The Fool's Journey is a profound metaphorical exploration depicted within the 22 cards of the Major Arcana in a tarot deck. It symbolizes a transformative path of self-discovery and personal growth embodied by the Fool card, which initiates the journey.

Often regarded as a spiritual evolution, the Fool's Journey encompasses three distinct phases. Firstly, it represents the Fool's personal odyssey, delving into their own inner world. Secondly, it encompasses their quest for understanding their place in the external world and their relationships with others. Finally, it culminates in an awe-inspiring journey towards enlightenment and cosmic awareness.

Throughout these stages, the Fool evolves from a state of innocence, ignorance, and naivety to a state of profound enlightenment and understanding. It is a transformative expedition that unveils profound insights into the Fool's true self, their connections to the world, and their profound place within the universe.

The First Stage: Looking Inward

The first stage of the Fool's Journey through the Major Arcana offers insights into personal growth, self-discovery, and the navigation of life's challenges. Each card along this journey carries profound symbolism and meaning, guiding individuals on a transformative path of understanding and fulfillment.

The Fool begins their journey by looking inward, finding who they are and what makes them tick. It’s a journey from innocence into experience, as the Fool comes to understand different aspects of themself and how those aspects relate to each other. By the time they reach the second phase of the journey, the Fool has a new understanding of and relationship with themself. And it’s a good thing, too, because that was the easy part.

The Second Stage: Venturing Outward

After the introspection of stage one, the second leg of the Fool's Journey is a transformative continuation from experience to self-discovery. Armed with what they learned and the potential they unlocked in the first stage, the Fool begins to find their place in the world around them.

Each card encountered by the Fool along this path signifies the cyclical nature of life, urging the embrace of change and release of the past. They experience loss and upheaval, forced to sit in uncomfortable positions until they learn to adjust to their new circumstances. After this leg of their journey, the Fool emerges with newfound wisdom and understanding, ready to embark on the last chapter of the story, where the Fool will find their place in the universe at large.

The Third Stage: Liberation & Enlightenment

The transformative third and final phase of the Fool’s Journey begins with the Devil card and culminates with the World card, signifying the Fool's pursuit of spiritual liberation and enlightenment. Throughout this stage, the Fool confronts inner demons, undergoes profound transformation, and experiences renewal. The culmination of the journey probably looks nothing like the Fool envisioned in those first few steps, and like everything else, cycles back to the beginning as the Fool takes the first step into yet another cycle of self-discovery.

And then the whole thing starts again.

Every ending is the start of the next story. The Fool's Journey through the Major Arcana serves as a powerful metaphor for the human experience. By exploring these archetypes, we can gain profound insights into our own lives. Embrace the non-linear nature of the journey, navigating through various stages simultaneously. Together, these 22 cards offer the Fool opportunities to confront demons, experience upheaval, find hope, navigate the unknown, discover joy, face judgment, and achieve fulfillment.

And if a Fool can do it, well, so can we.

Not confident in your reading abilities just yet but still want to consult the cards?

Let our seasoned Tarot Readers do the work for you!