TAROTOLOGY
The Fool's Journey
THE HIGHER POWERS THAT GOVERN OUR FATE.
The Major Arcana is a 22-card set within the tarot that is regarded as the deck's core and foundation. The deck is loaded with symbolism and significance, but this is most pronounced within the Major Arcana.
THE MAJOR ARCANA
These cards pursue a storyline that indicates the spiritual journeys endured from the naive wonder of The Fool to the oneness and fulfillment of The World. Furthermore, these cards tell the account of humanity's spiritual development into enlightenment and individuation.
You'll need to learn the most significant story: "The Fools Journey.." It involves a cyclical adventure of expansion and contraction that allows us to comprehend our point on our journey or where we will arrive shortly.
And so, as we follow the Fool's journey, which is in a chronological arrangement, we see how the journey has been interwoven through the 22 Major Arcana cards to depict specific elements of life. We can begin noticing common similarities between our phases in life and those in the cards, with each card introducing a clear lesson and an idea to contemplate and meditate over.
THE 22 MAJOR ARCANA & THE FOOL'S JOURNEY
Together, the cards represent...
Critical stages of our life.
Lessons that have a profound impact on us, and
Junctures have the potential to completely change our path.
By comprehending the 22 phases of The Fool's Journey, you can understand your past, present, and future through any Major Arcana cards which show up for you.
The Fool’s Journey (aka the Hero's Journey) is the story conveyed using the 22 cards that create the Major Arcana that illustrates how someone begins as “The Fool” and, through many lessons in their life, turns into the Hero of their own story. If you do this, you will be rewarded with limitless captivating possibilities and opportunities!
Right now is a pivotal point in your life -- you’re just beginning your new spiritual journey. You’re one decision away from constructing a completely new reality. Every decision you make from here on out will matter.
You’ll learn to trust yourself over everyone and anything else at the very start of your new spiritual path. Instinct is something that we all have but that we have to be attuned to.
The voyage forward will familiarize you with what it means to follow your emotional guidance system. This is how your spirit guides, angels, and ancestors like to send you messages -- via a powerful gut feeling or thought that inspires you.
The challenge here is to dodge looking like a fool. The singular way you could do that is if you wander from the soul path that causes you to feel it is acceptable to pursue someone else’s path.
The following card in The Fool’s Journey behind The Fool is The Magician, which is all about alchemy and creating your reality. If you remain on your divine soul path, you’ll soon be on your course to stepping into your extraordinary otherworldly gifts!
Upon his return, The Fool understands the lessons crafted by the celestial bodies (The Star, The Moon, and The Sun), which result in the resurrection of The Fool (Judgement) and final conquest (The World).
There are two kinds of meaning for each Tarot card - (1) symbolic meaning and the (2) intuitive interpretation. The symbolic meaning is closely linked to the archetypal image in the card and may have some relevancy to the inquiry being asked, but not always.
In most cases, the intuitive interpretation is directly associated with the question being asked. This meaning is precisely what the name insinuates- it is an interpretation of the card that comes directly from your intuitive senses. It may be a literal interpretation or shown to your conscious mind enveloped in symbolic imagery.
If you are reading for someone else, share what you are sensing even if it doesn’t have significance to you because the other person may identify with aspects of your narrative and how it correlates to them. This distinction may be immediate or may occur later upon reflecting on it.
The following section illustrates the order in which The Fool learns about life.
These depictions are based predominantly on the figurative meaning of the cards.
The Fool is seen as a person who departs the comfort of their home to uncover what the world has to offer. Although he may seem inexperienced to outside spectators, he is an optimist with no apprehension as he comes to the cliff's edge. He is entirely equipped to make “the leap of faith.”
An effortless way to recall what the other 21 cards of the Major Arcana symbolize is to consider of them as Lessons that must be retained to reach enlightenment and success in all its forms in this world. The story of The Fool is one that most of us can identify with because it is the story of our own lives. The Fool is oftentimes seen in fictional terms, and his birth is seen as the birth of The Hero, having both mortal and divine parents.
The story begins with the childhood and education of The Fool by The Magician. The other vital influences at this point in The Fool’s life are his human and divine parents (The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, and The Hierophant), from which he uncovers the value of intuition, creativity, rationality, and spiritual tradition.
The Fool is next faced with choices that must be made in the area of love (The Lovers) and realize that any victories and successes result from developing a balance (The Chariot). The Fool’s education continues with the lessons of adulthood, in which he realizes the significance of Justice, Temperance, Strength, and Introspection (The Hermit).
These are harsh lessons because they are usually learned from life incidents that demand fundamental and profound transformations (Wheel of Fortune, The Hanged Man, and Death). These experiences lead The Fool to travel to the underworld of his inner world to understand the origin of this disturbance (The Devil, The Tower).
Upon his return, The Fool learns the lessons taught by the heavenly bodies (The Star, The Moon, and The Sun), which result in the rebirth of The Fool (Judgement) and final triumph (The World).
It should probably be noted here that there are two kinds of meaning for each Tarot card - the symbolic meaning and the intuitive interpretation. The symbolic meaning is closely tied to the archetypal image in the card and may have some bearing on the question being asked, but this is not always the case.
The intuitive interpretation, however, is, in most cases, directly related to the question being asked. This meaning is precisely what the name implies - it is an interpretation of the card that comes straight out of your intuitive mind. It may be a literal interpretation, or it may be presented to your conscious mind wrapped in symbolic imagery.
If you are reading for someone else, describe what you are sensing even if it doesn’t make sense to you because the other person may recognize elements of your description and how it relates to them. This recognition may be immediate or may occur later upon reflection.
The following section presents the order in which The Fool learns about life.
These descriptions are based primarily on the symbolic meaning of the cards.
THE FOOL'S JOURNEY BEGIN'S
The Fool
Upright: innocence, new beginnings, free spirit, freedom
Reversed: recklessness, taken advantage of, inconsideration
The Magician
Upright: willpower, desire, creation, manifestation, inspired action
Reversed: trickery, illusions, out of touch
The High Priestess
Upright: intuitive, unconscious mind, inner voice, fertility, sacred knowledge, secrets, wisdom
Reversed: lack of center. lost inner voice, repressed feelings
The Empress
Upright: motherhood, fertility, nature, beauty. Feminine power, abundance, pregnancy
Reversed: dependence, smothering, emptiness, nosiness
The Emperor
Upright: authority, structure, control, fatherhood, authority, establishment, experience, logical, practical
Reversed: tyranny, rigidity, coldness
THE MAJOR ARCANA: The Fool’s Journey
The Magician stands for Mastery and hidden skills that allow him to produce results that often appear to be ‘magical’ to others. In the Rider-Waite card, The Magician’s pose signifies, “As above, so below,” and the ability to draw on Universal power to bring about results on the material plane. This card speaks of the inner strengths and skills that allow you to transform your thoughts into reality.
The High Priestess teaches us that by accessing your intuition, wise decisions can be made. The two pillars and the book (sometimes considered the Akashic record of the collective unconscious) represent wisdom that comes from within and teaches that you must search within yourself for the answers to your questions.
The Empress is the archetypal Mother. Placed in an outdoor setting, the Empress represents fertility, creativity, and the abundance of Nature. Her influence will stimulate your creativity and allow you to express yourself more effectively. The creative aspect of the universe is powerful in The Empress.
The Emperor is the archetypal Father and is in control of his life. He draws his power from the rational mind and is courageous enough to recognize the reality of a situation rather than see only what he wants to see. Always remember that each card carries a little of the previous card. In this case, The Emperor, to be effective, must have a heart and not be cold and analytical.
The Hierophant represents Spiritual and Traditional Thinking. He can make wise decisions based on tangible evidence and logic, unlike the High Priestess, whose smart choices are based solely on intuition. It is interesting to note that both the Empress and the Emperor have their advisor sitting next to them (The High Priestess and The Hierophant), ready to help them rule wisely.
The Lovers symbolize a choice between two different paths in life. Because of the card’s name, it is often deciphered as a choice between two probable partners. Choices must be made before true love on the human level will be recognized, and this is necessary for a complete understanding of Universal Love. The angel symbolizes the power of a mature relationship.
The Chariot represents Balance. He must gather the strength of his will to uphold balance and control both the light and dark forces of his nature and be able to win the hard race through his persistent undertaking.
Strength indicates that the jaws of raw emotion are secured with love, not force. We all have a reserve of Self-Confidence and inner strength for challenging times, specifically if we remember that the spiritual (represented by the symbol over Strength’s head) will always triumph over the material and physical world.
The Hermit acquainted us that Inner Guidance and wisdom are often attained through introspection and allow us to light the way for others. This card frequently embodies someone who chooses solitude to work out their situations.
The Hierophant Meaning
Upright: tradition, conformity, morality, ethics, legacy, spiritual wisdom, religious beliefs, institution
Reversed: rebellion, subversiveness, new approaches
The Lovers Meaning
Upright: partnerships, duality, union, love, alignment, choices, soul mates, perfect union, strong bond, shared values
Reversed: loss of balance, one-sidedness, disharmony
The Chariot Meaning
Upright: direction, control, willpower, success, determination, action
Reversed: lack of control, lack of direction, aggression
Strength Meaning
Upright: inner strength, bravery, compassion, focus, control, influence, courage
Reversed: self-doubt, weakness, insecurity
The Hermit Meaning
Upright: contemplation, search for truth, inner guidance, solitude, patience, shedding light, self-reflection, enlightenment
Reversed: loneliness, isolation, lost your way
The Wheel of Fortune
Upright: change, cycles, inevitable fate, good luck, destiny, karma, patterns
Reversed: no control, clinging to control, bad luck
Justice
Upright: cause and effect, clarity, truth, justice, honesty, balance, law, rules, fairness, truth, integrate
Reversed: dishonesty, unaccountability, unfairness
The Hanged Man
Upright: sacrifice, release, a new beginning, pause, surrender, letting go, new perspective, feeling trapped
Reversed: stalling, needless sacrifice, fear of sacrifice
Death
Upright: end of a cycle, new beginnings, change, metamorphosis, endings, transformation, letting go
Reversed: fear of change, holding on, stagnation, decay
Temperance
Upright: middle path, patience, finding meaning, balance, moderation, purpose, harmony, calm
Reversed: extremes, excess, lack of balance
The Wheel of Fortune assists us in realizing the eternal truth that Nature operates in cycles and that “what goes around comes around.” The Wheel is the vision seen by The Hermit after he has reflected on the meaning of Strength. We must remember that while we can’t control The Wheel, we can always control our responses to the events it brings.
Justice (known as Karma) will tip in one’s favor according to the intent and effort put forth. Justice is balanced, not blind. This card often represents a decision that demonstrates how Cosmic Justice operates. The lesson may not be evident at first, but the passage of time and careful thought will show the inevitable fairness of Karma.
The Hanged Man shows us that the experience of sacrifice, suffering, and surrender, brings us a New Perspective and a more profound understanding of the Universe. A situation may take longer before it resolves itself, especially if you are “hung up” on something.. a new perspective may be needed before you can move on.
**Having absorbed the lesson taught by Justice, The Fool is now prepared for some profound changes, as seen in the following card.**
Death signifies Change and attains in multiple forms. It's beneficial to recognize that we each undergo an infinite number of natural and figurative deaths throughout our life. This is the regeneration process. Even if this card doesn’t pertain directly to physical death, it emits dramatic and often agonizing changes in attitudes, habits, and situations. The hardship experienced during this period is directly connected to how you respond.
Temperance advises us to practice Moderation. The lesson is about finding a balance between the spiritual and the material. Only by finding a balance between the spiritual and the physical world will you develop the ability to rise above the day-to-day concerns that enslave and rule most people.
The Devil describes the entanglement brought about by Temptation. Although our tangle is unforced and an illusion, there is still an underlying sense of remorse. This may be due to the demons within each of us, and we must face them before we can gain enlightenment.
The Tower descents and disrupts our usual way of looking at life. The lighting of spiritual Truth dislodges the crown of materialistic life, making way for new ways of thinking. Like the Tower of Babel, if one is too high, one must be prepared for the consequences. Sudden revelation, as represented by the lightning, may be seen as the source of chaos and upheaval but is an agent of freedom, setting us free from self-imposed restrictions.
The Star releases glimmers of Hope to us. The Maiden has one foot in the water and one foot on solid ground, teaching that good fortune will be yours if you can achieve and preserve a balance between the inner subconscious world and the outer surface of the material world. By developing both your physical and spiritual requirements, you will be able to accomplish the dreams that you have built for a long time.
The Moon signifies both illusion and self-delusion. It represents the dark side of the personality and the dangers of concentrating too much energy on this realm. It is not reasonable to think about the impression something may take in the glow of the moon, and it's best to wait for the light of day before bringing about a rash decision.
The Devil Meaning
Upright: addiction, materialism, playfulness, shadow self, attachment, sexuality, abuse, obsession, mental health issues
Reversed: freedom, release, restoring control
The Tower Meaning
Upright: sudden upheaval, broken pride, disaster,
Reversed: disaster avoided, delayed disaster, fear of suffering
The Star Meaning
Upright: hope, faith, rejuvenation,
Reversed: faithlessness, discouragement, insecurity
The Moon Meaning
Upright: unconscious, illusions, intuition,
Reversed: confusion, fear, misinterpretation
The Sun Meaning
Upright: joy, success, celebration, positivity, warmth, vitality
Reversed: negativity, depression, sadness
Judgment Meaning
Upright: reflection, reckoning, awakening, judgment, rebirth, inner calling, new plans, composure
Reversed: lack of self-awareness, doubt, self-loathing
The World Meaning
Upright: fulfillment, harmony, completion, accomplishment, travel, rewards, harmony
Reversed: incompletion, no closure
The Sun comes and gives rise to a new day and fosters us to discern everything. All things thrive under the Sun’s influence. With the light of day comes Truth and enlightenment, which must be understood clearly before lasting prosperity, abundance, and happiness can be celebrated.
Judgment After being In a position of being judged, a New Freedom comes from an awareness of a higher Universal principle, signaling Rebirth and Rejuvenation. This knowledge allows us to make a conscious decision before taking crucial action.
The World educates us that Enlightenment is obtained through the merging of the subconscious, the ego, and the Universal consciousness. This card suggests The Fool’s final conquest. The enlightenment of The Sun brings the accomplishment of all things, both spiritual and physical. The World is indisputably your Oyster.
