Meaning: new beginnings, the start of a journey, trust, adventure, leap of faith, recklessness, dangerous behaviors, risk

The Fool, the first card in the deck but number zero, is about new beginnings. Think of The Fool as the start of something possibly risky but exciting at the same time. This meaning can vary depending on the creator’s depiction of the particular card, but generally, most fool cards mean something similar.

I like to sometimes think of The Fool as the beginning of a journey into the unknown or doing something potentially “foolish” but ultimately rewarding. The Fool = foolish… it’s easy to make that connection but, it is in the space of The Fool where knowledge and the gaining of wisdom can begin. However, depending on surrounding cards, it can take on a different meaning.

“Until you try, you don’t know what you can do.” -Henry David Thoreau 

For Beginners and New Users:

Light vs. Shadow Aspect

Each tarot card can be read in its light or shadow aspect. Light just means the card takes on a positive meaning versus the shadow, which is negative. This is basically the same as the more common way to read a card’s positive and negative attributes: “upright” or “reversed.”

Example: A light aspect interpretation of The Fool card is to look at possible risks in a new venture as enriching, versus the interpretation that one’s behaviors or circumstances have become dangerous, excessive, or destructive to one’s well-being, like in overspending, overeating and being reckless in some way (shadow aspect.) It really depends on the surrounding cards and the reader’s intuitive feelings about the energy.

The Fool + The Knight of Cups = new, exciting, adventurous, or passionate love with someone you’ve never met before or someone you never thought of getting with (light.)

The Fool + 5 of Pentacles = possibility of losing money due to risky, poorly researched, untrustworthy financial investments or feeling fearful of losing money due to new business/ financial venture. This combo can also be looked at as foolish, undisciplined behavior in spending potentially being consequential (dark.)

(These are just examples of interpretations, meanings might slightly differ depending on context.)