Today I'll talk about the first card of the major arcana, The Fool.
The Fool is usually numbered 0 in modern tarot decks, occasionally it's numbered XXII. It's the only major arcana card assigned an Arabic numeral, there being no "zero" in Roman numerals. In old decks, particularly those published for use as playing cards, the Fool is not numbered at all. In the earliest decks the Fool is represented by a figure dressed as a court jester, a wandering beggar, or a wild man/madman. In later decks the Fool is often accompanied by a dog or other friendly animal. Early decks often depict a cat tearing at the Fool's clothes.
When laid out in sequential order the major arcana tells a story, "The Fool's Journey". It's the journey through life taken by every human soul, represented by the cheerful and possibly oblivious young traveler we meet in the first card.
At left, the Fool of the Rider-Waite tarot deck, 1909. Right, the Fool of a Tarot de Marseilles deck, 1780.
It's a bright sunny day and he's setting off at last. He's traveling light; everything he needs (possibly everything he owns) is bundled up in the knapsack hanging from the staff that's slung over his shoulder. That staff reappears several times, in various forms, as his journey progresses. In the Magician, the Hermit, the World, and others. In his hand is a blooming white rose, a symbol of innocence and growth. His faithful dog is trying to get his attention; possibly because of the ledge he's about to step over while absorbed in the view of the far horizon. How far of a drop is it? A few inches, maybe a couple of feet? A yawning chasm?
Upright, the Fool can represent a leap of faith, a venturing outside one's familiar circumstances and comfort zone. It can also represent taking foolish risks. A look at the surrounding cards can help with figuring out how to interpret the Fool in a reading; favorable cards, especially major arcana, can indicate that the querent is encouraged to take the bold step forward into something new, unfamiliar, maybe uncomfortable or even scary...but potentially very rewarding.
And because it's part of human nature to ignore warnings to slow down and look both ways, any surrounding cards indicating potential pitfalls, hazards, and even danger may end up being ignored. It's how humans learn, after all. The pattern is set when a baby begins to take his first steps; it's the bumps and bruises that cause us to self-correct and try again. Once walking is mastered, running and leaping become possible.
The Fool of the DruidCraft, Hanson-Roberts, Ethereal Visions, and Crow tarot decks.
In the reverse position the Fool bears a resemblance to the Hanged Man. They both represent a sense of things having fallen apart; plans didn't work out; somewhere along the way they took a wrong turn (or several wrong turns). Life has gotten out of control. It's become overwhelming; a retreat and reassessment are called for. The difference being that in the case of the Hanged Man, this is a deliberate surrender of the will intended to remove oneself emotionally from the chaos in order to calmly seek answers. The Fool reversed however hasn't yet learned the value of stepping back and taking a deep breath. His ignorance is not yet something he feels a need to change; by being deliberately obtuse he avoids honestly examining his own role in his present difficulties.
Left, the Fool reversed and the Hanged Man of the DruidCraft deck. Right, the Fool reversed and the Hanged Man of the Ethereal Visions deck.
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Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.
