The Fool

And here we go.  I hope you have your walking shoes on.  The 22 card journey through the tarot is not always a leisurely one, but I hope you enjoy the many wonders along the way.

The Fool is a Major Arcana, or trump, card and is usually numbered 0, but may be unnumbered or number 22 in some decks.  Some don't even consider it one of the numbered cards, as all the other cards of the Major Arcana depict a stop in The Fool's journey.

The Fool is pictured as a young man standing on the edge of a cliff or precipice.  He has a small bundle of possessions in one hand and a rose in the other.  His little dog is at his heel.  The small bundle he carries contains all his worldly possessions.  He has picked a rose to appreciate its beauty and enjoy its luscious scent, after all he is an easily distracted fellow.  The Fool is on a journey, but he does not yet know where it will take him. He is so caught up in daydreams and fantasies of the all the wonderful things he will discover, that he doesn’t realize that he is on the edge of a precipice and in danger of falling.  The little dog at his heel is his companion and either is hurrying him along in excitement or warning him of the danger ahead.

This card has so many possibilities.  With his sack of belongings, The Fool has all he needs as he sets out to a new beginning.  With the contents of his sack, he is able to do whatever he chooses and become whatever he desires.  The rose symbolizes the need to stop and enjoy the beauty of the world around us, to observe all the possibilities.  However, he needs to be careful to pay attention where he steps and the path he takes, so that he doesn’t fall off that cliff and wind up looking the fool.

The Fool usually represents the querent (the person receiving the reading).  He usually is an indicator of a new start, a fresh beginning.  This card may appear when a person finds themselves back literally at zero and feels as though they have a clean slate, a second chance, etc.  Full of hope and optimism, they feel new and energized.  Like The Fool, they have no idea where life is going to take them, but they have decided to enjoy and celebrate, to rediscover the world.  The card should also bring an air of caution, for in their current excitement, they may not be paying attention to the danger in front of them.  Like The Fool they are headed for a cliff.  The querent should pay attention to those that are offering words of caution, such as a friend, co-worker, family member, the tarot reader, or even their own inner voice, as represented by the little dog.  The card is ultimately a signaler for a new beginning with a reminder to be mindful of possible pitfalls.

My Interpretation

The Fool isn’t necessarily a naïve individual, but he is a person who is full of optimism and expects wonderful things from the second chance they have been given.  This optimism may cause them to have a false sense of well-being and they may make a poor decision thinking that no harm can come of it.  The querent has all the tools at their disposal to make a good decision, but he/she needs to pay attention to the path before them so that they can take the best course. Should several people or their inner voice be telling them that the decisions they are making are bad ones or may lead to trouble, they should listen.

From another standpoint, The Fool is happy and excited.  He is looking forward to his journey and wants to discover the world anew.  The querent’s enthusiasm shouldn’t be dampened and they should take this new chance with both hands.  While this new chance is a wonderful thing, they shouldn’t forget the lessons of the past.  Each decision should be made with the potential consequences in mind.  To just act without thinking could cause them to lose face, or literally look the fool.

I feel that I should stress that the meaning of this card can be heavily influenced by the other cards in a spread.  Pay attention to the whole spread, as this card may only be part of a larger picture.

In my deck, The Gilded Tarot, the fool is pictured without his usual accouterments.  He has no sack of belongings, rose, or dog; yet, his fanciful nature is apparent. The mask hiding the upper part of the face seems to indicate that we don't quite know who he is or that his full potential is masked.  He is playing and almost unconcerned with the mystic symbols in his hand.  Dancing in the air, he is without any concerns.


Below is The Fool from the Rider-Waite deck, as well as from my The Gilded Tarot.  This is just an example of how varied the illustrations can be, even to the extent of leaving out what many consider to be important components of a card. 

The Fool from the Rider-Waite Deck

The Fool from the Gilded Tarot