The Major Arcana are the set of 22 “trump” cards in a tarot deck. They are usually numbered from 0 to XXI.[1] The use of zero for The Fool is significant. Firstly, Zero is an Arabic numeral rather than a Roman number This sets The Fool apart from the other cards. Secondly, Zero is a circle with no beginning and no end.[2] Therefore, it represents not only The Fool’s new beginning, but his never-ending search for enlightenment. Finally, Zero can be an empty vessel[2], holding space for the knowledge that The Fool will acquire on his journey.
The Fool’s Journey Through the Major Arcana
The Fool’s Journey casts The Fool as the main character of the Major Arcana’s story. As he journeys through the other cards, he meets new teachers and learns life lessons from each card. On one hand, the Major Arcana can represent our journey through life. In this way, they show us big picture, long-term issues we may face. On the other hand, the Major Arcana can refer to a specific season or situation. Thus, they also show us life lessons that relate specifically to these times. We each play The Fool many times over throughout our lives.[3]
If Earth, Air, Fire, and Water represent the suits of the Minor Arcana, then Spirit represents the Major Arcana.[4] Spirit is what guides us based on higher principles. In the search for self and enlightenment represented by the Major Arcana, Spirit is a fitting element.
In a reading, we give the Major Arcana extra weight and consideration. They represent life lessons, karmic influences, and big archetypal themes influencing our lives and our souls’ journey. Upright Major Arcana cards call us to reflect on the life lessons and themes that are currently being experienced in life. When the Major Arcana appear upright in a reading, they prepare us for life-changing events that will have long-term effects. Alternately, reversed Major Arcana cards symbolize that we are not paying enough attention. In a reversed position, the Major Arcana indicate that we need to master the life lessons they represent before moving forward.
The 3×7 Theory of the Major Arcana
The Fool’s journey can be divided into three stages. There are many interpretations of the 3×7 grid, but only a few are discussed here.
One interpretation of these stages is based on Plato’s theory of the soul. According to this theory, the soul is divided into three parts. Firstly, the eros, or epithumetikon, is related to one’s desires. Secondly, the thymos, or themoeides, is related to spirit. Finally, the logos, or logistakon, is related to reason.[5][6] Another interpretation of the three stages is based on Sigmund Freud’s theory of the id, super-ego, and ego. According to Freud, the id represents instinctual desires, the super-ego represents ethics and morals, and the ego represents reason.[7] A simple, popular interpretation is that the three stages represent personal themes, themes about the world, and themes about the universe.
To visualize The Fool’s journey, organize the Major Arcana into a grid composed of four lines. At the top is The Fool, placed separately from the other cards. The Fool is taking the journey, and is therefore not a part of it.[8] Three lines of seven cards each follow The Fool. Cards I through VII make up the first row, while Cards VIII through XIV make up the second row. Finally, cards XV through XXI make up the third row.
In the outline of the Fool’s Journey below, you will find keywords in bold. It is important to note that these keywords are a combination of the traditional keywords for each card and my own experience. If these do not resonate with you, be sure to use keywords that do.
The Fool’s Journey: A Summary
The Fool (0) stands poised to begin a new journey. He feels excited, inspired, and free. He is spontaneous, welcoming the journey with open arms. Although he has high energy and is full of good intentions, he has no experience yet. He is naive and thus oblivious to the potential perils of his journey. His innocent faith propels him forward to learn and explore, no matter what may come. When The Fool reaches the end of his journey through the tarot, it is not truly over; rather, it simply starts again. In this way, The Fool depicts our journey through life, in which we never stop learning. The Fool represents the power of the present moment. He is unaware and thus unafraid to face the perils of the journey ahead, but it is this innocence and openness that make adventure possible.
Stage I: Eros, the Id, Personal Themes, Youth
During the first stage, we experiment with identity and personal desires. The Fool begins his journey at home, where he may be viewed as a newborn baby, oblivious to the world around him.
The Magician (1)
The Magician is representative of manifestation and the youthful conviction that anything is possible. The Fool uses everything available to him (often represented by cups, pentacles, swords, and wands in the imagery of The Magician’s card). He knows that it is possible to manifest anything he desires. The Magician represents the active power of creative impulse. He allows us to impact the world through the concentration of individual will and power.
The High Priestess (2)
The High Priestess is representative of our mysterious unconscious and is the gatekeeper of our intuition. She ushers The Fool into a world of divine wisdom and teaches him that things don’t need to be visible to be real. The High Priestess represents our unrealized potential, which is waiting for an active change to bring it to fruition.
The Empress (3)
As he becomes more aware of his surroundings, The Fool meets his mother in the form of The Empress. She represents our connection to Mother Earth and is a symbol of fertility. She nurtures our abilities and shows us our inner abundance. As a mother figure, she provides encouragement to explore everything we encounter and delight in the abundant goodness of our surroundings.
The Emperor (4)
The Emperor is the father figure of The Fool’s journey. He represents structure and authority. He begins to show The Fool that there are patterns in the world and that the world responds in predictable ways that can be explored. The Fool learns that his will is not always paramount and that there are rules to follow in the world. While these rules can be restrictive, they ensure that his path is safe and stable. The Emperor also reminds us of the importance of traditions and structure to keep us grounded on our spiritual journey.
The Heirophant (5)
The Heirophant is a symbol of a more formal education for The Fool. He represents teachers to guide The Fool in his spirituality in a more structured way. The Fool begins to be influenced by external forces. He is shaped by the teachers that he is learning from as he is exposed to culture, society, and religion. The Heirophant represents these organized belief systems that surround and inform The Fool. The Fool is trained in all the practices of his society and becomes part of a particular culture and worldview. He learns to identify with a group and discovers a sense of belonging. He enjoys learning the customs of his society and showing how well he is conforming to them.
The Lovers (6)
After so long alone, The Fool craves a partner on his journey. Enter The Lovers, who show The Fool the joys of partnership. He learns how to cooperate and find balance between his masculine and feminine energies. While he was mainly self-centered before, he now feels the urge to reach out and become one half of a loving partnership. He yearns for relationship.
The Chariot (7)
By now, The Fool has a strong identity and a certain mastery over himself. Through discipline and willpower, he has developed an inner control which allows him to triumph over his environment. The Chariot represents this victory. For the moment, The Fool’s assertive success is all he might wish, and he feels a certain self-satisfaction. His is the assured confidence of youth. With everything The Fool has learned so far, he now understands how to be successful using willpower and discipline. He rides The Chariot towards his goals and knows that he can achieve anything he wants with enough ambition and drive.
Stage II: Thymos, the Super-Ego, Worldly Themes, Adulthood
During the second stage, we grapple with ethics and difficult questions about who we are. The Fool strikes out in the world, where he faces the trials and tribulations of life.
Strength (8)
The Fool is presented with new challenges and must learn to draw on his Strength. To deal with the suffering and disillusionment he may face, he must develop his courage and resolve. He must find the heart to keep going in spite of setbacks. The Fool realizes that the unfettered ambition of The Chariot must be tempered by patience and tolerance. He begins to value self-control.
The Hermit (9)
Having learned so much and overcome some challenges, The Fool seeks solitude in order to go within and reflect on what he has learned. As The Hermit, he retreats to try to understand the world. He becomes absorbed in the search for answers born from a deeply felt need to find out why. The Hermit represents the need to find deeper truth. The physical world holds less attraction for him, and he looks to the metaphysical for answers.
The Wheel of Fortune (10)
Through his self-reflection, The Fool learns that everything is connected. He realizes that the Wheel of Fortune means that things will happen exactly when they are meant to. We are all subject to fate; whether it is good or bad depends largely on which way the wheel turns. The Fool begins to see the intricate patterns and cycles of the world, whose parts work together in harmony. The Fool may recognize his destiny in the sequence of events that led him to this turning point. He is ready for movement and action again, having seen himself in the bigger picture of the universal plan. His sense of purpose is restored.
Justice (11)
The Fool now knows that cause and effect relationships have brought him to this point. He takes responsibility for his actions and learns to act with integrity, as he knows his actions have consequences. He has also learned that the Universe will bring balance to every action and that there will always be Justice. This is an important time of decision for the Fool. Will he maintain the insights he has learned, or will he revert to an easier, less aware existence that closes him off from further growth?
The Hanged Man (12)
The Fool pushes on. He is still determined to realize his vision, but life’s challenges are not so easily tamed. Eventually, he comes across an experience that seems too difficult to endure. Humbled, he has no choice by to let go. As The Hanged Man, the fool feels defeated and lost, having sacrificed everything. His world is turned upside-down. However, when he relinquishes control, everything begins to work as it should. By returning to the openness and vulnerability of his youth, The Fool learns to surrender to his experiences rather than fighting them. Suspended in this timeless moment, free of urgency and pressure, The Fool is safe to explore different points of view. Although he feels at first that he has been martyred, he ends up serene and at peace.
Death (13)
It is at this point that The Fool experiences Death. The person he was falls away, his slate is wiped clean, and he enters a whole new phase of existence. This transformation enables The Fool to eliminate old habits and remove that which no longer serves him. This is a period of unavoidable change, but it is not a permanent state. Rather, it is a transition to a new, more fulfilling way of life.
Temperance (14)
Now that everything has been washed away, there is silence and peace. Since embracing The Hermit, The Fool has experienced many ups and downs and has swung wildly on an emotional pendulum. With Temperance, he realizes that he must be patient and find balance. He does not need to constantly pursue new things. He has come to appreciate moderation through his experience with the extremes. The Fool has now combined all aspects of himself into a centered whole. Compared to the powerful but rigid end of Stage I as The Chariot, The Fool has come a long way in realizing harmonious life.
Stage III: Logos, the Ego, Universal Themes, Maturity
During the third stage, we deal with our spiritual identity and seek our place in the universe. We journey from the physical world into a place of enlightenment.
The Devil (15)
The Fool is in a place of peace and serenity, but when he tries to start moving again, he is blocked by The Devil. He is still shackled to some emotional, physical, or financial baggage that is limiting his expansion. The Devil forces him to examine what is holding him back and let go of anything that is no longer serving him. The Devil represents the knot of ignorance and hopelessness that resides in all of us, so deeply ingrained that we do not even realize that we are enslaved to them. The price of our ignorance is an inner core of despair.
The Tower (16)
The Fool is held captive, having identified the attachments holding him back. Now The Tower crumbles, shaking him loose from these attachments. This sudden change feels terrifying, but is in his best interest. The Tower is a fortress of ego built around the powerful inner core. While it feels like protection, it is really a prison, and it is only through its release that we can truly find ourselves. The revelation experienced by the Tower’s crumbling is painful, but worthwhile. The darkness of despair is blown away in an instant to reveal the light of truth.
The Star (17)
The light of truth is The Star, which provides hope and a sense of renewal after the darkness of The Tower’s fall. The Star represents peace after the storm. The Fool is filled with serenity and tranquility, no longer hidden behind any disguise. The Fool is filled with inspiration, trust, and faith in himself and his future. He wishes to share his joy generously with the world and he opens his heart so that love may pour freely out.
The Moon (18)
However, lingering fears and subconscious programming may prevent The Fool from enjoying this new state of hopefulness and joy. The Fool’s joy is emotional and not yet subject to mental clarity; thus, he is susceptible to fantasy, distortion, and a false picture of the truth. The illusions of The Moon cast a shadow – in this case, old anxiety and fears which may rise to the surface as The Fool attempts to shine brightly as The Star. The Moon is not all bad: it can pave the way for creative imagination. However, deep-seated fears and anxieties may also arise, causing The Fool to feel lost and bewildered.
The Sun (19)
Having worked through this old fear energy, The Fool becomes The Sun. His imagination is directed by The Sun’s bright light; it is enlightening, and The Fool both feels and understands the goodness of the world. The Fool is completely renewed, and he enjoys a vibrant energy and enthusiasm. The Star’s openness has solidified into self-assurance, and The Fool is able to realize his greatness.
Judgement (20)
The Fool has now been reborn and can see his purpose clearly. He knows what he is meant to be doing on Earth. His false self has been shed, and his true self has manifested. He feels absolved and learns to forgive himself and others. The Fool’s personal day of Judgement has arrived; since he now sees himself clearly, he can choose wisely what to cherish and what to discard. There is no room left for illusions or false identities. At last, The Fool is answering his soul’s calling.
The World (21)
Now the Fool has reached the end of his journey. He has mastered The World, learning many lessons along the way, and now reenters The World with a more complete understanding. He has reached a new level of happiness and fulfillment. The Fool’s life feels full and meaningful. He is actively involved in The World and shares his unique gifts and talents to prosper at whatever he attempts. His accomplishments are many. Through perseverance and honesty, he reestablished the spontaneous courage that first impelled him on his search for Self, but now he is fully aware of his place in the world.
This cycle is over, but the Fool will never stop growing. Soon he will be ready to begin a new journey that will lead him to ever greater levels of understanding.
References
- Wilder, J. (2021). Tarot for Beginner Witches: Learn How To Read Tarot Cards For Divination and Spellcasting. Independently published.
- Shesso, R. (2007). Math for Mystics: From the Fibonacci sequence to Luna’s Labyrinth to the Golden Section and Other Secrets of Sacred Geometry. Weiser Books.
- Weber, C. (2016). Tarot for One: The Art of Reading for Yourself. Weiser Books.
- Snow, C. (2019). Queering the Tarot. Weiser Books.
- Hommel, B. (2019). Affect and control: A conceptual clarification. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 144, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.07.006.
- Jones, D. (2009). The Gift of Logos: Essays in Continental Philosophy. Cambridge Scholars Publising.
- Freud, S. (1994). The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud.London the Hogarth Press.
- Nichols, S. (2019). Tarot and the Archetypal Journey: The Jungian Path from Darkness to Light. Weiser Books.