The Fool represents a special kind of wisdom: inexperienced, yet uncorrupted by the world. He has freedom that no other arcana can have. As they are always on guard, each in their own way, other trumps can only experience the free spiritedness of childhood through memory or reverie. This unique position makes the Fool the most powerful card of all.
There are many corrupt forces that would revel in ruining the Fool, taking his childhood from him forever. The Fool has no defence against this except that he is vaguely aware of what they are after. Slowly, the beast of human nature gnaws away at the youth until he grows into a new phase: the Magician, where he must learn to defend himself.
The Fool is a free spirit with an aura that brings joy and laughter. He is sometimes depicted as a jester or joker. A natural entertainer, he can be the life of the party without even trying. Through laughter, he breaks down barriers and brings people together. Being funny gives him leverage over people and situations in many ways. It even makes him incredibly seductive.
When this card appears, it could indicate the first step of a big change. The Fool is normally seen as a card of change, especially in circumstances when you must enter an area in which you have little or no experience. This card is closely associated with beginner’s luck. It often shows that you will have to navigate circumstances that are beyond your control without much guidance.
Travel is often represented by this card – especially travel to new places. Likewise, it can also represent a new direction in your career or social life. It could also mean a new romance unlike any you may have experienced before. The appearance of this card may help snap you back to reality if you are able to suddenly become aware of your surroundings through the reading. In this case, you would immediately realise how your situation could be handled. It may serve you well to escape from the grind of life for a while, or perhaps dedicating a part of your schedule to leisure.
This card does not suggest acting impulsively or to embark on a journey without thinking it through. Always remember to pay attention to the other cards in a spread to get the whole story. Where change often invokes fear, the Fool suggests that you should not have trouble putting your fears on the side. With the right composure, you can step over the lurking crocodile.
Questions to Consider
- Is there a risk that you have been unwilling to take that may actually be worth taking? Is there anything in life that’s stopping you from making an important change that would be good for you? When the Fool appears in a reading, it may be asking you to consider changing directions or letting go of something that has been holding you back.
- Do you worry about other people’s opinion of you? Do you suppress your true self to fit in? It may be time to look for a new peer group who accepts you for who you really are.
- Do you feel like life has become meaningless, or it’s all just a grind? Do you feel trapped in a worthless existence? Perhaps you just need to get away for a while to reset your perspective. Think about travelling to somewhere you have never been. You could also try to find the magic that exists in all things, even the most mundane.
Exercise Ideas
You could try something new. Anything that you have never done but always wanted to would be perfect. Just don’t do anything too dangerous, or if you must, at least take the necessary precautions.
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Surrealist |
Diary |
bifrost |
Langustl |
Rider-Waite |
Variations of the Card
Card number zero is like the odd card out of the deck. This card is not necessarily considered part of the Major Arcana. In the Rider-Waite, the Fool is portrayed as a carefree fellow who doesn’t seem to notice that he is about to walk off a ledge. As an old time standard-bearer, you may think our various Fool cards would resemble the Rider Fool more closely. Only the bifrost version is noticeably similar to Waite’s.
The Langustl Fool card resembles a pip more than a trump card. It shows the Fool’s tools, casting the viewer in the role of the Fool. It is as if you see your own hand holding your pilgrim’s staff, as well as your hat. The Fool appears to journey by water. The cross in the path reveals danger ahead.
Diary‘s Fool is portrayed by a boy bouncing through the forest. He demonstrates the same kind of carefree attitude we see in other renderings of the Fool. Surrealist has a dopey muscleman as the Fool. He is holding a mermaid in his left hand, and it seems his right hand is fishing for another. He may not be as dumb as he looks, as his technique apparently works. His huge toe gives an impression of awkwardness and clumsiness. Like in the bifrost version, Surrealist shows this scene in the rain.
