Are you ready for new adventures!? The Fool tarot card is the first card in the major arcana, representing a new beginning and, consequently, an end to something in your old life.
The Fool tarot card is numbered zero (0) and doesn’t have a specific place within the Tarot card deck, yet this card is not any less important.
In fact, its placement speaks to the strength of the Fool card in the deck.
You are entering into a new phase, one that is very different from any other. Now is the time to trust and go with the flow.
The Fool Key Facts
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Fool tarot card meaning, and its connection to love, work, and life, below a quick overview of some facts and the most important words connected to the Fool tarot card.
| Upright | New beginnings, innocence, adventure |
| Reversed | Recklessness, fearlessness, risk |
| Yes or No | Yes |
| Numerology | 0 |
| Element | Air |
| Planet | Uranus |
| Astrological Sign | Aquarius |
The Fool Tarot Card Description
To fully understand the Fool tarot card meaning, we will first take a look at the illustration, its colors, and symbolism.
The Fool tarot card depicts an innocent soul, walking joyfully and excited into the world. He is gazing upwards toward the sky and is seemingly unaware that he is about to topple over the cliff into the unknown.
He carries nothing with him except a bindle, containing all his worldly possessions.
The white rose in his left-hand shows, as white would suggest, purity, freedom. The explosive decal on his clothing represents potentiality.
At the feet of the fool is a small white dog. He represents loyalty and protection, that encourages the fool to charge forward and learn the lessons he came to learn.
The mountains behind the Fool symbolize the long journey and its challenges yet to come.
The Fool Tarot Card Meaning
The Fool tarot card is the number 0 of the Major Arcana, which stands for the number of unlimited potentials. Therefore it does not have a specific place in the sequence of the tarot cards. Its place is either at the beginning or at the end of a sequence.
The Major Arcana is often considered the Fool’s journey through life. As such, he is ever-present and therefore needs no number.
When you are feeling butterflies in your stomach because you are so excited about new goals, this can be that you are in the Fools state of mind.
To see the Fool tarot card generally indicates that you are on the verge of an unexpected and exciting new adventure. This may require you to take a blind leap of faith.
There will be a rewarding experience that will contribute to your growth as a human being. The new adventure could be a literal one and may involve traveling to a new land or territories you’ve never visited before.
“Sometimes we need to take the first step even if we can’t see where we’re heading. It’s called faith. It’s risky. It’s amazing.”
The change this card can bring will usually be a welcome one. You can also see it as a call to the risk-taking part of your own character.
The card inspires you to open up new areas in your life. With that comes a mixture of anticipation, wonder, awe, and curiosity.
The Fool Reversed
If you’re a tarot beginner, you might be wondering what on earth a “reversed tarot card” means. Well, it’s simply a card that appears to be upside down from your angle of vision, just like the image below of the Fool tarot card.
In this paragraph, we will talk a bit more about what it means if you’ve pulled the Fool in the reversed position.
In relation to its upright description, where the Fool is the infinite potential for a new journey in one’s life, the Fool reversed would be the infinite potential for absolutely nothing of value to come into being.
The Fool in reverse represents being reckless, and novice behavior when pursuing a new venture. It indicates that you start a lot but don’t finish anything and that you are literally acting like a fool by disregarding the repercussions of your actions.
You may excuse this as a journey to “find yourself”. Yet, you may be highly disappointed in where you ultimately find yourself if you fail to stop acting foolishly.
“All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience.” — Henry Miller
This card is here to warn you that now is not the time for spontaneity and freedom. You must finish what you have started and deal with your responsibilities before you can safely move on.
Be sure that you don’t get lost in your own thoughts and not actively ‘doing’. We all have ideas, but it is only through action that these ideas materialize and have value.
The Fool Tarot Career Meaning
With the Fool tarot card in your career and work, it is time to go for that new job or start your own business that you’ve been dreaming of. The opportunities are truly endless with this card.
For some, this means moving to a new state or country, especially if paired with the World tarot card. For current projects, it means you are attracting innovative ideas and being sparked with new energy.
Pursuing a pipe dream might be looked down on, but not when the Fool tarot card is in charge of a reading. Following your heart, even spontaneously, can lead to financial success.
- Go for that new job/promotion/project
- Start your dream business
- Be open for new ideas
- Don’t let fear hold you back and follow your heart
The Fool Tarot Love Meaning
Combine the fool tarot card with love, and you are about to embark on a new romantic journey.
If you’re already in a relationship, this might be a new chapter like an engagement, a wedding, or even a baby.
If you’re single and looking to mingle, the Fool in a love reading signifies that you’re going to be able to manifest a new romantic relationship very easily and carefree.
The meaning that should be extracted from this is to be open and inviting to new and unexpected people in your life.
When pulling the fool in relationship to love, it is a good time to put yourself out there and take new chances with partners you might not otherwise consider dating.
This card encourages you to trust the unknown and adopt a more optimistic and hopeful outlook, celebrating and reclaiming your inner child.
The Fool is there to show that you can never really tell what lies ahead, and you can only greet it with joy.
- Be open to new people in your life and go on a date
- Trust the unknown
- Get ready to take your relationship to the next level
- Celebrate and reclaim your inner child
The Fool Tarot Health Meaning
The Fool is a card of strong energy. If you have been ill or struggling with your emotional/mental health, the Fool can represent a new lease on life and feeling uninhibited.
Every situation is different, but being true to yourself and focusing on meeting your own needs will help every area of your life improve.
- Be true to yourself
- Show some self love
The Fool in a Yes or No Question
When the Fool card is drawn it means important decisions and change will soon be coming your way. Your answer to a Yes or No Tarot Question in a one-card spread when picking the fool should be big “YES.” Let go of worry and doubt, things are going to work out in your favor.
The Fool Tarot Card and Numerology
The Fool is the card numbered zero. Zero is round, it forms a circle and thus represents totality and cycles. Yet it’s also empty and represents emptiness, openness, and nothingness.
Zero is the beginning. It is purity and innocence. It is defined by absence.
You could easily get lost meditating on the concept of Zero and that can be a fun way into the world of Numerology. You may even imagine yourself as the Fool while you meditate on the open void of the journey that is Zero.
The Fool Tarot Card and Astrology
The Fool is about carefree energy, innocence, and following your own drumbeat. The depictions of the Fool are often free-flowing and airy.
Right away, it makes me think of the Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Of the Air Signs, Aquarius is the best fit. Aquarius, ruled by Uranus, is the power of independence and freedom— the ultimate catalyst for breakthroughs and wiping the slate clean.
The Fool Tarot Card Combinations
When you pull the Fool tarot card, it always has a strong influence on the entire reading. If the Fool is pulled with other Major Arcana cards, together they will rule the message.
The card combinations below are some of the most telling of all possible pairings.
The Fool and Death
Although the Fool is one of the most beloved cards in a tarot deck, the same can’t be said for Death.
These two cards are like night and day but have a solid message when drawn together: things are ending and a new beginning is on the horizon.
As simple as this may sound, we as humans have a hard time with change. The Fool walks alongside death as a reminder that the only thing constant in life is change and embracing it is a must.
The Fool and the Devil
Like the pairing above, the Fool tarot card and the Devil also have a positive theme when pulled in the same reading.
If you have personally drawn these cards, you’ve probably felt a lack of faith in at least one situation or area of your life recently.
This is normal, but you don’t have to live in this negative vibration. Look around. Are there ways that you could bring about a fresh start? Now is the time to take a crazy chance!
The Fool and the Hanged Man or the Star
If you’ve drawn these three cards together or the Fool tarot card with either the Hanged Man or the Star, this is a good sign.
Now is the time to let go of what worries you and simply have faith that your stars will soon align.
It is easy to let fear get the best of us, but to do so will hold you back from what is sure to be a bright and positive future.
Practice ‘blind faith’ and walking on water, even when it seems as if you will soon sink.
The Fool Tarot Card Designs
Although I write all the descriptions based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, I use other decks too. It completely depends on my mood and the kind of reading what kind of deck I use. Below I added some of my favorite depictions of the Fool tarot card.
Olivia M. Healy 
A Little Spark of Joy 
Eileen Oberlin 
Deirdre Tanton 
Nightshift Nest 
Sonia Lazo 
Get The Modern Way Tarot Deck Here
The Fool Tarot Card FAQ’s
The response and questions I received from my readers (you!) are overwhelming.
I am extremely grateful to have this interaction and while I am responding to every message I get, I’m answering the most frequently asked tarot questions about the fool tarot card meaning and general tarot card questions here.
What does the Fool card mean in tarot?
When you are feeling butterflies in your stomach because you are so excited about new goals, this can be that you are in the Fools state of mind.
To see the Fool generally indicates that you are on the verge of an unexpected and exciting new adventure. The fool card in love and relationships indicates you are about to embark on a new romantic journey.
What does the reversed Fool card mean?
Even when reversed, the Fool is an indicator of newness; as well as the purity and open-hearted energy of a child. However, do not be fooled.
This card is here to warn you that now is not the time for spontaneity and freedom. You must finish what you have started and deal with your responsibilities before you can safely move on.
What number does the Fool card has in Tarot?
The Fool card is the number 0 of the Major Arcana, which stand for the number of unlimited potentials. Therefore it does not have a specific place in the sequence of the tarot cards.
Its place is either at the beginning or at the end of a sequence. The Major Arcana is often considered the Fool’s journey through life. As such, he is ever-present and therefore needs no number.
The Fool Tarot Card in a Reading
That’s all for the Fool tarot card meaning. I hope you enjoyed the article. Just remember that when you pulled the Fool tarot card you are on the verge of an unexpected and exciting new adventure.
This may require you to take a blind leap of faith. This can be super scary and risky, but have faith and just go with the flow without regrets!
Now, for the next card (or Archetype) the Fool will encounter the Magician, click here to learn all about the magic this card brings!
Are you still a tarot beginner? Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter to get the free 5-day tarot mini-course, that will definitely kickstart your tarot skills!
Our community loves to hear about spot-on readings so if you’ve pulled the Fool tarot card, please take a minute to let us know in the comments below if the meaning made sense to your situation in life?
Akshara says
Is the fool supposed to depict stupidity (not just as in naive, but dumb academically) ??
Wille says
Hi, thank you for your comment! Absolutely not, the Fool Tarot Card actually never depicts stupidity. I understand that if you are new to tarot and see the Fool Card, the first thing that can come to your mind is “oh, it represents stupidity”:) No, not at all! It is a great card that means a new beginning and adventure, there might be something exciting that awaits you in the near future.
Peter says
Hi Willemijn,
Thank you for your reply. Apart from a few business trips planned within Europe, no specific holiday travel is planned. We have been in the process of launching a new business venture, which has quite a lot riding on it in terms of work and commitments.
It was just an odd and very specific dream really.
Thanks again
Peter
Peter says
My son dreamt about me.
In his dream, he showed me the Fool and the World. He has never had a dream like this before.
What could it mean ?
Willemijn says
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your comment! Unfortunately, I’m not a dream interpreter but I do know the meanings of these two tarot cards (the fool and the world). in a tarot reading, both the world and the fool card are ‘traveling’ cards so it makes sense that together they represent globetrotting. Have you been itching to go on vacation or make a cross-country (or ocean) move and spoke about it with your son?
Verna says
I asked my soul what it wanted and pulled the Fool card.
Wille says
That’s awesome! The Fool normally indicates that you’re on the verge of an unexpected and exciting new adventure! Take a blind leap of faith and enjoy what’s coming!