Analysis: The Fool

The Fool is the first card of the standard Tarot deck; it is iconic in that it marks the beginning of a journey. When beginning the study of the Tarot, it only makes sense to begin with the card that most completely captures beginnings, journeys, and potential.

It is important to note that while the Fool is the first card, its number is actually 0. This is not an oversight on the part of the creators; it's a very intentional choice with a lot of meaning packed into it. 0 holds a lot of meaning. In all the references I could find, people talked about the inherent nothingness of the zero, but they also mentioned the contained potential. The zero has a strange connection to infinity, and in such, it gives that meaning to the Fool. He has infinite potential, and while he may be a blank slate, he is ready to embark on his path.

This idea of nothingness is perhaps illustrated more clearly in the Linestrider deck, which is what I have always used for my readings. With the face left blank and the body unfinished, we see that there is much to be discovered about the personality of the Fool. As he moves from the first sphere of the Kabbalah (The Crown, or potential) and into the second sphere (Wisdom, or intention), he will become more aware and his personality will begin to take shape.

When I first sat down with this card, my goal was to take my very basic understanding of its meaning and just right down all the observations I could make, especially those specific to the Linestrider interpretation. At first, I was worried that I would not be able to pick much up. However, it became very clear to me that when I open myself up to the messages of the cards, they are eager to tell me.

The term which kept coming to mind was "blind faith". This speaks to many of the commonly understood meanings of the Fool: naivety, optimism, confidence, etc. It is also compounded by the fact that the face of the Fool is blank and therefore quite literally blind. Despite the positive outlook of this card, it warns of overconfidence and recklessness: we see the Fool in most interpretations about to step off of a cliff. His ignorance may be blissful, but it may also be his downfall.

It stood out to me that there are few colors on this card, and that their placement is odd. The Fool himself is left white, a color signifying innocence and purity. However, his few possessions are colored. The bird and the sack are both blue, which felt to me as though blue was representing freedom. Blue is the color of the unending sky and the waters of the world; optimism abounds and movement is key. Meanwhile, the flowers in his left hand and the feather in his cap are red. To me, this very clearly speaks of passion and energy. The Fool is ready to leave his comfort zone and explore new horizons. However, the flower petals that fall behind him speak to the fact that as he gains new insights, he rejects older ideas and parts of himself and embraces new ones. Ultimately, he is open-minded towards everything he encounters. He is determined to reach his goal, even if he does not yet know what that goal is.

Finally, I was struck by the fact that the Fool seems almost to be defined by his circumstances. The only colors surrounding him are of things not a part of him. They are his material possessions, or his companion. The Fool has not yet gained the understanding which forms his person. Until then, he is bound to the wills of the world.

The Fool in the upright position has both positive and negative qualities, which I think is an interesting way to begin our Tarot experience. However, the negative qualities are only amplified if the Fool is found in the reversed position. This warns of irresponsibility or reckless behavior. Perhaps even mental illness. Instability is a major risk when you venture into the unknown and the reversal of the Fool can be a sign that the risk is greater than the reward. However, the reversal doesn't have to be so dark. In some readings, the reversed Fool may just be telling you to let go of anxieties which may be holding you back from taking the leap of faith.

In many ways, the Fool is the "Go for it" card! In readings, the Fool most often represents a journey which could or should be taken. The Fool seeks to escape situations where he feels tethered, and refuses to be held back. And while the Fool has his fair share of character flaws, he is still one of the most promising cards to pull in a Tarot reading.

Introductions Are In Order

I am a skeptical person. I have, throughout the years, struggled to maintain faith in higher powers be it a god, a force, etc. I have also managed to become quite cynical and pessimistic about the world at the same time. As a child, dreams of learning witchcraft and hunting ghosts plagued my every waking moment. I remember printing out "real life" ghost stories and pictures and putting them in a manila folder labeled "Ghost Research". And then my interests faded as I matured and came to realize that the world is big and the knowledge to be gained is vast, without having to put my faith in these things that had no basis in science.

Now, I find myself in a strange period of transition. First, religion is steadily gaining more prominence in my life again. I have found solace in the word of the Bible, even if my interpretations are so much different than that of most organized religions. I find myself craving something more spiritual in nature, more content with the unknown, and more open to things I previously wrote off as trivialized and silly.

A number of factors came together to finally convince me to take the plunge and buy a tarot deck. Some of these may seem circumstantial at best, and downright ridiculous at worst. However, is that not what faith is, in essence? A ridiculous leap into the unknown, or circumstantial evidence turning you into a devout practitioner?

The first thing that "happened", or more accurately just came to a point, was a need to fulfill a lifelong fascination with tarot. I have always found the cards intriguing; someone less skeptical might suggest a pull to them or some sort of divine nature fating me to find them. I am not yet comfortable with the term "fate", but in a romantic sense, that's what it feels like. From early childhood, despite growing up in a household where no one practiced magic and few believed in ANYTHING other than conventional science, I had an intense curiosity about what lies beyond the veil of human sight. I wanted a deck of my own so desperately. Over the years, I pushed that yearning away, calling it a childish endeavor not suitable for someone wanting to be taken seriously. However, the call returned to me recently and has been stronger than I had ever felt it before.

The second event which inspired this massive change in worldly position was a fool's journey to the birthplace of American witchcraft, or at least, one of them: Salem, Massachusetts. My boyfriend and I decided to go to Boston, and such as I might have been fated to delve into Tarot, so I was fated to find myself moved with the ancient eeriness and connection of Salem. I walked the brick pathway past the modern shops, and found myself feeling more free and in love than ever before. Salem was a place where I felt so disconnected from the "Modern Gods" - technology, social media, television, etc. And suddenly, my spirit was in harmony with the past. I felt connected to the women (and men) who lost their lives because they were accused of witchcraft. I felt empowered by the strength of the women who lived there now. I felt...alive. Walking in Salem made me feel more myself than I had felt in a long time. So when I saw a shop selling tarot cards, I knew what I needed in life. Even if I didn't have them then, I would have them soon.

And the final event which was the last stone to fall into place, was that I watched the first episode of Outlander. Now, I realize that after reading about my deep, emotional journey to Salem, hearing that the final piece was a TV show might seem downright mad. But in the first episode, the heroine watches a group of Druid women perform a ritual, which ultimately sends her back in time. And as I sat, watching what is, I am sure, not an actual ritual, I felt once more the call to explore that which I had shunned so many years ago. I felt a need to be spiritual, to open my heart to nature and to the forces guiding the world. Whether that force is just the expansion of the universe, the movement of the planets, or something else, I wanted to be a part of it.

After some research, I found a deck which I believe will suit my purposes perfectly. It is one of the few decks that "spoke to me", as they say. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted it. And when I read about it, it all came together so beautifully.

I chose the Linestrider Tarot by Siolo Thompson. Not only was I drawn to the artistic style of these cards, but the animal imagery pulled in the natural element that I was craving, and the most important aspect of all: the Linestrider tarot represents the straddling of one between the physical and spiritual realms. Perhaps, the journey from one to the next. As someone in transition or even caught between two vastly different perspectives on the world, this deck was everything that embodies me at this time.

Maybe as I grow in either one direction or the other, a different deck will become the one I identify with. But for right now, Linestrider seems to be the obvious choice.

So this all brings us here. I have ordered the deck and while I await its arrival on Tuesday, I have found myself deeply embedded in the study of these cards. I have been forming my own philosophies about them, and I have been collecting the information provided by so many others before me. Soon, I hope to acquire a true Tarot Journal (or Grimoire, as I will be calling it) to keep my thoughts in. However, I will be maintaining this blog as well, to chronicle my journey semi-publicly but also so that I must synthesize all the information I have into meaningful conversations.

Thank you so much for reading this lengthy introduction. If you would, please take the time to say hello, share your stories of how tarot had affected your life, or impart any other knowledge or advice you might have.

Until next time.
- Erebella