Celebrating the Fool

Today is April Fool's Day. We in the tarot community have begun claiming this as a special day for tarotists, because the Fool, Major Arcana Card 0, is such an important part of tarot understanding.

To honor the Fool on this day I will make a list of some things I know about the Fool.

Please feel free to add to this list in the comments below.

The Fool is numbered Card 0 because he is the star of the story told by tarot. The Fool represents each one of us on our journey through life. The other seventy-seven cards represent the experiences, characters and lessons we encounter on that journey through life.

Tarot, especially the Major Arcana, was first referred to as the "Fool's Journey" by Eden Gray in the early 1970's.

The Fool is usually pictured carrying a pouch. We believe that the pouch holds the Four Tools of Magick - the Wand, the Pentacle, the Sword and the Cup. Of course these tools find their way to the Magician's Table in Card One of the Major Arcana, and become the four suit icons of the Minor Arcana.

The Fool is usually pictured with a merry countenance, getting ready to walk off a cliff. He message is that to begin our journey we must take a leap of faith.

The Fool is associated with Uranus, and therefore the element of Air. Correspondences include being unconventional, curious and investigative.

The Fool reminds us to nurture our inner child.

The Fool tells us to take risks, but to weigh risks carefully.

The Fool teaches us that life is a journey to be enjoyed without fear.

The Fool invites us to think outside the box.

The Fool tells us not to fear the judgment of others, but to be truly free in our own self-expression.