what is the fool’s journey?
hello, all! i’m glad you’re here today. today, i’d like to go over what the fool’s journey is in relation to tarot. if that interests you or you feel called to continue reading, please do so! 🔮✨
although not all tarot readers view the major arcana as the fool’s journey, many interpreters do. to these readers, the major arcana represents the many various stages in an individual’s journey to inner growth and enlightenment.
from this view point, the major arcana cards are like markers on your personal journey, beginning with the fool (card 0) and ending with the world (card 21). in this way, the fool is the earliest bit of awareness and the world represents enlightenment and fulfillment.
however, that’s not to say that you’ll experience these markers in order, from 0 to 21 — you’ll likely experience them out of order. the fool’s journey shows us that fulfillment and enlightenment are out destiny — the end goal — and that we’ll eventually realize our true purpose.
now let’s jump into the fool’s journey!
the fool is very representative of beginners and beginnings. we know the fool is a simple soul. still, he has the naive, innocent faith to make the decision to take this journey. when he begins the journey, he’s like a newborn: anxious and freshly exposed to the world, but still ready to embrace anything. we can see this from the typical fool card itself. we see the fool looking forward to the future, full of hope and excitement, but at the same time, he’s on a cliff’s edge and is thus unaware of the challenges he’ll face.
the magician + high priestess – 1 + 2
after he begins his journey, the first two characters he encounters are the magician and the high priestess. they act as the balancing forces that make up the world as the fool and others like him see it. the magician is more of a positive force, representing our conscious awareness that allows us to affect the world through our own power and concentration of will. opposite the magician is the high priestess, who symbolizes more of a negative force. she’s our mysterious unconscious — the unrealized potential in all of us.
the fool gets a little older and a little wiser. he’s now more aware of his surroundings. here, he meets the empress who can be thought of as a mother figure. she represents nature and sensation.
the next person the fool sees is his father figure, the emperor. the emperor symbolizes authority and structure. through this father figure, the fool experiences rules. he finds them to be frustrating of course, but through the emperor, he learns that sometimes they’re necessary and begins to understand the purpose of rules a little more.
after visiting with his mother and father figures, the fool leaves home to continue his journey through formal education. he nexts encounters the hierophant, representative of organized belief systems. the fool is more aware of world views and can understand knowledge. he becomes intertwined with culture and starts to identify with a group, which gives him a sense of belonging. as such, the fool enjoys showing just how well he can conform to society.
like many people, the fool eventually faces strong sexual desires. this is a pretty significant change because in the past, he was only focused on himself. now, he wants a partner. the lovers represent balance. the fool needs to figure out what his beliefs are, so he begins to questions the worldview and received opinion.
now, we can consider the fool as an adult. he has a strong identity that’s all his own. he triumphs thanks to discipline and willpower. we can think of the chariot as the fool’s ego. he’s in control of himself and proud of it. the fool’s success is all he might want — for the moment.
however, life throws new challenges in the fool’s way. suffering and disappointment become clear and forces the fool to develop his resolve. he also discovers both patience and tolerance at this stage.
the fool is consumed by his own quest for answers. this is represented by the hermit – the need to find deeper, more meaningful truth. instead of looking out, the fool begins to look inside himself. he wants solitude away from society and might even look for a teacher to help during this part of his journey.
as time goes on, the fools starts to see how everything is interconnected. the wheel of fortune is like the mysterious universe we’re all a part of, in which the parts work in harmony toward the whole, progressing it forward. the fool might realize all the events that led him to this turning point. after reflecting on this, he’s ready for action and his sense of purpose and destiny has been restored.
the fool begins to reminisce on his past. he can see the cause-and-effect moments that brought him to this point in his life. he can now take responsibility for past actions — good and bad — during his life. the fool might now make amends for the bad. for the slate to be wiped clean, justice has to be served.
the hanged man represents a personal cross, and the fool encounters his during this period. it’s an experience that seems too difficult to endure. this is when the fool gives up and lets go. he’s defeated. he’s lost. but even through these difficulties, he discovers a beautiful truth: by giving up his control, everything works out. the fool is open and vulnerable and he seems martyred. but in reality, he’s actually at peace with the events that have occurred.
the fool is ready for a big change. he cuts out his old bad habits and removes all the non-essentials in his life. he begins to just appreciate the basics. this is the death of his old self and the birth of his new self. although the change seems to break him, he rises. this helps him transition to a more fulfilling life.
here, the fool realizes the need for balance, especially when it comes to the stability of temperance. he finds equilibrium. because he’s experienced extremes, he becomes happy to enjoy moderation.
at this point, the fool is face-to-face with the devil himself. the devil is representative of the ignorance and hopelessness inside all of us. he’s also a symbol of materialism. the price of this ignorance and hopelessness is simple: it’s despair.
so, how will the fool escape the devil? the tower. this is his release, through sudden change. the tower is like a fortress of our own egos. although it seems to protect us, it’s really more like a prison. sometimes, it’s only when a monumental crisis occurs that the walls of our tower can break. this revelation makes the painful change worthwhile.
the fool experiences serene calm. the star is a beacon of hope and inspiration. the fool has trust that replaces the sheer negativity of the devil. he feels joyous and wants to share this joy with the rest of the world.
but this bliss that the fool experiences makes him vulnerable again — vulnerable this time to the illusions of the moon. here, he’s susceptible to false truths and fantasy. the moon does inspire creative imagination through bizarre and beautiful thoughts. however, anxiety creeps in too. the fool might feel lost again.
the sun gives the fool lucid clarity. the fool again feels the goodness of the world. the sun symbolizes vibrant enthusiasm and energy. no challenge seems too daunting to the fool now and he can realize his greatness now.
finally, we see the rebirth of the fool. at life’s center, he sees joy, not fear. because of this, he feels absolved. here, he doesn’t just forgive himself, but others too. here, he makes a deeper judgement about his life. the fool realizes the reason that he’s entered this life.
because he’s realized his true purpose, he reenters the world. he uses all his parts to become whole. he’s actively involved in the world for good. through this journey, he’s realized his place in the world. even though the cycle has ended, he never stops growing.
Bunning, J. (2007). The Fool’s Journey. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from http://www.learntarot.com/journey.htm
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