The Fool Tarot Card’s True Meaning: Love, Health and Money

Alternately the first or last card, numbered “0”, the Fool both starts and completes the 22-card Hero’s Journey through the Major Arcana cards of the tarot. It is one of the most well-known tarot cards, representing new beginnings, and with this new start the abandonment of something (or things) in your old life.

The Fool is a powerful, important and generally positive card in the tarot deck, in many ways indicating purity and childlike innocence. This card portends that important, challenging decisions lie ahead — decisions which usually involve an element of risk.

• Element: Air
• Planet: Uranus
• Astrological sign: Aquarius
• Key date: the first day of spring

Visual Elements and Symbolism

In the English Rider-Waite deck, the Fool card illustrates a carefree youth walking joyfully yet blindly off the edge of a cliff, his face turned toward the sun, clueless about what’s in front of him.

He carries nothing except a small hobo sack in one hand, and a white rose symbolizing innocence in the other. His faithful little dog is accompanying him on his adventure, barking out the warning that his next step could be fatal and their journey possibly left unrealized as a result.

The Fool is either blissfully unaware of the danger before him, too naive to recognize the peril, or simply doesn’t care about walking off the edge of a cliff.

The hobo sack containing all the Fool’s worldly belongings represents his having no worries, possibly due to his naivete and innocence, while the feather in his cap (symbolizing air) is pointed towards the sun, symbolizing enlightenment.

The card’s yellow background is sometimes interpreted as representing the Fool’s mental state, suggesting that his head is in the clouds and he needs to be grounded, while the sun can also be interpreted as the beginning of a bright new day.

The Fool represents freedom, not just physically but mentally, because he has no regrets, has left the past behind him, and is at liberty to start life anew.

The Fool Card as a Person

Naturally curious, open to new experiences and resilient, the Fool represents someone who takes a youthful approach to life.

Free-spirited and “of the moment,” the Fool isn’t particularly concerned about the future and can also be a little flaky. His strength is his detachment and ability to leave the past behind, his wide-eyed nature allowing him to benefit from new experiences that others might miss or simply take for granted.

Careers associated with the Fool include: comedian, clown, actor, social media, political satirist, and vagabond, among others.

upright

The Fool Upright

The Fool in an upright position indicates that you are on the verge of an unexpected and exciting new adventure.

This journey may require you to take a blind leap of faith, but it will be a rewarding experience that will contribute to your growth as a human being. It may also involve travelling to a new land or territories you’ve never visited before.

Love and Relationships

The Fool is a good omen if you’re single and looking for a partner, signifying that you’re currently able to manifest a romantic relationship very easily. Your future partner is apt to be fun, sexy, exciting and carefree — which is great, although it may not be the basis for a more serious, long-term relationship.

If you’re already in a relationship, the Fool could be suggesting that you do something impulsive, like elope or finally tie the knot together.

This is a good time to create your online dating profile, take chances with new partners you might not otherwise consider going out with, and just putting yourself “out there,” discreetly letting it be known to the world that you’re available. You may not find your soulmate at this time, but you can sure have a lot of fun looking for him or her.

If you’re curious as to how a potential partner feels about you, drawing the Fool indicates that this person, while not intentionally meaning to lead you on or deceive you, isn’t likely to settle down with you either, regardless of how much they may enjoy your company.

Career

The Fool is a great card to receive when you’re just beginning a new job or business venture, the only drawback being that you can be so enthusiastic about your work that you stop acting like a professional. Be careful not to focus on those elements of the job that you love so much — the creative, fun stuff — at the expense of the more tedious tasks also attached to the endeavor.

The Fool indicates that great things are in the awning, just so long as you let go of any self-doubt or fears you may have and are prepared to fully devote yourself to this new career direction.

Money

The Fool is a highly positive card when it comes to finances. It can mean a new project is about to pay off or that you’re in store for a raise at your job. Essentially, the Fool represents big opportunities for money and career advancement.

Health

The Fool is associated with health and vitality. If you’ve been ill you can expect to get well again. And if you’re already healthy, you can expect to stay that way over the near future.

reversed

The Fool Reversed

In a negative sense, the Fool represents recklessness, negligence, distraction and ignorance. The Fool reversed suggests that you may be living in the moment, but to such an extent that you literally are being a fool by disregarding the effect your actions have on others.

Love and Relationships

With respect to relationships, the Fool in a reversed position suggests that either you or your partner doesn’t take your relationship seriously.

It may be exciting, but likely involves your participating in risky behaviors you wouldn’t normally pursue otherwise. It could indicate that your desire for freedom and independence is souring your partnership and that there’s little future for you as a couple.

Career

This is not the time for spontaneity or starting new projects — you have enough responsibilities weighing you down as it is. The Fool is warning you, like the dog in the illustration, that you need to be wary of anything that sounds too good to be true, and that you simply don’t recognize the potential danger right in front of you.

Money

Exercise great caution when making financial decisions. While there could be some promising opportunities awaiting, tread carefully and do your due diligence before committing to anything. Things might not be quite as they appear.

Health

You tend to be a little clumsier and more accident-prone than usual. If you are suffering any health issues, this is a good time to try out alternative therapies, or to consider seeking out a new doctor if you’ve been unhappy with them in the past.

spreads

Your Past, Present and Future

The Fool in the past position indicates that the risks you’ve taken in life to date have set things in motion to soon reward you with great success. By trusting your judgement and following your own path, you’ve set the stage for unlimited potential.

In the present position, the Fool indicates that you’re entering a new phase in your life. While this phase could either be positive or negative at the moment, its true influence will be far more apparent to you in the future. Weighing all of your options and assessing risk is paramount to your taking the right decisions.

Drawing the Fool in the future position suggests you will soon be embarking on a deeply personal, spiritual journey. You will be setting new goals for yourself and amassing a great wealth of knowledge. That said, to see this realized you must be prepared to shed your old habits in order to fully embrace this new direction in your life.

Important Card Combinations

In pairs, the Fool is known to magnify the other card’s meaning. It also adds an element of surprise to the reading.

Fool and Empress

When paired with the Empress, the Fool indicates that an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy is in the offing.

Fool and King of Pentacles

The King of Pentacles represents the value of perseverance. This pairing suggests that a new job or business opportunity awaits.

Fool and Page of Swords

The Page of Swords card is a sign of diplomacy and energy. You have a hidden talent that needs to be nurtured and developed.

Fool and Lovers

The meaning of this pairing is obvious: Fool and Lovers combined speak of passionate love.

Fool and Magician

The Magician implies that an opportunity awaits to create a new, special project which incorporates your own unique talent and skills.

Fool and Three of Cups

The Three of Cups tarot card is a celebratory card. In a love reading, this pairing indicates that you are moving quickly into a romantic relationship.

The Fool: Yes or No?

When the Fool card is drawn it means important decisions will soon be coming your way. Your answer should be “yes.”

Frequently Asked Questions