The Fool — The Major Arcana
The word Arcana comes from the Latin word Arcanum, which represents a sacred secret or mystery that one must discover. The Fool is related to the Major Arcana and signifies major life lessons you’ll learn on this path, that of new beginnings and living in the future!
The secret paths of the Major Arcana represent the journey of the Fool, in which the Fool learns new lessons with every step of the way and overcomes obstacles and gains wisdom from lessons learned.
The Fool — The New Beginning
The path of the Fool represents leaping into the unknown and learning new lessons on the way. The Fool’s Spirit craves a new experience, an adventure that he must embark upon regardless of the outcome. This urge Feels like an itch that must be scratched!
“Uranus is my ruler and symbolizes freedom and liberation and Saturn is my sub-ruler, symbolizing restrictions and lessons to be learned on my journey. Uranus feels like a seven year itch that must be scratched. Uranus makes me want to explore. This planet is a rebel with a cause. I am being sent on a new path because Uranus says change is inevitable!”
“I wonder if the planet Saturn is going to teach me a new lesson I have not yet learned? I have a strange feeling I’ll learn something new because my name is the Fool, but they also call me ‘Quick Step’ because I am spontaneous and unpredictable!”
The Fools Ruler’s — The Planets Uranus and Saturn
Did you know Uranus is the planet of the future and this planets purpose is to help the Fool break away from the past and take a risk? However, when Uranus turns retrograde, this energy adds an unexpected spin on the situation. The Fool might decide to hide out because he doesn’t want to resolve something or he might release his pent up energy and burst out of hiding and shock others and be off on a new beginning!
Did you know the planet Saturn is the Fools teacher and represents restrictions, limitations, delays and authority figures. Saturn’s purpose is to teach the Fool mastery because he is going to make many mistakes through trial and error. The guidance provided by Saturn is similar to a school that imposes rigid standards, belief systems and rules or to put it another way, “The School of Hard Knocks” because Saturn is always watching the Foo!
Murphy’s Law — Retrograde Motion
Retrograde motion also represents the concept of Murphy’s Law because if something is ready to go wrong or change, it usually happens when during retrograde motion!
Uranus retrograde may be a time when you’re ready to seek your freedom and make drastic changes! You may feel like the outlaw who wants to fight against the flow of the current because you’re ready to leap forward now, not later!
Saturn retrograde brings you into a time when you’re going to reevaluate what you want to do.
Saturn retrograde relates to the time when you’ll feel uncertain and very uncomfortable with proceeding forward.
You may Delay your decision or just say, No or even End something entirely because you will not let others push you in a direction that you are not ready to initiate.
The Story about the Uranus Clock
An article in the Occult Review of July 1916 entitled ‘Some Astrological Predictions of the Late John Varley by his grandson, John Varley’, offers a clue. The article gives the story of a number of predictions made by Varley and what actually transpired.
He was… in the habit of consulting his own horoscope each morning and bringing up directions etc. On one particular morning… he was evidently ill at ease and though he had an appointment, he did not go out; and about 11 in the forenoon he gave his watch to my father, telling him to take it to a watchmaker in Regent Street and have it set to Greenwich time… he explained that there were some evil aspects in his horoscope, which would come into operation a few minutes to twelve that day.
He was so certain as to the evil effects that he might not go out, fearing some street accident. He said, ‘I might be run over or a slate might fall on my head.’, that he was uncertain whether his life or his property was menaced, but he saw in the figure that it would be sudden. The difficulty arose from the fact that the effects of the planet Uranus were not yet understood by astrologers and his agitation increased as the time approached.
He asked if my father was sure that his watch was put to Greenwich time and complained that he could not go on with his work. Sitting down, he said two or three times, ‘I feel quite well, there is nothing wrong with me. I am not going to have a fit or anything of the sort.’ Then, rising from his seat he came to my father saying, ‘What is it to be? The time is passed. Could I have made some mistake in my calculations?’
He took some paper and a pencil to go through the figures again – just then there was a cry of fire from the street. He rapidly made a note in his astrological book as to the effects of Uranus. The house was burned down, all his property was destroyed and unfortunately he was uninsured.
Permission granted to use this article by Deborah @ skyscript.co.uk. Credit: John Varley, Some Astrological Predictions, Occult Review, July 1916. Article posted by Kim Farnell (When & why did Uranus become associated with Aquarius)? http://www.skyscript.co.uk/ur_aq.html, December 2003.
The Story of the Fool Tarot Card
The Fool is enumerated zero in the Tarot and symbolizes independence, freedom, a new beginning and starting over again. The Fool embarks on his new journey, unsure of his destination, bound by no plans and indifferent to possible complications along the way.
Innocent and carefree, he walks his dog along his path near the mountain’s edge — unaware of the dangers surrounding him. As he sets off blindly, the Fool blithely risks plunging off a cliff from sheer carelessness. Luckily, his faithful dog keeps him safe by nipping at his feet to warn him that he is perilously close to the edge.
He feels all the possibilities of a fresh new start, his stomach swirling with butterflies. The yellow sky, which matches his boots, reflects his cheery optimism and he is vitalized with every step he takes. Looking like a special star — a veritable white starburst — the star guides the Fool on a new spiritual journey, on his new quest to follow his bliss. The starburst is enumerated zero, indicating that he is starting afresh.
The snowcapped mountains in the background signal that summer is far from here and a chill hangs in the air. The snowcapped mountains indicate his aspiration to soar higher than ever before. With spring on the way, the feeling of new origins surges inside him.
His white shirt is symbolic of purity and the white rose of purity carried by the Fool assures him that his new adventure repays his every step. However, the rose also has thorns, oracles that tell of a few stinging events to befall him along his path, a warning that fails to dissuade him.
His colorful tunic with red sleeves is radiant with blooming flowers and suggests his creativity, blossoming with energy and action. A knapsack holds his belongings and his dog (symbol of faithfulness) prances at his side.
Rejoicing to be on the move again, he yearns to explore all the possibilities before him. He looks forward, not back.
My Interpretation of the Fool Tarot Card
The Fool is connected to the planets of Uranus and Saturn, which stand for new beginnings, sudden changes and learning new lessons on the way. He reflects the new journey that you’ve undertaken or perhaps the journey that you want to begin, a journey caused by a longing in your soul that calls for a change.
This card also tells you that, in the past, you have made a few mistakes. However, you feel you have learned from those experiences, for without experience there can be no growth.
The Fool represents growing into the person that you need to become as we all do throughout our life experiences. Everyone makes mistakes but from our mistakes comes wisdom. The Fool heralds a new path with all its twists and turns, leading to a new change.
I have learned that if the Fool shows up as the first card in your reading, you need to take a closer look at the question you have asked. Possibly, you have failed to heed a warning or perhaps a fog of miscomprehension prevents you from seeing a situation clearly. The Fool signifies a warning that you’re not listening to your gut feeling and you’re neglecting your intuition.
The Fool is enumerated zero, a perfect number for this card because the Fool is not sure where he is going but he has the desire to leap into the unknown. This card is positioned at the beginning rather than at the end of the deck because of the learning experiences the Fool encounters during his journey. He has a quest, a dream to realize, and under its spell he is naïve, adventurous and fearless.
Unaware of the dangers that lie ahead, the Fool would impulsively step off a cliff or into a big rabbit hole in search of his dream, for he does not think about consequences but simply goes on his merry way.
This youthful way of thinking is something we lose as age overtakes us, and as we age, we begin to fear change.
However, the Fool thinks with a young, innocent mind, as one for whom new experiences hold no dread.
Rather than sitting idly and waiting for life to come to him, he pursues it with vigor.
Upright. You will leap into the unknown without fear of what lies ahead.
Reverse. You made a bad decision or you’re not ready to leap forward.
Timing: Shockingly unexpected, immediate or 1 – 30 days.
Note: If you get the Fool and Magician crossing each other, in your Tarot Spread, you get the Joker (the wild card).
The wild card brings trouble because the Joker’s plans are in action and these plans were pre-planned. The Joker is cunning, unpredictable, and, sometimes, a troublesome person that is seeking revenge.
This article is also located on Lotus Tarot (tarot card meanings). You can also find me on Lotus Tarot if you are interested in a reading. http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/live-readings/Safina/chat