Spread: The Fool Reversed

Written By Nicole Beck

The Fool occupies a unique role in the tarot deck. Though he’s often listed as the first card, The Fool is numbered “zero" and therefore belongs nowhere and everywhere in the proper order of the deck. The Fool is your guide as you explore the tarot deck, and he is also you- beginning a journey with an open heart and trusting mind.

The Fool is usually depicted as a traveler, setting off at the beginning of a journey, accompanied by an animal companion, carrying all of his belongings on a stick slung over his shoulder. He may be shown about to step off a cliff into the unknown. He calls for a beginner’s mindset. Take a leap of faith, start where you are, and don’t concern yourself too much about the details or the struggles you will face in your journey. You get no where unless you take your first step. Trust your instincts, your relationships, and the universe to guide you and catch you when you inevitably fail.

Reversed, The Fool cautions that you’ve failed to listen to your instincts and intuition.

Perhaps you’ve failed to take a chance at a crucial moment. Perhaps you’ve been reckless, not trusting your intuition to take measured action, but also afraid to do nothing. Stay in touch with your intuition to know when you need to take great changes, when you need to proceed with caution, and when you need to do nothing at all.

This spread is designed to get you back in touch with your intuition and recalibrate.


Signifier: The Fool Reversed

  1. Where have you been ignoring your intuition? Where have you failed to listen to your inner wisdom?

  2. What need were you serving while by ignoring your intuition? Ignoring your instincts is often a sign of fear or instability. What feels unstable? What are you afraid of?

  3. What truth is your intuition trying to communicate to you? How can you face this truth head on?

  4. What emotions are with you in this moment? How can you honor those emotions without allowing them to dictate your behavior?

  5. What do you need to recalibrate to realign with your intuition and instincts?

Nicole Beck