Every journey has a beginning and our tarot journey starts with the Fool. Usually, the Fool card is depicted as just that — someone starting their journey!
Appearance
The Fool, also known as the Jester, can show someone in a fool’s costume, but that’s not always the case. Usually, when discussing the Fool card, it’s less about the silly idiot and more about someone who doesn’t know very much but is ready to learn more. That’s why the Fool is more often shown starting a journey than in a jester outfit. Even if the fool is not in a jester outfit, they are usually depicted in colorful outfits to show their free spirit.
Meanings
These are just a few meanings the Fool card can have when it comes up in your spread. A tarot card can often of many different meanings that can be interpreted in all sorts of ways! The meanings I give can be used as a little cheat sheet if you find yourself stuck, but don’t be afraid to stray from the guide and decide for yourself what the card is saying.
Upright:
- A new beginning
- Innocence
- Freedom
Reverse:
- Recklessness
- Childishness
- Naivety
How to use the Fool in writing
The Fool can represent a lot in writing. For example, it can represent the start of a story. It can also represent the main character, as they are likely to also be starting their journey, just like the Fool. When you pick up the Fool while doing tarot, here’s what it could mean for your writing:
- Start or add something new. Introduce a new problem, a new character, or even a new setting.
- Let a character’s ignorance take over their common sense
- Have a character take a chance at something without thinking much of the consequences
- Let a character break away from something that has been keeping them down
- Create a setting that is completely empty, ready to be inhabited with something new!
- Have a character foolishly bite off more than they can chew. Let them take on a challenge that’s obviously way too tough for them (whether they actually succeed or not depends on you!)
Another way to use the Fool is, when you want to start a new project, shuffle your deck and search for the Fool. Once you find it, look at the card above it and the card below it. Those cards are now your prompts for writing. This can also be used with the Magician!
Those are just some examples that I thought of. Feel free to come up with your own prompts when you draw the Fool!
And there we go! We’ve started our way towards learning each of the tarot cards. We have a long way to go, but it all starts with one small step. What do you think of the Fool card? Do you have any personal interpretations on what it means? Feel free to let me know in the comments!