O The Fool - 'A Leap of Faith'
Depending on the deck, 'The Fool' is either unnumbered or numbered '0' in the 22 cards that form the Major Arcana. This neutral number symbolizes the blank slate of infinite possibilities to come. It's traditionally depicted in the Rider-Waite school of Tarot as a young person standing on the edge of a cliff, head tilted to the sky, seemingly unaware that the precipice is just one step away.
'The Fool' from the Efflorescent Tarot
by Peony Archer
THE FOOL - Leap of Faith
KEYWORDS
Genesis. New beginning. Blank slate. Infinite potential. Freedom. Spontaneity. Impulsive. Innocence. Naivety. Instinct. Curiosity. Optimism. Childhood. A sense of wonder.
Immaturity. Rash or reckless behavior. Foolishness. Childish. Stupidity. Irresponsible. Thoughtless. Oblivious. Ignorant. Obtuse. Impasse. Paralysis. Apprehensive. Self-conscious. Despondency.
THE LIGHT
The Fool is filled with childlike innocence. The card emits a careless, carefree, adventurous and fearless vibe. We're transported back to a time when everything around us was brand new and full of wonder. The world was ours to explore and marvel at. Life was easy and our heads were blissfully free of worry. Consequences were not anything we wasted the slightest thought on.
This card represents a new beginning, the proverbial 'leap of faith' into a new project, a new life, a new outlook. We feel strangely unafraid, instinctively confident and hopeful, against all the odds. It's a very positive, optimistic card when located in a beneficial position in the spread (or upright). There's infinite potential and a sense of inevitability of forward momentum.
The Fool's intoxicating thirst for freedom, quest for knowledge and fearless attitude is the envy of those who lack the courage to live their lives perpetually 'on the edge'.
THE SHADOW
The shadow aspect of The Fool can be summarized with the saying: 'Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread'. The lack of forethought as to the potential consequences of our impulsive decisions can land us and others in very uncomfortable, even dangerous situations. The trick is to recognize when to trust our instinct to barrel headfirst into the unknown and when to hold back. Not an easy proposition in the best of circumstances. Is the uncertain promise of a major reward really worth the risk? Do we stand to gain more than we might lose? The answers might not be as clear cut as we would hope. As is the case with all Major Arcana cards, The Fool's energy is extremely difficult to counter.
The Fool can point to selfish, insensitive, immature, very stupid behavior, highly susceptible to manipulation. It's not malicious or intentionally destructive by any means, it's just the consequence of a warped, heedless thought process. If you're like me and don't work with reversals, look to surrounding cards and to your own intuition for clarification on how to interpret the shadow aspect of this card.
LITERALLY
The cards can at times be extremely literal, often sarcastic. As your intuitive reading skills grow, you'll find it increasingly easier to recognize when the cards need to be read quite literally.
In this lighthearted spirit, I've found that The Fool simply lives up to its name: It describes a complete fool! The one everyone points and laughs at. The class clown. The funny guy.
On a more mundane note, this card can be a reminder to spend more time outdoors and to pay more attention to your pets. So, what are you waiting for? Go for a walk with your dog! It's also a literal warning to watch your step and try to avoid accidental falls.
I have to be honest, this is my favorite part about Tarot readings. When the cards just get cocky and laugh at my attempts to find a deeper meaning in what is an obviously simple and literal message.
TAROT ACADEMIA
Even though it historically started as an elaborate card game for the nobility in 15th century Italy, the Tarot was soon re-purposed for fortune-telling and redesigned as a spiritual study tool. If we look to the Tarot as a mystical allegory to the mysteries of the Universe, as the spiritualists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw it, then The Fool is the key to the doorway into that esoteric classroom.
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| 'The Fool' variations Left to right: Thoth Tarot, Rider-Waite-Smith and Tarot de Maria Celia |
Also known as 'Le Mat', 'Le Fou' and 'Il Matto' in the French and Italian traditions, The Fool symbolizes the genesis of the soul in several mystical schools of thought. The Tarot is believed to be a pictorial account of the soul's spiritual evolution from awakening and self-awareness, towards enlightenment and immortality. Spiritualists like Arthur E. Waite and Aleister Crowley conveyed their understanding of this journey in their respective Tarot decks, the Rider-Waite Tarot illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith and the Thoth Tarot, illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris. Both remain true classics in the Tarot world and are studied in-depth to this day.
And it all starts with The Fool's leap of faith.
AN EXERCISE
Shuffle your deck thoroughly. Locate The Fool and the two cards on either side of it. Place all three on the table in front of you. The Fool, in the center, represents you or the person you're reading for. The surrounding cards will show you the areas of your (or their) life most in need of The Fool's energy at this moment in time.