies, right? Where exactly is he going, anyway? Does he have a daily itinerary? What is his destination? How will he know if he gets there???”
These things are true, sure. But do you know what The Fool has that naysayers do not? Faith in himself, and in the universe, that everything is going to work out for his greatest good. He’s confident that he will succeed because he’s willing to take that risk — and learn whatever he needs to learn along the way.
When we hold onto the energy of The Fool, life becomes a grand adventure. Sure there will be obstacles along the way, but aren’t there always? It’s about having the courage and determination move forward without fear. The Fool is completely and totally unafraid — he’s ready for whatever comes his way.
Every single journey, no matter how big or small, starts with the energy of The Fool. It’s about going out there and doing it.
Reversed Meaning:
Well, well — there are actually two types of Fool in the world. The first Fool is the innocent, naive, faithful Fool that begins his journey without much preparation.
The second Fool is the one that is so terrified of beginning new journeys, so meticulous about the “How, Where, When, and Why???” of the Journey that they actually never start in the first place.
The Fool in reverse challenges us to reflect on our self-limiting beliefs. What are we afraid of? Why do we criticize the journeys of others and fail to embark on our own? What does our intuition tell us — can we even hear its whispers?
The Fool in reverse reminds us that if we’re looking for 101 Reasons Why Not To Do Something, you’re going to find them all. What it really takes to turn this energy upright is to recognize you don’t know all the answers and outcomes — and you owe it to yourself to at least go out there and TRY.
Journal Prompts for The Fool:
Are you ready to take a leap of faith in your life? If not, what’s stopping you?
What do you imagine is waiting for you on this journey?
How could taking a risk like this change your life for the better?
Knowing you can’t carry much, what are you bringing with you on your journey? Is it experience? Values? List them out, they’ll be your North Star.
Affirmation:
“I embrace new beginnings with an open heart. I trust in myself and the journey ahead.”
Theme Song: Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz, 1998
Youtube Version of This Blog:
About The Author
Patrick is a professional tarot reader, author, and educator offering online tarot readings and structured tarot education. His work approaches tarot as a mirror for self-reflection, and as lived experience. The wisdom of tarot is the wisdom of our lives.
Patrick helps students and clients develop a grounded, thoughtful relationship with the cards; one that strengthens intuition and self-trust.
Based in Brooklyn, he works with clients and students around the world, and considers this work his purpose.
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