LexTalk

Have you ever wanted to try something new but immediately started listing approximately 847 reasons why you probably shouldn’t?

Maybe you don’t have enough experience.

Maybe you don’t have the right equipment.

Maybe someone else is already doing it better.

Maybe you need to research it just a little bit more.

Or maybe you’re waiting for that magical morning when you wake up feeling completely confident, perfectly prepared, and 100% certain you know what you’re doing.

If that’s the requirement, we might be waiting awhile.

Because today’s tarot card is all about what happens when we stop waiting to feel completely ready and allow ourselves to begin.

Welcome back to LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time, where I’m making my way through all 78 tarot cards, learning their meanings, studying the symbolism hidden within the artwork, and sharing everything I learn along the way.

Today we’re exploring one of the most recognizable cards in tarot:

The Fool.

And despite the slightly questionable name, The Fool isn’t necessarily telling us to make foolish decisions.

Actually, I think there’s a much more interesting message here.

You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going before you take the first step.

Although, as we’re about to discover…

It probably wouldn’t hurt to look where you’re walking.

Meet The Fool

The Fool is part of the Major Arcana, the 22 cards in tarot that tend to represent larger life themes, lessons, experiences, and archetypes.

And The Fool has a particularly interesting number:

0

Not 1.

Zero.

And I LOVE that.

Zero can represent possibility, openness, and potential before the journey has fully taken shape.

The Fool hasn’t reached the destination.

The Fool hasn’t even really begun yet.

They’re standing at the beginning with an entire adventure ahead of them.

And they don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.

Sound familiar?

Because I feel like that’s basically all of us anytime we try something new.

We want a map.

A timeline.

A guarantee.

Preferably several positive reviews from people who have already done it.

The Fool doesn’t have all of that.

What The Fool does have is curiosity.

The Fool’s Journey

While learning about tarot, you may eventually come across something called The Fool’s Journey.

It’s a popular way of understanding the Major Arcana.

Instead of viewing those 22 cards as completely separate meanings we need to memorize, we can imagine them as different experiences and lessons encountered throughout a symbolic journey.

And who’s taking that journey?

The Fool.

The Fool begins at zero — open, inexperienced, curious, and full of potential — and encounters different archetypes and lessons represented by the Major Arcana along the way.

I love thinking about tarot this way because suddenly the cards start feeling less like flash cards I’m desperately trying to memorize and more like pieces of a story.

And stories?

Those I can remember.

The Symbolism of The Fool

If you’re looking at the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, there’s a LOT happening in this card.

And once again, I think looking at the artwork makes the meaning so much easier to remember.

The Cliff

Let’s address the obvious situation first.

Our Fool is standing very close to the edge of a cliff.

Sir.

Please look down.

The cliff can represent the unknown, risk, and stepping into unfamiliar territory.

There’s possibility ahead.

But there’s also uncertainty.

And that’s important.

Because The Fool isn’t necessarily telling us:

JUST DO IT! WHO CARES WHAT HAPPENS?!

There’s a difference between taking a courageous step and ignoring obvious risks.

That’s one of the reasons I think the cliff matters so much.

The unknown can be exciting.

But awareness still matters.

The White Dog

Beside The Fool is a small white dog.

Depending on how you interpret the artwork, the dog can symbolize companionship, loyalty, instinct, protection, or even a warning.

I’ve always liked the idea of the dog basically saying:

I’m coming with you…but maybe watch where you’re walking.

Our instincts don’t always tell us don’t go.

Sometimes they simply tell us:

Pay attention while you do.

The White Rose

The Fool carries a white rose.

White traditionally connects with themes of innocence, purity, and openness.

And that fits this card beautifully.

The Fool hasn’t become cynical about the journey yet.

They’re open to experiencing it.

There’s something really lovely about approaching something new without immediately assuming everything that could possibly go wrong.

The Little Bundle

The Fool also carries a small bundle over their shoulder.

They’re traveling pretty lightly.

Symbolically, this can represent the experiences, knowledge, or resources we already carry with us.

And I think there’s an important lesson there.

Sometimes we convince ourselves we need EVERYTHING before we begin.

More equipment.

More knowledge.

More money.

More experience.

More confidence.

Meanwhile, we may already have enough to take the first step.

Not every step.

Just the first one.

The Sun

Behind The Fool is a bright sun.

The sun can represent optimism, illumination, vitality, and possibility.

And optimism is definitely part of The Fool’s energy.

The Fool isn’t staring at the path thinking:

Well, this is probably going to be terrible.

They’re willing to see what’s out there.

The Mountains

Mountains appear in the distance.

And I think they’re an important reminder that beginning a journey doesn’t mean the journey will always be easy.

There will probably be challenges.

Lessons.

Wrong turns.

Things we didn’t anticipate.

But those experiences are part of the journey too.

The Fool Upright Meaning

When The Fool appears upright, it traditionally carries themes of:

New beginnings • Adventure • Freedom • Curiosity • Optimism • Spontaneity • Potential

This might relate to starting something new.

Trying something outside your comfort zone.

Exploring an opportunity.

Learning a new skill.

Beginning a creative project.

Or simply approaching life with a little more curiosity.

But here’s something I think is really important:

The Fool isn’t guaranteeing success.

Pulling The Fool doesn’t mean:

YES! QUIT YOUR JOB! MOVE TO ITALY! EMPTY YOUR SAVINGS! EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT!

Please do not blame LexTalk Tarot for your sudden international relocation.

Instead, I think The Fool gives us something much more useful to consider:

What might I explore if I stopped requiring myself to know everything first?

That’s different.

You can research.

You can plan.

You can be responsible.

And still allow yourself to be a beginner.

The Fool Reversed Meaning

And now for our recurring LexTalk Tarot public service announcement:

Reversed does not automatically mean BAD.

We may have this memorized before we memorize the cards.

The Fool reversed can be particularly interesting because it can point toward two opposite extremes.

On one side:

Recklessness • Impulsivity • Poor planning • Ignoring risks

Basically:

I’m doing it!

Did you research it?

NOPE!

Do you have a plan?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

But on the other side, The Fool reversed can represent:

Hesitation • Fear • Self-doubt • Being afraid to begin

You might be standing at the edge of something new…

but you’re frozen.

You’re researching.

Planning.

Thinking.

Replanning.

Making another list.

Watching 17 YouTube videos.

Reading Reddit.

Asking three friends.

And somehow still haven’t actually started.

That means The Fool reversed can ask us to find the space between:

reckless action… and… endless hesitation.

The Fool in Love & Relationships

In love and relationship readings, The Fool can represent openness, spontaneity, new experiences, curiosity, and allowing a connection to develop without trying to control every outcome.

Upright, it might encourage you to be present and open to what you’re experiencing.

But I don’t think that means ignoring your boundaries because a tarot card told you to “take a chance.”

Absolutely not.

A better reflection might be:

Am I allowing myself to experience this connection while still listening to my instincts and respecting my boundaries?

Reversed, The Fool can invite us to examine things like rushing into relationships, overlooking important concerns, fear of commitment, or being so afraid of getting hurt that we avoid emotional risks altogether.

Again, tarot doesn’t need to predict what another person will do.

It can help us examine what we’re doing.

And I find that much more useful.

The Fool in Career & Money

When The Fool appears around career questions, it can connect with new opportunities, career changes, learning something unfamiliar, entrepreneurship, or beginning a creative project.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about applying for something.

Starting a side project.

Learning a new skill.

Creating something.

Or exploring a completely different direction.

Upright, The Fool can encourage curiosity.

But curiosity and financial recklessness are VERY different things.

That’s where the reversed interpretation becomes useful.

The Fool reversed can encourage us to look at poor planning, impulsive financial choices, unrealistic expectations, or fear that’s preventing us from considering reasonable opportunities.

Sometimes courage looks like taking a chance.

Sometimes courage looks like making the spreadsheet first.

Both can be true.

What If You’re More Ready Than You Think?

This is the part of The Fool that really sticks with me.

Because how often do we tell ourselves:

I’ll start when I’m ready.

I’ll start when I have more time.

When I have better equipment.

When I know more.

When I’m more confident.

When I’ve researched everything.

When I’m guaranteed people will care.

When I’m guaranteed I won’t fail.

But what if “ready” isn’t something that happens before we begin?

What if part of becoming ready happens because we begin?

You learn by doing.

You get better by practicing.

You figure out what works because some things absolutely will not work.

And sometimes you look back at your first attempt and think:

Oh dear God.

But there wouldn’t be a tenth attempt without the first one.

Today’s LexTalk Tarot Reflection

Grab your tarot journal, regular notebook, notes app, or just sit with this question:

What’s something I’ve been wanting to begin but keep putting off because I don’t feel ready?

Then ask:

What’s one small, realistic step I could take toward it today?

Notice the wording there.

Not:

How do I completely change my life by 5 p.m.?

One step.

Maybe you research something.

Write the first paragraph.

Send the email.

Create the account.

Walk for ten minutes.

Save $10.

Submit the application.

Take the picture.

Whatever your version looks like.

The Fool doesn’t have to leap.

The Fool just has to begin.

The Tarot Deck I’m Learning With

If you’ve been following LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time and wondering about the tarot deck I’ve been using, I have linked the deck below.

As someone who’s still learning, I really like having additional information directly on the cards. It gives me a starting point, and then I can explore the traditional symbolism, compare interpretations, and develop my own understanding as I go.

If you’re learning alongside me and like the deck you’ve been seeing, you can [check out the tarot deck I’m using here — paid link].

You absolutely don’t need my exact deck to follow this series. In fact, one of the things I’m discovering is how fun it is to see how different artists interpret the same cards.

Use whatever deck speaks to you.

I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you.

A Little Tarot Journaling Magic

I’m also becoming a big fan of actually writing things down as I learn these cards.

There is so much symbolism packed into tarot that I know I’m not going to remember everything after reading it once.

And honestly?

That’s part of why this entire series exists.

A tarot journal gives you somewhere to write down the traditional meanings, symbols you notice, your own interpretations, and the reflection questions that actually resonate with you.

If you’d like a dedicated place to keep everything together, I found this [tarot journal on Amazon — paid link] that I think would make a lovely companion for anyone learning along with me.

But you absolutely don’t need anything fancy.

A notebook you already have works perfectly.

The important part is creating somewhere to collect what you’re learning so you can eventually look back and realize:

Wait…I actually know what these cards mean now.

Four Cards Into LexTalk Tarot

We’re officially four cards into this experiment, and I love looking at the little story they’re accidentally creating.

The High Priestess

Listen to yourself.

Trust your intuition and don’t immediately run outside yourself for every answer.

Ace of Pentacles

Plant the seed.

Something meaningful can begin incredibly small.

Page of Cups

Stay curious.

Your weirdest idea might be worth exploring.

The Fool

Begin.

You don’t need to know everything before taking the first step.

Put them together and we basically have:

Listen to yourself. Plant something. Stay curious. And give yourself permission to begin.

For cards we’re selecting to study rather than pulling as a predictive reading, that’s a pretty wonderful little sequence.

Learning Tarot One Card at a Time

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, please don’t look at everything in this post and think:

I’m supposed to memorize ALL OF THAT?!

Nope.

Today, remember this:

The Fool = the beginning of the adventure.

Remember the cliff.

The little dog.

The tiny bundle.

The Fool looking toward what’s ahead without knowing exactly how the journey will unfold.

And remember the balance hidden inside this card:

Be brave enough to begin.

Be wise enough to pay attention.

That’s it.

We’ll keep adding layers as we go.

Eventually, these cards won’t feel like 78 random pictures with approximately 9,000 meanings attached to them.

They’ll become characters.

Symbols.

Stories.

Lessons.

And hopefully they’ll become a little easier to remember each time we meet another one.

Tomorrow, we’ll add another card to the collection.

But for today?

Maybe there’s something you’ve been waiting to feel “ready” for.

And maybe you don’t need to figure out the entire journey.

Maybe you just need to figure out your next step.

One card. One lesson. One step at a time.

— Lex

Tarot interpretations are subjective and are shared here for personal reflection, education, and entertainment. Tarot should not replace professional medical, legal, mental health, or financial advice.