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Exploring the Tarot – 0 The Fool

• February 19, 2010 11:12 pm

In this article we will be exploring the tarot card “The Fool.” Although now it is considered the first card in many decks, and numbered zero, historically it was the 22nd card of the major arcana. I spent some time the other night free associating in my journal regarding the image, using the Fool card from the Universal Waite tarot. I am now posting my free associating journal session here, virtually unedited, in the hopes that it will help others consider the card, its imagery, and what it means to them.

 The dog represents our ever present intuition. The Fool is ready to step into the abyss with seeming abandon. He must be careful not to step over the edge of the cliff, symbolizing the danger of being careless, unaware, or not thinking things through. This is a double edged sword, as we tend to over-think things. The message here may be one of balancing caution. Be free, and ready to take a leap, but be aware when you are walking the edge as not to fall. He is sure footed on a seemingly unsteady path.

The Fool travels light, with just his small knapsack. He is able to shed materialism and take only what he needs for the journey. We too must be willing to shed the unnecessary, and keep only what matters. We also must trust that we already have much of what we need inside ourselves, especially with intuition (the dog) staying right on our heels.

The Fool does not look back. Instead he looks forward and upward into the day dawning with possibilities. He has a look of acceptance on his face, one of hope, radiant with his internal excitement and promise. He has a look of freedom, as he faces the challenges of life with optimism.

The flower he carries shows a willingness to “stop and smell the roses” so to speak. He delicately grasps this small pleasure of life, without focusing on it too strongly. The white of the flower can signify innocence and purity. The light of the heavens shine upon him, illuminating him with an unmistakable radiance and lighting his way. He is on the top of the world!

Try this yourself. Hold the card in your hand and focus on the image. Close your eyes and try to see it clearly in your mind’s eye. Then grab a journal or notebook and write the thoughts that come to you unbidden. Try not to edit yourself as you go, just write freely and openly. A significant aspect of the tarot is that it is not only forever evolving, but also that, although there are archetype forces and universal meanings, it is also flexible. If you find a card really has a specific message in your eyes, don’t discount this intuition just because it is not listed in a book or accepted by the tarot community at large. Tarot is a language of symbols and how those symbols speak to you. Be open to the message, listen to and accept your personal interpretation. Even jot it down to add to a list of meanings you may find in your studies. Along these same lines, you will find that a card will occasionally seem to say something to you that it never has before, something outside of the ordinary meanings. Accept these as well. If you do not let the cards speak to you and through you, you will be doing a disservice to yourself and whomever you may read for.

Below is a list of some possible meanings of the Fool card as I have come to understand it through my studies and personal experiences.

These are some examples to use as a jumping off point as you learn. Trust your instincts.

When the Fool card comes in the contrary, or reversed, position, the message takes a different tone. Reversed cards can have an opposite meaning, a warning that you are straying from the upright message of the card, or a lessening of influences reflected in the upright message. A reversed Fool could signify that one is being too frivolous, not thinking things through, has lost perspective, is exercising poor judgement, is lacking follow through, making poor decisions, or is being indecisive, overly impulsive, irresponsible or negligent. It can be a warning to think things through and consider all the possibilities. And remember, when doing a reading, be sure to consider the placement of the card and the other cards that have come up in the spread as these are valuable clues as to the message you are meant to receive.

What does the Fool card mean to you?

~Anyanka

Want to study the tarot? The Witches Cupboard offers a wide variety of tarot books, and a multitude of tarot and oracle decks and starter kits for you to choose from.

Illustrations of the Universal Waite deck used by permission of US Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT. Copyright 1991 by US Games Systems. Further reproduction prohibited.

Related posts:

1. Exploring the Tarot – 1 The Magician
2. Tarot Reading Accuracy; a Lesson Learned
3. My Journey Through the Tarot

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