The Fool
Song Pairing
“New Soul” by Yael Naim. A fresh start in musical form. Lighthearted, hopeful, and full of possibility.
Astrology
Uranus, the planet of rebellion, innovation, and awakening. Often linked to Aquarius, which shares The Fool’s visionary spirit and love of the unconventional.
Historic Interest
Historically, The Fool has always existed on the edge of the tarot system, card 0, belonging everywhere and nowhere. In the Tarot de Marseille, she’s known as Le Mat, "The Madman," a wanderer seen as eccentric but potentially enlightened. In Italian decks, she’s Il Matto, "The Crazy One," and in modern playing cards, she survives as the Joker, the card we rarely use for anything. In early tarot games, The Fool was often exempt from the rules, neither winning nor losing. This freedom from convention mirrors her symbolic role: not a fool in the modern sense, but a sacred wild card, a divine spark of chaos, creativity, and new beginnings.
The Fool tarot card is a symbol of fresh starts, adventurous risk, and boundless potential. As card 0 of the Major Arcana, it invites us to step into the unknown with wide-eyed wonder and trust in the journey ahead. Whether you're beginning something new or feeling called to take a leap, The Fool encourages bold curiosity and emotional freedom. This is your permission slip to explore what’s possible before you need to know the outcome.
Vibe
Playful, free-spirited, wide-eyed curiosity and wonder.
Affirmation
I trust myself to take the leap.
Card Pairing
The Fool + The Star: This pairing is a call to leap with faith, not just into possibility, but into hope itself. The Fool’s bold curiosity is illuminated by The Star’s healing light, reminding you that even in uncertainty, you are being guided. Together, they say: begin with wonder, and trust that the universe is conspiring in your favor.
Kindred Spirit
Nine of Cups. The Fool is the wild wish; the Nine of Cups is its fulfillment. These two share a joyful, heart-led optimism. Where The Fool leaps into possibility, the Nine of Cups invites you to believe you’re worthy of joy once you land. Together, they remind you that your deepest desires are worth pursuing: not because they’re guaranteed, but because the pursuit itself is part of the magic.
Esoteric Connection
Dandelion. A plant of resilience, joy, and spontaneous growth. Dandelions thrive in unexpected places…cracks in sidewalks, empty fields…and teach us to bloom wherever we land. It reflects The Fool’s unshakable optimism, playful spirit, and ability to take root in the wild unknown. This herb speaks to the untamed potential of starting fresh and trusting the wind to carry your seeds somewhere beautiful.
Element
This element reflects The Fool's lightness of being, openness to experience, and trust in the unseen. Like a breeze lifting a feather, Air represents the currents of thought, inspiration, and possibility that carry the Fool forward into the unknown.
Misconception
The Fool doesn’t mean foolishness. It means fearless curiosity.
Full Interpretation
“What would life look like if I believed that following my curiosity was enough?”
The Fool is more than just the beginning. She represents the brave choice to say yes to something before you know what it will become. It’s a simple choice that can lead us down paths we never dreamed of. The story of tarot begins here, with card 0: The Fool’s Journey.
The Fool actually exists outside the linear structure of the tarot, hovering between endings and beginnings. She is a symbol of raw potential and a kind of brave innocence that dares to move forward without certainty.
It’s important to understand that The Fool isn’t naive, or “foolish” in the common usage of the word. She’s open and curious, standing on the edge of a beautiful journey. An odyssey is about to unfold because something is stirring inside her. An inner voice of wisdom whispering that the path ahead will reveal itself along the way. There will be hardships and ecstasy, all with a sense of anticipation and the feeling of being alive. The Fool is that feeling when you’re packing the night before a vacation to a far-off place you never imagined visiting. What will become of this adventure?
In my illustration, The Fool has climbed so far that there is no place left to go, but to take a leap of faith…in herself. She’s willingly stepping into the unknown not because she has no fear, but because she’s ready to trust herself anyway. She’s holding a flower as a reminder to always keep the beauty of this moment in hand, to understand that she can wield softness in a world full of edges. Her backpack is small: she carries only the things that truly matter. Her dog is just as eager for this journey, representing instinct and loyalty. He’s there to help her stay grounded as she explores the intangible and spiritual.
The Fool offers a quiet kind of courage that may not be loud, certain, or proven. It just needs to be awake and willing, even if you’re the only one who sees it. It’s a card that invites you to step out of your shell and explore a new path. When life gets redundant or static, it can be terrifying to make a change, but The Fool is asking you to experiment, to risk being vulnerable, and to welcome the unpredictable with curiosity and wonder.
Maybe you’re beginning a new creative pursuit or entering a new relationship. Or maybe it’s bigger: maybe this card is telling you it’s time to shift your identity or even reinvent your life. That’s a strength, not a weakness. There’s no shame in simply taking the first step towards becoming the person you want to be.
When the Fool appears, it’s also a call to loosen your grip on certainty and perfection. Life is asking you to participate fully, not flawlessly. You may not know where this road leads, but you are ready. The question is not, “Is it okay to change?" but rather, "Am I willing to begin?" The Fool is not asking for validation or permission from anyone.
When you pull The Fool in a reading, ask yourself: What new chapter wants to begin? What would life look like if I believed that following my curiosity was enough? Can I take this journey without knowing the destination?
You have the courage to take the first step.
“The Fool is that feeling when you’re packing the night before a vacation to a far-off place you never imagined visiting. “
Reversed Interpretation
When The Fool appears reversed, it may reflect a deeper hesitation: one rooted in self-doubt. Maybe you’re standing on the edge, longing for something new, but fear or a persistent inner voice keeps whispering a million reasons to stay put. You might be feeling restless, eager for change, but unclear on where or how to begin. Or maybe you're leaping into something prematurely, more to escape than to grow.
This is an opportunity to examine the source of your self-doubt. Are you afraid of looking foolish? (Remember, this card isn’t about foolishness). Are you rushing ahead to prove something, rather than tuning in to what you truly want? The Fool reversed isn't a negative sign. It’s asking you to pause and realign with your deeper intention.
Instead of avoiding the leap or throwing yourself into motion without meaning, try this: breathe, check in with your body, and ask what you’re actually yearning for. Is it attention? Is it permission? Is it a sense of safety or validation that you're waiting for before you act? You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to start from a place that feels like your own truth.
Pause and Reflect
What does “starting fresh” really mean to you: right now, in this season of your life? Is there something you’ve been afraid to begin because you don’t feel ready or qualified? A relationship you're hesitant to pursue? What if readiness wasn’t the requirement, only willingness? Where might you be holding back from something that could bring joy, growth, or adventure? Can you reframe this as a personal awakening?
Take Action
Go on a short, unplanned walk with no destination. Let your senses guide you: turn left because it smells good, follow a sound, stop when a bird catches your eye. Smile at strangers. Let yourself move like The Fool: open, curious, and unburdened by where it will end. When you return, jot down one thing you noticed that stirred something in you. It might be a moment of beauty, wonder, or anything that lit up your curiosity. It might be a lot more than one thing!