The Fool
☽ ☾
The Fool ☽ ☾
The Fool
Key Meanings
Upright: new beginnings, trust, adventure, free spirit, potential, wonder, innocence, purity, youth, spontaneity, freedom, trailblazer, wily
Reversed: reckless, rebellious, foolish, stagnant, apathetic, holding back, self-doubt, naive, careless, lacking enthusiasm, flighty
The Fool:
Archetypes
The Fool, The Innocent, The Jester, The Outlaw, The Rebel Without a Cause
Examples: Forrest Gump, The Fool (King Lear, William Shakespeare), The Joker (Batman Series)
The Fool:
Description
Numbered 0 in Tarot, The Fool represents all potential waiting to burst to life. As such, we see a young figure standing on the precipice with the light shining brightly overhead, illuminating the journey. The small white dog jumping in excitement represents the innocence and enthusiasm of the figure’s trusting nature, with arms wide open and an air of pure romance in the delicate white flower held between two fingers. The Fool appears ready to jump into the unknown of the world with but a small sack of belongings, surrounded by the joyful and encouraging color of a yellow sky.
The Fool:
Upright Meaning
Drawn upright, The Fool’s journey through the Major Arcana begins. The figure knows nothing of what they may encounter on their path but trusts the light of Divine wisdom to guide their path. When drawn upright, The Fool is a sign from the Universe to take that grand leap of faith toward your dreams. Believe that fortune favors the bold, and you need not fear failure as there are no mistakes, only opportunities for learning along this Fool’s journey.
The Fool also represents a type of high or mania. You may feel as though you are walking on air, with your head high in the clouds. Embrace this moment, knowing that life’s pleasures come in waves and feelings can last for mere moments. Seize the day and the energy to imagine a bright future for yourself and take the first step in that direction. The Fool is associated with Uranus, the planet of disruptive change and revolutionary thought. Often, the innocence of our seeming foolishness, free from rules and old programming, allows us to reimagine the world and discover our most innovative ideas.
The Fool:
Reversed Meaning
When reversed, The Fool (0) asks you to reflect on your next steps. Perhaps you are rushing into something for the wrong reasons. Often, the world tells us what we should do, but The Fool wants us to follow our heart. Likewise, do not chase fast success or fortune. Our journey cannot be rushed, and nor can we strictly follow pre-worn paths. While rules are necessary, we do not want them to bog down our natural free spirit.
The Fool reversed may also call you out for holding back your dreams out of fear of failure. If you are aligned with your purpose, you will never truly fall, however far the gap between where you are and where you want to be may appear. Reflect on whether or not your hesitation comes from subconscious fears or intuition.
At its worst, The Fool can represent the complete chaos of its associated planet, Uranus. Rebellion has its place in revolutionizing old and outdated systems, but it can also lead to self-destruction. Head the warning that too much hedonism can lead to burnout, existential crisis, addiction, and dependency.