The Fool’s Journey
Posted in the History and Lore, Major Arcana category
Originating with Eden Gray, the major arcana in a Tarot card deck can be thought of as representing the journey of the Fool. The Fool is the zeroth Tarot card, and commonly represents new beginnings or naivete. The Fool’s journey is the symbolic description of the path required for a righteous and holy life. This journey is well represented in the illustrations of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. Each step in the journey will be shown in greater detail on the page referring to each major arcana, but the summary of the journey will be represented here to you. You can think of the Fool’s Journey as representative of the journey we all take in life to achieve purpose.
The Fool’s Journey
The fool begins life on a journey to find meaning and happiness. He begins with a simple innocence and faith.
The fool’s first encounter is with the Magician, who represents the power of positive creativity and the conscious world.
He next meets the High Priestess, who represents untapped potential and the mystic subconscious.
After learning about the nature of the self through these encounters, the fool next goes out into nature, as represented by the Empress. The empress also denotes warmth and nuture, which is exactly what anyone needs when embarking on a new quest.
The next encounter is with the Emperor where he learns about the structure and authority of the natural laws which guide the physical world. The fool learns that reality will not always bend itself to his will, and that he must follow rules and laws.
The fool next meets the Hierophant, who symbolizes education and integration into a belief system. Here the fool learns to be part of a larger existence.
Next the fool encounters the Lovers and through them the need and yearn for other people. The fool learns that the self is not everything and that others are necessary for a happy life.
Now an adult, the fool enters the world with confidence and pride. He is sure of himself and his self-disciple. This is represented by the Chariot card.
Life presents the fool with new challenges, which cause him to draw upon inner Strength and force him to realize the benefits of patience, tolerance, and the power of inner passions.
Eventually the fool becomes obsessed with finding the meaning of life, the answer to the simple question ‘why?’ and searches himself for answers, becoming like a Hermit at times.
After much soul-searching, the fool realizes the interconnectivity of the world as represented by the Wheel of Fortune. He accepts the roles of fate and destiny and the power of a universe without chance.
The fool now knows the causal chain of events that brought him to this point and seeks to rectify past mistakes. This is represented by the card Justice.
Eventually the fool will encounter some hardship that seems too difficult to bear. He will feel that his world is turned upside down, and that he has sacrificed more than he could possibly endure. It is at this point that he discovers the serenity inside himself. The Hanged Man represent this, a man who is upside down but seemingly serene.
At this point the fool casts off old habits and aspects of his life that no longer work for him. Through this he gains understanding that Death is not only an end but also the doorway to new beginnings.
After experiencing the emotional extremes of the past, the fool now embraces Temperance and delights in his health and well-being. He has integrated all the aspects of self into one complete package.
The fool’s pursuit of ever greater wonders eventually brings him face to face with his internal Devil. He confronts his internal hopelessness and ignorance and comes to understand the chains of the material that bind him to the world.
In order to free himself of these chains, the fool embraces sudden change as represented by the Tower. What seemed to be a fortress for the self was really his prison, and while casting this off may have been painful, the resulting revalations were worthwhile and meaningful.
After this tumultuous experience, the fool embraces serenity and is filled with the desire to share his love with the rest of the world. This inner peace is represented by the Star.
Yet in his state of bliss, the fool is susceptible to the illusions and misguidance of the Moon. The fool’s emotions are still not yet clear, and he finds himself bewildered and lost as deep-seated fears and anxieties rise from within.
Through contemplation the fool is able to shed the light of the Sun on all of these doubts and cast them aside. He feels a great vitality and is finally able to realize his greatness.
The fool now sees himself as he truly is. He has been reborn, absolved of his previous mistakes. The fool is now able to make a true Judgement about his life and his purpose.
Having now integrated all of the various aspects of his self, the fool is now able to reenter the World a complete and experienced person. The fool is now able to accomplish his goals in life.
A Journey Ended
The Fool’s journey is long and filled with strife but ultimately leads to inner peace and enlightenment. This symbolic quest represents what each of us must face if we are to achieve the same in our lives.
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