The Fool Meets Death
I’m enjoying my examination of various pairings of the Major Arcana, and for this article, I’ll look at the uncomfortable meeting between the young, innocent Fool and inescapable Death. Fresh new life encounters a withering ending. It sends shivers up the spine.
Yet, this combination offers so much in the way of guidance, wisdom, and opportunities for a thorough life assessment.
Firstly, a quick look at the meaning and symbolism of the Fool and Death cards individually.
The Fool: A Quick Overview
When you look at the blissful Fool, you can see the embodiment of the spirit of adventure. He’s a blank slate, ready for life to write its journeys, good and not-so-good. The Fool is full of wonder; everything is new to him. He knows nothing of setbacks or negativity, so he’s willing to take risks, caring nothing for his safety and wellbeing. It’s all a game.
The number zero represents unlimited potential, that blank slate quality. It has no beginning and no end. Zero is eternity; nothing and everything in the universe. It is infinite possibilities. A number that is not a number. It is exactly what Pythagoras named it, ‘the cosmic egg’.
So much has been written about zero that I encourage you to explore the concept of all and nothing existing in the same symbol.
In the same way that abstract zero stands outside of the range of concrete numbers, the Fool stands aside from the rest of the Major Arcana. It has no designated place— he’s free to wander and meet the characters represented by the other cards. He can learn, experience, and gain wisdom along the way.
The Fool card is filled with symbolism; perhaps it is the most symbolic card in the whole deck. Let’s look at it in detail.
The young Fool is often seen approaching a cliff edge. His head held high means he can’t see the danger. He’s about to take a fall or perhaps a leap into the unknown.
He carries a small bag tied to a staff over his shoulder, Some tarotists suggest that along with the staff, the bag holds the other three tarot elements, perhaps a jar of soil, a vial of water, and a container of air. Or maybe it simply holds essentials for the journey—a cheese sandwich, a bar of chocolate, and a flask of coffee.
The white rose he holds in his other hand is a symbol of innocence and purity, emphasizing his lack of a prejudiced perception.
His little dog follows behind, reminding the Fool that before he takes that leap, he must consider his responsibilities. Even the most carefree among us have some kind of social obligation, even if it is just a small dog. On the other hand, the dog might be trying to warn the Fool that he is about to take action that is undoable.
In the background stands a mountain range. Mountains represent challenges and the prospect of enlightenment. Perhaps it is the very place where the Hermit roams. Whenever I see a mountain range in the cards, it reminds me that the Hermit is there, waiting to impart some wisdom or lesson of importance.
The rising sun promises a new day, a new start. It brings clarity if we are willing to open our eyes and see from other perspectives.
There is a jaunty red feather stuck in the Fool’s cap. Red symbolizes passion, inspiration, and spiritual determination.
The Fool wears yellow boots. Yellow signifies learning and study as well as enthusiasm and optimism.
In the Rider-Waite deck, the Fool’s tunic is embroidered with pomegranates. They represent abundance and the divine feminine. It also has embroidered grapes which symbolize fertility and spiritual fulfilment. The tunic’s vibrant colours mirror the Fool’s free spirit and also the complexity of his life journey.
Some decks show the Fool wearing ragged clothing that shows he really couldn’t care less about appearances.
Death—Symbolism and Meaning
Death is numbered thirteen in the Major Arcana procession. Unlucky for some. But it also reduces to four, the number of stability. It shows that the death experience is the most sure, the one adventure we can all count on having. Throughout life, we make choices, are subject to external factors, and are unique in the comic strip of our lives, but death is universal. No escape.
The skeleton not only symbolizes death, it also represents the ongoing journey after death. It is the core structure of human beings, the framework. It may be more about our deep consciousness than about bones.
Death carries a scythe, the traditional implement of cutting and harvesting. The scythe reaps what has been sown. It clears away the old to make space for the new growth.
The skeleton wears black armour, not for protection but to show invincibility and inevitability. There’s no avoiding death when he comes a-calling.
The white horse symbolizes purity and the spiritual aspect of death’s transformative process.
The sun sets between two towers, reminiscent of the Moon card. It reminds us that there will be one final sunset before we pass through the portal.
A King lies dying at the horse’s feet, showing no one is entitled to exemption.
A child looks up curiously at Death, showing no fear. He may be demonstrating an acceptance of inevitable change.
A Bishop pleads with Death, resisting, thinking he can bargain for his life. It won’t work; he will succumb.
There is a river in the background; possibly, it is the river Styx that separates the living world from the dead.
In some decks, Death carries a pennant, with the symbol of a white rose, again meaning the cleansing of the soul through death. The Fool also carries the white rose of purity. I love it when two cards are linked by symbolism.
The Dynamics of the Fool and Death Combination
This combination balances on the edge of a paradox. Looking over that cliff edge, the Fool seems destined for extinction before his life has begun. Where does that leave the seeker in the context of a reading?
Going back to the symbology, there is much common ground between the two cards. Purity, transformation, adventure, and spirituality. And, of course, the appearance of Death does not usually mean a physical human death, but the death of some life aspect. For example, a job, a marriage, a friendship, the passing of childhood, or some other thing.
The Fool is ready for a transformative experience; Death is there to provide one such avenue. The cliff edge becomes a metaphorical doorway where the old is left behind and the new lies ahead. Are you, as the seeker, ready to take the jump?
That career that has taken you so far but now feels like a steel trap is about to let you go. The relationship which seemed so hopeful has outlived your love, and it’s time to move on. Your entry to adulthood means leaving behind the remnants of childhood, while independence beckons with a skeletal finger.
Death is not the end in this combination, Death is merely a transition, which may be easily welcomed or strongly resisted but never avoided. Take on the curiosity of the beginner and go willingly towards the next stage of your life.
These two cards hold the promise of change with the accompanying shedding of the old and the prospect of adventure and experience. Trust that your feet will know the steps of the new dance.
Interpretive Options
As with all combinations in readings, there is no one-size-fits-all. That’s why, when talking about card interpretations, I use ‘perhaps’, ‘could’, and ‘maybe’ a lot. I don’t like doing it, but there’s no other way—the cards are rarely definitive. It’s a pick-and-mix; it depends on circumstances, personalities, choices, and many other factors. There is never a hard and fast meaning with tarot; it is ever-shifting, taking on the colours of the people involved. Having said that, it’s possible to lay out a selection of possible interpretations.
Personal Growth: The appearance of the Fool and Death in a reading may show that the seeker is about to undergo significant personal development. As I mentioned previously, this could relate to anything that is important. Whatever it is, it will lead to a greater understanding of self.
New Beginning After an Ending: When a welcome new something comes to you, you have to make space for it. That may be in your mind, or an actual physical space. That is the ending. You can’t take on a new full-time job without relinquishing the old. If your closet is full, you can’t buy a new winter coat until you throw away another garment to make room. If you fall in love, your existing love will end, or at least it will irrevocably move into a new phase. And that situation might apply to a single relationship, if you know what I mean? When you go to university far from home, you have to wave goodbye to your parents… and usually, things are never the same again as you transition to adulthood.
Resisting Change: In these circumstances, the Fool encourages you to take the step because resisting the inevitable is futile.
Life Transition: The cliff edge is now a launchpad, whether it’s graduation, marriage, birth, house move, job change, or whatever. Death marks the brief time between the old and the new. There may be happiness; there may be regret. There is almost certainly doubt. Go happily and expect the best.
Evolving Relationships: As mentioned in ‘New Beginning After an Ending’ above, relationships, whether they be personal, family, or friendships have a way of evolving. Often, this happens in a gradual way, but sometimes it’s faster and quite traumatic. When these cards appear in a relationship reading, expect challenges.
Decision Making: This is life-changing stuff. You will have to make a choice which can mean ‘life before’ and ‘life after’. You will have to let something go in order to choose the new. If you don’t make the choice, often it will be made for you—a Tower event, perhaps.
Also, don’t forget, the surrounding cards will emphasize or mitigate the interpretation.
Final Words on This Tarot Combination
I hope you find this combination of tarot cards as fascinating as I do. They offer a powerful doorway to personal transformation. The key is not to be afraid or avoid what’s coming. Take the leap.
Further Reading
Tarot and the Archetypal Journey: The Jungian Path from Darkness to Light by Sallie Nichols. Sometimes, I forget I have this very elucidating book. Every time I do remember to pick it up, I find another nugget of wisdom.
In case you are interested in checking out the Vice Versa Tarot, pictured above, which has dual imagery, i.e. front and back images, you can get a copy at Amazon.
Originally published by the author at the HubPages network.
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