Tarot Pull: The Fool

This week, we’re sticking with the Major Arcana, but this time it’s definitely not by random chance. 

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you’ve probably noticed I’ve begun obnoxiously posting about THE HIEROPHANT, my adult paranormal horror-SF novel. I’m headed into the “query trenches” with the manuscript, and I’ve been having a blast sharing concept art as we move into the next phase. 

Pictured: The Fool from the Ethereal Visions deck

Starting out a new leg of a journey could be enough of a basis to focus on The Fool card. Above everything else, The Fool is literally the beginning of tarot. It is Point Zero where you’re looking out at the road ahead. It’s a card packed with potential and new beginnings.

That’s not the main reason I chose to focus on The Fool card this week, however. 

THE HIEROPHANT utilizes four archetypes of the Major Arcana to represent the four major characters of the novel. In addition to The Hierophant, these include The High Priestess, The Magician and The Fool. In fact, The Fool is the first archetype the novel leverages to form the framework of a character’s goals, motivations and conflicts (GMC).

Let’s dig into this card and get to know The Fool a little better:

Pictured from left to right, The Fools of the Star Spinner Tarot; Ethereal Visions deck; The Rackham deck; The Wild Unknown Tarot; and the Tarot Del Toro

Pictured: The Fool from the Wild Unknown deck

Traditional keywords for The Fool:

Upright - Beginnings / Innocence / Spontaneity / Free spirit

Reversed - Holding back / Recklessness / Risk-taking

For more information on the traditional interpretation of The Fool card, see Biddy Tarot’s article here.

Pictured: The Fool from the Rackham Tarot deck

One of the things I love most about this card is the well-rounded and logical nature of the Archetype: there is a clear correlation between its upright meanings and the reversed ones. Living life to the fullest as a free spirit can be a beautiful thing, but it can easily tip over into recklessness. Spontaneity can spark off wonderful adventures, but there’s a fine line between being spontaneous and taking risks. 

Being The Fool requires some kind of delicate balance, or you may tip too far. It means paying attention to where the fine lines between innocence and stupidity exist. Being The Fool is a wonderful and terrifying thing.

Pictured: The Fool from the Star Spinner Tarot deck

When looking at the cards in this article, you’ll notice they are all fairly consistent in their representations: someone (usually a male figure) is setting off on a journey. In the Rackham deck, The Fool is represented as a seasoned traveler making big strides along the path. The Wild Unknown depiction of The Fool highlights innocence as a baby bird prepares to fly for the first time. The Ethereal Visions version of The Fool emphasizes the eagerness and enthusiasm of the archetype as he sets out. Meanwhile, the Star Spinner’s Fool plays with the jester aspect of the card…the joker who may not have any answers at all. 

Pictured: The Fool from the Tarot Del Toro deck

It’s the Tarot Del Toro deck’s depiction of The Fool that really pulls all these pieces together via the character of The Fawn from Pan’s Labyrinth. Fawns are tricksters; yet, they can also be wise and bring good fortune. They teeter on the edge of moral ambiguity and can represent child-like wonder or the mortal’s folly. As quirky as this particular deck can be, the use of The Fawn as The Fool is the perfect choice.

The archetype of The Fool is complex despite what the name suggests, but it always relates to a journey— what happens next depends on The Fool’s careful balance. Do they embrace the wisdom to navigate around the pitfalls of the journey ahead, or do they leap straight into the storm with reckless abandon? Even The Fool doesn’t know until they’re already on the road.

One last note on The Fool that I found while reading the Tarot Del Toro’s excellent companion book by its artist, Tomas Hijo. As I’ve mentioned before, the Major Arcana tells a story on its own. It’s actually a fun tool to use when confronted with ‘writer’s block’ (article on that coming down the pike). When viewed this way, The Fool is the main character of the Major Arcana. They are the person traveling the path and encountering the various archetypes. When The Fool pairs with other Major Arcana cards, it reveals more about the character’s journey and what nudges them along in the story.

According to Hijo, when The Fool is paired with The Magician, it signifies “the necessary preparation of the tools for the journey.” It just so happens that The Magician of THE HIEROPHANT is indeed the master of the tools which will send the main character on her journey. He is the person solely responsible for preparing her way with all of the tricks, skill and manipulation only The Magician can bring.

Next week, we’ll crack into The Magician’s world to explore the many sides of this wily archetype. 

Until next time, stay creatively and perpetually weird!

~Allison

Yours truly repping all The Fools