Unless there are anti-Fool cards present (Hermit, Hierophant, High Priestess, Emperor) and acting as grounding agents to the Fool’s scattered behaviour, this archetype, being prone to the incoherent misappropriations of others’ judgement, awareness, attention and even personality (Sun, 7S), will have trouble finding their true calling or vocation in life.
Due to their weak boundaries, this archetype is prone to saying or doing anything to keep the peace (Empress, Temperance), often at the expense of their own needs (Moon), ethical code, morality (Hierophant), integrity (High Priestess, KS, QS) and even general sense of ‘reality’ (Moon, 7C).
The Fool also obscures, obliterates, dissolves, disintegrates or blurs the boundaries and parameters present in its neighbouring cards, be they physical, emotional, mental or spiritual; the stronger another card’s structure, order or belief system, the more the Fool-ish modus operandi will register as corrupting, trouble-making and contentious, despite the Fool having good intentions.
This archetype often has difficulty fathoming the socially correct response or reaction (Hierophant). Their indirect mode of confrontation, fearless ignorance and disconnection from, lack of interest in or total disregard (4C) for conventional social roles or conformist societal structures (Hierophant), can, when left unchecked, eventually result in conflict (5W, 5S) and suffering, either their own or that of others (3S, 9S, 5C, 5C). However, when handled compassionately or sensitively (KC, QC, Strength, Temperance), some Fools manage to find acceptable ways out of their otherwise encumbering social or cultural obligations.
Spirituality and Philosophy
The appearance of the Fool in a reading can signify a positive and effective phase of spiritual influence and enhancement, often induced via the total abandonment of material or sensual diversions and any falsely held hopes, ambitions or self-concepts.
An ultra-present unburdening of the mind (Sun), induced via the Fool’s complete surrender to the here and now, can confer ever greater healing and the dissolution of suffering (Star, Temperance).
By acting as an executive agent of the Divine, the passive presence of the Fool can crack our most encumbering psycho-emotional habits (Moon), the ones that block the healing and enlightenment process (Star).
The Fool’s inadvertent philosophy on life is similar to that of the Zen Buddhist concept of the beginner’s mind: shedding, eradicating, relinquishing, distancing and detaching from all fixed knowledge and thought forms. The mutable mind of the Fool continually creates space for unlimited learning and understanding and a unified, uninterrupted connection with the all-knowing Divine (Magician, High Priestess).
Combined with learned (Hierophant), wise, mature (Hermit), insightful (High Priestess), enlightening (Sun) or overseeing archetypes (World), the Fool embodies what is sometimes referred to as the Socratic paradox. However, when under the sway of ignorant or undeveloped influences (Pages, Knights), the Fool can project (Moon) a foolhardy, emotionally unstable, ignorant, poorly informed or ‘drink-talking’ individual’s dubious world view.
Personal Life
In matters of relating to others, the Fool is led by the heart and body, but not the head. They often don’t realize their mistakes, though innocently or inadvertently made, in choosing a romantic partner until things begin to fall apart (Tower, Death, 3S, 5C).
Being card zero in the deck, the Fool is concerned only with starting afresh (Aces) and carries little or no emotional baggage from previous romantic involvements.
This card either signifies a detached and distanced relationship, the mutual relinquishing of emotional baggage (Judgement) or the undoing of negative emotional ego habits (Moon).
Even when in a committed long-term relationship or marriage, the Fool-ish partner may seek various extra-marital freedoms, without properly considering or caring about the consequences. Due to their inherent detachment and unfixed tastes, they usually don’t have a ‘type’. Instead, they are often serial first-daters, seduced by the idea of love (7C), but turned off by the reality of it (4C). They tend to view all situations requiring a deeper involvement or commitment as wholly unsustainable, and at that juncture will quickly up and move on (KnW).
Their signature move is the innocent dissolution of emotional attachments (KnS, 1S, Emperor), whether they are outdated or not. Due to their innocent, light-hearted, ‘no-strings’ romantic intentions (PC), what begins as a mere dalliance or fling (Lovers) can quickly and easily turn sour (3S, 5C, Tower, Death) when the Fool fails to notice their lover’s deepening emotional attachment.
Due to their unsettled and resolutely non-committal nature, the Fool usually remains emotionally uneducated, with an immature view of committed relationships (Pages). Unless they wish to remain single, or celibate for spiritual purposes (Hermit, Hierophant), a possible solution to their strong resistance to monogamy is the forming of a polygamous or open partnership (Lovers, 3W, 3C).
Professional Life
In a combination reading with those archetypes still under development (Devil, Pages, Knights), the Fool is considered uneducated, unknowledgeable, unwise, unaccomplished, ineffective and unworldly, with a great deal still to learn. They often peak too soon or finish too early, giving up when something needs more time to develop and mature. When left unchecked, they can even be detrimental to matters requiring solid grounding and great maturity of character.
They often take jobs or enrol on courses with little regard for their future trajectory. Remaining oblivious to the part they play in precarious situations often leads to their professional undoing, resulting in job losses or business, project or exam failures (Death, Tower, 3S, 5P, 5C).
Their career or study path is often continually interrupted, like a bad phone signal. Their enthusiastic starts (Pages, Aces) often end abruptly when they discard, destroy or obliterate what they have accomplished. The Fool’s signature move is trying to get ahead via great, ill-considered leaps of faith (Devil), which are often badly misjudged. Unqualified to meet the level of challenge, the overreaching Fool often falls flat on their face (Death).
Self-discipline, self-governance and direction are great challenges for Fools, as are following the rules of a management hierarchy (Emperor) or fitting into any form of organizational work structure (Hierophant). They are often the source of professional indiscretions, by ignoring or disrespecting personal and professional boundaries. For this reason, the Fool archetype frequently suffers through their disconnection from their work colleagues, or even their abandonment by those who would otherwise support their work or career (5C, 5P). Subsequently, theirs can be a wandering, unsettled professional life.
The fragmentation of work or business interests includes no fixed form of work or study, temporary contracts (Justice) or uncontracted work roles.
However, the Fool-ish dissolution of barriers that prevent the absorption of another personality can greatly benefit dramatic actors and performers (Sun, KW, QW) or those acting out a role to feel more socially and culturally accepted (Hierophant) in the workplace. As an underdeveloped, impressionistic, absorptive or half-formed personality, the Fool’s performances as others provide them with an opportunity to feel whole and complete again (World), and thus can be highly convincing.
In addition, the Fool-ishly playful and creative ego, which delights in dissolving order, shape and form, can produce great abstract, impressionist or metaphysical artists and creatives (World, Empress, Magician, High Priestess). Their innocent, fantastical and otherworldly views (High Priestess, Magician, World, Empress) can capture the public imagination (Sun, Moon) by providing a pure impression of what lies beyond the material plane of existence.
Property – Finances – Resources
Carrying little material baggage or travelling light, the Fool often lives a minimalist lifestyle with few materialistic concerns, financial obligations or dependencies. Though they may not be materially wealthy, however,