Discovering The Fool: The Leap into the Unknown
January 17, 2026
Claire Duval
I am an author of tarot decks, oracles, Petit Lenormand, and passionate about cartomancy. I share my work and passion with you.
Welcome to this space of reflection where we explore together the mysteries of Tarot. Today, I have the great pleasure of introducing you to the central figure, yet the most elusive of this deck: the Fool, also called the Mat.
A question that often fascinates seekers: is this card the first or the last of the journey? In my vision, the Fool is the beginning, but this distinction fades before a deeper reality. Imagine the 22 major arcana arranged not in a line, but in a circle. Once we reach the World — the culmination and total realization — we inevitably return to the Fool. It’s an eternal recommencement, an infinite cycle of life where the end of one stage is merely the prelude to a new adventure. He is that “zero” point that exists everywhere and nowhere at once.
1. The Origin of a Name: Between Madness and Freedom of Speech
The name of this card carries a fascinating duality. Depending on the cultural tradition of the deck you hold in your hands, the meaning shifts subtly:
Here, the emphasis is on the irrational aspect. This is the one who is “mad” in the clinical or mystical sense, the one who has left the rails of logical thought to follow their own impulses.
It draws inspiration from the court jester. This character is certainly on the margins of society, but enjoys a unique privilege: he is the only one who is completely free to speak. He can tell the brutal truth to the sovereign without ever being troubled.
This strange madness is beautifully illustrated in the Arthurian Tarot: we see Merlin, the eternal child, who laughs heartily and who through his sacred unreason leads us toward wisdom.
2. Pure Energy: The Soul Incarnating
The Fool represents original energy in its raw state. It’s the poetic image of the soul descending to incarnate in the body. Imagine the absolute innocence of a newborn arriving in the world: they have no prejudices, no barriers, no fear.
The animal that accompanies him also tells a story:
- In traditional Latin Tarots, it’s often a lion or dog that bites his calf to bring him back to the ground.
- Conversely, in the Rider-Waite, the dog is no longer an aggressor but a joyful companion leaping at his side.
3. Interpreting the Fool in Daily Life
The Fool brings phenomenal vital power, but it’s a force that is not yet channeled. It “goes in all directions” if there is no structure to receive it.
4. The Fool’s Temperament: Wonder and Absence of Fear
The Fool doesn’t walk, he follows a path of wonder. He advances with a permanent thirst for discovery, eyes wide open to the beauty of what he encounters.
Because he is totally focused on “the carrot” — that goal or attraction that obsesses and calls him. His attention is so intensely fixed on his quest that he becomes amnesic to physical dangers or social obstacles. This is the hallmark of the free thinker: he conforms to no cultural norm, he simply moves forward because his desire for exploration is stronger than everything.
5. Warnings: The Limits of Total Freedom
Like any energy, that of the Fool must be understood according to its context. It can sometimes act as a necessary warning, particularly regarding the notion of timing:
The Fool’s energy is a blessing, it’s the creative breath.
If your enterprise is beginning to bear fruit and requires stability, the appearance of the Fool is an alarm signal. It indicates that the project risks scattering, losing its structure and never achieving solid construction.
6. Conclusion: The Protagonist of One’s Own Life
The Fool is not just another card; he is the protagonist of the entire Tarot story. It is he who will traverse each of the 21 other arcana to learn, fall, rise again and finally grow. His journey is the mirror of our own path of personal development and knowledge.
Each arcanum he encounters will be a lesson that transforms him, taking this innocent traveler from innocence to accomplished being.
See you soon to discover together, after the Fool and the Magician, the next character in our journey: The High Priestess.
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