The fool is about to step off the edge of the cliff.

Is he in danger?

It depends on which kind of Fool he is. You can determine this when you are reading for someone. Are they a ""damn fool" -- that is, are they trusting in a situation where even common sense dictates otherwise?

Or are they trusting in their Higher Power, in intuition that is gifted or well developed? That is a different matter.

It is up to you to determine that about the other person, having developed the ability to do that by spiritual discipline and rigorous self examination.

This also is a symbol for stepping off into the Unknown. The Fool is beginning this journey of life. For example, when we incarnate, we are in this position. Also when we begin major new phases of life.

For example, The Fool graduates from college and then has to enter the serious working world.

Or the young couple becomes parents for the first time and has to deal with the realities of 24/7 responsibility.

The Fool falls in love and decides to give love another chance!

The Fool's best friend is with him, guiding and helping.

This little dog represents our instincts. He is an animal and he is close to the ground. He looks little and not very powerful. But this is misleading. Our animal instincts are something that have been trained out of us in civilization Part of our task in becoming more aware, in evolving and reaching toward enlightenment, is to uncover our natural instincts and integrate them into ur overall personality and Self.

Remember how all the animals got to high ground before the tsunami hit while some humans actually ran down to the beach, toward the tsunami, to "watch". What has happened to their animal instincts? We need to take out "little dog" with us.

On the other hand, if the little dog is willing to walk off the edge of that cliff, then The Fool should be, too!

In his right hand, the Fool holds the knapsack and all his worldly possessions. There are sometimes in life when we wish we were this carefree or we could start all over!

The right hand in metaphysics symbolizes the known, the conscious, the "right" hand.

There is an old folksaying, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

This expresses a true metaphysical principle.

Let's see what The Fool's left hand is doing.

In his left hand The Fool holds a white rose. The white rose symbolizes purity and spirituality.

It would seem that whatever else he may think he is seeking, The Fool is seeking enlightenment.

Could this be you?
Of course it is.

The red feather coming out of the cap of The Fool will be seen later in the deck as a banner carried by the special child in The Sun Card.

This red feather symbolizes the lower chakra desires, such as lust and passion.

We need a healthy libido to take us through the process of enlightenment. Otherwise we would quit because it was so hard. (Hint: If it's not hard, it's not enlightenment.]

The knapsack holds The Fool's worldy possessions. I think with the knapsack, pretty much what you see is what you get.

Since it's held in the right hand, with his right hand The Fool (and you and I) seek material well being. With out left hand we seek enlightenment.

The white sun symbolizes the light behind the real sun, which is the Divine Light. The Fool is guided both by the little dog, his instincts, and by the Divine Light. All things considered it's ok for him to step off the cliff.

It's ok for you to take this Tarot Journey!