Exploring the Tarot: The Fool & The Magician

Lesson One: The meaning and messages behind The Fool and The Magician tarot cards.

​Developing your tarot reading skills takes a lot of hard work. I figured that it would be easier for all of you to learn the tarot if I offer it to you in small chunks. Most tarot readers use the cards to prompt their intuitive abilities, but learning the meaning behind the cards can make it easier when you are first starting out. This lesson will focus on the first two of 22 Major Arcana cards in the tarot deck: The Fool and The Magician.


The Fool (0)
​The Fool is the first card of the Major Arcana in the tarot. It is governed by the number zero which represents the cycle of birth, life and death. The Fool is in essence the beginning point or the birth of our life path. As we go through the Major Arcana we follow a path of learning and growth; The Fool is the starting point for these lessons.

​I like to think of The Fool as the baby of the tarot. It is a card which is child-like in nature and which possesses an untainted innocence. This innocence is so pure that it naturally leads to good things. The Fool has an optimistic outlook on life.

​When this card appears in a reading it can signify optimisim in any pursuit. It suggests that you should dispel any worries or concerns you may have as whatever you are focused on at the moment will work out for the best. With this in mind, sometimes this can mean the growth of our soul. When we are learning important soul lessons we can go through some tough times and hardships, but the outcome is always positive and meaningful because of it.

​The Fool can also foretell a child-like person entering your life who will pick your mood up and make you feel carefree again. This person is usually a 'joker' who finds joy in living and adventure in everything they do.


​The Magician (1) 
​The Magician is the second card of the Major Arcana in the tarot. It is governed by the number one which represents a 'foot in the door' or the means to continue on life's path. The Magician is a mystic who has all the abilities needed to travel through the tarot. Most Magician cards show that The Magician has a pentacle, wand, sword and cup before him which are all at his disposal to use whenever he wants. (These four tools appear in the Minor Arcana in a taort deck, as we will look into at another time.)

​When The Magician appears in a reading it usually appears as a reminder that you have all the abilities, tools and means needed to make whatever pursuit you are looking into a success. This can be whether you are looking into work, travel, love, money, health or any other matter. The Magician is a reminder that you can do it and often it appears when we are going through periods of self-doubt and worry.


​The Fool and Magician are closely related. You could think of The Fool as the creative brain and The Magician as the logical brain. The Fool conjurs hopes and dreams whereas The Magician brings those hopes and dreams to life by adding his practical hand to it.

​The Fool and The Magician aren't typically cards which you'd pick to meditate or sleep on, but I do find that having The Magician card on your desk or around your work space, where you can see him, often brings a sense of determination and drive.

​Enjoy working with The Fool and The Magician. They are often cards which are overlooked and forgotten about since they aren't as emotionally deep as some other cards. Nevertheless, they are the start of a whole chapter on life, and a story isn't a story at all unless it has a beginning chapter.​