When it comes to tarot cards, there are many powerful & unique meanings. Typically, a traditional tarot deck holds 78 cards, 22 of which are Major Arcana. The Major Arcana are cards are considered the most important cards in the deck. Cards that are Major Arcana are thought to signify something in your life that is life-altering. But with so many different cards in a deck, we wanted to break it down & focus on just one today, aka The Fool.
The Fool card is known by many as a symbol for new beginnings. Although, there’s actually quite a bit more meaning to The Fool card that many don’t tell you. So for today, we’re going to delve into an in-depth analysis of the meaning because this powerful card, what it can tell you about yourself, what it tells you about your journey, & how this can impact your life overall. So, if you’re ready to have your fortune read, let’s dive in & get started.
The Elements of The Fool Card
- Card number: 0
- Element: Air
- Ruling Planet: Uranus
The Fool’s card image is conveyed in many ways, but one of the popular images shown on the card is a man standing on a cliff looking to the sky.
In this image, it is a very bright & sunny day with a yellow sky. The Fool is presented standing at the edge of a cliff, looking up in a care-free manner. In one of his hands, he carries a knapsack that displays what appears to be an image of an eagle. Held in his other is a white flower that seems to be growing. At his feet, a white dog is barking at him.
The colors of the card are portrayed very brightly, with hues of yellow, blue, green, & orange as the primary focus.
What we can pull away from the meaning just by looking at it:
- Many elements about this card stand out immediately. The first is a man standing at the cliff edge, looking to the sky in a care-free manner. He is not aware of how close to the edge he is, & if he keeps looking to the sky, he will fall.
- The next element is the use of yellow all over this card. Typically, the color yellow is linked with caution & a need to analyze a situation before moving forward. Think of it as if coming to a yellow light; you must stop & look both ways to ensure it is safe.
- The next element is the use of white. White is prominent in this picture in the sun, in the dog, the flower he’s holding, in his clothes, & in the mountains. This color typically links to purity, innocence & clarity.
- Another element is the knapsack he carries. This could represent secrets he’s carrying, or with the interpretation of the eagle head, could also mean strength & courage.
Now that we’ve analyzed the card’s elements, what does The Fool represent in a tarot reading?
Card Upright Meaning:
If the fool card appears to you in an upright position, it traditionally means a journey starts. This person is diving headfirst into a situation without looking to see exactly what he’s getting himself into. This could have to do with a new job, relationship, spiritual journey, & so forth. Ultimately, this card warns that if you don’t look where you’re headed, you might just fall off the cliff.
While this card may seem negative or intimidating at first, when you look into a deeper meaning, it’s really not. This card simply warns of an unpredictable future ahead, with obstacles that may arise. But ultimately, obstacles are what help us grow, become wiser, & make smarter decisions in the future, so is it really all that bad? This card is simply telling you to not get caught in a daydream, but to pay attention to all aspects of this journey to help protect you in the long run.
Card Reversed Meaning:
If you get The Fool reversed, the card bares alternative meaning. The meaning of the reversed card says that you are not ready for this journey. This could be personal fears, the inability to visualize this dream, or simply not feeling like the time is right. In whatever way you word it, something is holding you back & you are not taking the leap as you should be. This suggests that you are, in fact, being more cautious in your decisions, but your fear is ultimately holding you back from your full potential.
Overall, to receive The Fool in a tarot reading is not something to be taken lightly. Where it was upright or reversed, the card has deep meaning for your life that you need to pay attention to. So whether you’re getting ready for a journey or taking some time to step back & analyze the journey further, The Fool will help you prepare like no other.