Under The Microscope With The Fool
If you’ve been following along for awhile, you’ll know that Tim and I love to go deep into the cards, finding connections and contrast to help us better understand them individually and the deck as a whole.
In our 78 Connections series, we take two cards and try to spot as many obvious and underlying links as we can. In doing this, we see just how interwoven tarot is and how precise and intentional all the details are.
Today, in the spirit of that exploration, we thought we explore the symbols that show up in The Fool.
The purpose of this exercise/post is 2 fold: To help us (and you) hone in on the smallest of details to find additional layers of meaning. And, to help us (and you) further understand The Fool by seeing how it links to other cards in the deck.
If you want to play along, independent of what we’ve written below, all you need to do is take a look at the image of The Fool that we’ve provided. Go symbol by symbol and ask yourself: What does this symbol mean to me, and what other cards in the deck contain it?
Please note, our meanings and matches are not conclusive! They may or may not align with yours. Take what we’ve written as a guide, but also feel empowered to find your own personal connections and interpretations!
Sun
Meaning: Hope, inspiration, vitality, energy source, solar force, life.
Also Seen In: The Sun, The Lovers, Death
Dog
Meaning: Animal consciousness, guide, domestication, instinct.
Also Seen In: The Moon, 10 of Pentacles
White Rose
Meaning: Peace, purity, unity, innocence. The white rose in particular is interesting, because it seems to be a blend of the classic depiction of polarities, normally represented by a red rose and a white lily. Here, it’s like the 2 have been combined. We have the masculine element of the rose, with the feminine aspect of the color white.
Also Seen In: Death
Red Feather
Meaning: Red is a symbol of desire, and the feather a symbol of air. Positioned on the head, it may indicate a transmutation of desire toward more spiritual/higher pursuits. The red feather could also indicate Phoenix energy (transformation) or point to the Egyptian myth of the weighing of hearts i.e. what does it mean to be "light as a feather?"
Also Seen In: Death, The Sun
7-Beaded Belt
Meaning: When the number 7 shows up in tarot, its often a reference to the 7 classical planets. We also know the number 7 is important, because of how much it appears throughout other spiritual and religious systems. 7 is wisdom, introspection, truth and spiritual evolution.
Also Seen In: The Empress (as her pearl necklace)
Green Laurel
Meaning: Laurel is the plant sacred to Apollo and is often seen as a symbol of victory or achievement.
Also Seen In: The World, 6 of Wands, 7 of Cups, The Empress, 2 of Cups, King of Pentacles
8-Spoked Wheel
Meaning: Elemental spirit, the 5th element, quintessence, ether, infinity, energy, movement.
Also Seen In: The Wheel of Fortune, special mention to The Star which doesn’t feature a wheel, but does contain 8, 8-pointed stars
Eagle
Meaning: Higher octave of Scorpio energy, redirection of reproductive power, knowledge, having a greater vantage, perception, transformation, guidance.
Also Seen In: The Wheel of Fortune, The World
Staff
Meaning: Staffs or sticks are not exactly the same as wands (they are missing the budding leaves), but they could be seen as a stand in for what the wand represents. Will power, aid, creative energy, support, guidance.
Also Seen In: 8 of Cups, 6 of Swords, 5 of Pentacles, 7 of Pentacles, The Hermit, Death, The Sun
Snow-Capped Cliff
Meaning: Mountains are often seen as a symbol of attainment, while water often alludes to emotion or subconsciousness. In this case, the water is crystalized, which may indicate stabilization where emotion is concerned. It could also indicate that what one will have to overcome will be related to the the realm of emotions.
Also Seen In: The Hermit, Judgement
Exploring The Fool in this way highlights for us just how connected it is to every other card, maybe Death in particular. Even the detail of the eagle, while not visually evident in Death, has a connection, as the Eagle is associated with Scorpio, just as the Death card ruled by that sign. So why the link between these two cards? Just as The Fool stands at the precipice of beginnings, Death points to endings. But we all know that every death is just a new beginning in disguise. In this way, all journeys have an end and each end promises something more. They are two aspects of the same cycle that assure us all stages are natural, to be expected, and can bring renewal and hope no matter what appearances may imply.
What do you see!?