0. The Fool
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Welcome to Soulchology’s worksheets, your starter-kit into an intuitive self-enquiry using tarot and astrology. I write these in my usual dry humour, which reflects the tone of my sessions too, because learning is intense enough without stripping it of humanity. A little wit makes the wisdom easier to digest!
Anyway, while full sessions include numerology, Lenormand, and therapeutic layers, these worksheets are your solo starter kit designed to get you going without frying your nervous system.
Grab your deck, take a breath and don’t overthink it. No altar required. You can read these on your lap, mid-commute, or in bed with questionable lighting. If you know current transits, great, add them in. If not, the cards still work because they’re generous like that.
And, if you shuffle really fast, they love to fling out like you’re live in an episode of Ghosts and Trevor is standing next to you.
Each sheet prompts you to connect the cards with your real life, that is, not your aspirational, one-day-when-I-journal-daily life. Pay attention to the artwork, colours, symbols, and emotional tone because tarot is layered, not linear. Study only what leaps out, don’t go looking for clues.
This isn’t about mystical perfection, it’s about noticing yourself. Your thoughts, your choices, your patterns. If you’re new to tarot and feeling twitchy about it, you might want to read my piece on Substack that gently dismantles the pressure.
My advice is to pull (or fling) your card at the end of the day, not first thing. That way, you’re reflecting and not pre-loading your brain with vague forecasts. It’s a faster way to build intuitive confidence and a more honest way to learn what the cards actually mean to you.
i. The Nutshell
Upright
Ah, The Fool, Tarot’s holy troublemaker and sacred wanderer. Numbered zero, which is either nothing or everything depending on your mood, The Fool is happy in his space, wide-eyed and lightly packed, trusting that the universe is more “benevolent cosmic dance” than “unforgiving bureaucratic nightmare.” This card represents the raw spark of potential, the moment before the story begins, when anything is possible and logic has yet to crash the party.
The Fool invites you to drop the script. Step forward. Say yes before you’re ready. It’s the quiet, or loud if you’ve been in denial for too long, nudge to surrender control and start walking, even if all you’ve packed is a Twix and vague enthusiasm. There’s wisdom in that naivete. There’s a kind of holy courage in letting the story unfold, one leap at a time.
See also The Fool 22, because if your deck doesn’t have this extra card, The Fool may appear in your reading as a pointer to The Fool 22’s energy’s instead.
Keywords: New beginnings, trust, spontaneity, open-hearted risk, naïve optimism.
Translation: Leap first, ask questions mid-air.
Reversed
If the upright Fool is a spiritual free-climber, the reversed Fool might be more of a cliff-diver without a parachute, or worse, someone paralysed at the edge, building a very elaborate pros-and-cons list. This version of the card signals either too much trust in chaos or not nearly enough. Recklessness, hesitation, or a charming cocktail of both.
You might be leaping with your eyes closed and your brain off, ignoring all warning signs like a mystic after several Red Bulls. Or, conversely, you're gripping the edge like a Virgo in a hurricane, too afraid to begin because something, anything or everything, could go wrong and mess up their carefully curated ducks in a row. The reversed Fool says: pause and breathe. Are you running because you’re avoiding stillness and frozen because you know it’s wise, or because it’s safe? This isn’t a no but it is a “not like this.”
Keywords: Recklessness, fear, hesitation, poor judgment, foolish risks.
Translation:You’re either frozen on the cliff or cartwheeling off it blindfolded.
ii. Illus-traits
A quick glance at The Fool's symbolic traits in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck - what's hidden in plain sight?
The Knapsack - Carries only what’s essential, often unknowingly. Suggests unconscious potential rather than preparation.
White Rose - Purity of intent, not naivety. A willingness to begin without agenda.
The Dog - Instinct or loyalty—both helpful and cautionary. A nudge to stay awake.
The Cliff’s Edge - Imminent shift. One step away from consequence or liberation.
The Sun - Clarity is present, but the Fool hasn’t looked up to see it yet.
iii. Influences
Planetary: Mars symbolises the warrior spirit, assertiveness, territoriality, rage and possible self destruction whilst Uranus represents innovation, individuation, autonomy, eccentricity, rebelliousness and sudden change.
Natal House(s): The first house represents your sense of self, personal identity, outward persona and how you present yourself socially. In contrast, the twelfth house signifies closures, challenges, spiritual dimensions and the act of letting go.
Astrological Sign(s): Aries symbolises bravery, leadership, and fresh starts. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries relates to self-identity and new beginnings. Aquarius embodies the essence of individuality, challenging authority and explores the themes of alienation and dissociation. This invites you to embrace your authentic self, take assertive steps to express who you truly are, assert your own authority, and recognise instances of loneliness in your life.
Numerologically: 0 (zero) symbolises choice, providing the freedom to either select a direction or simply go with the flow. The concept of free will means that zero can manifest as either a significant challenge or a relatively easy experience, depending on the choices you make. While it does not signify a life devoid of challenges, it does present an opportunity to attain a greater level of awareness and understanding through a variety of life experiences.
Element – Air: Air governs thoughts, words, and ideas. The Fool embodies open skies; curious, impulsive, and free. What ideas or dreams invite exploration without too much planning?
iv. A Day in the Life of The Fool
Well That Escalated Quickly
You buy a one-way ticket to “start fresh” and forget to pack underwear… or you quit your job on a whim and realise halfway through a spontaneous road trip that you left your wallet, dignity and dental insurance behind.
Adjusting the Knobs
You tell your crush how you feel via meme and then immediately turn off your phone, or you try a new recipe by “intuition” and end up eating cereal for dinner.
Unsubscribed from Self-Sabotage
You suddenly wonder if you should start painting again, or you google “how to raise goats” just to see.
Writing the TED Talk
You follow a weird little nudge, end up exactly where you didn’t know you needed to be, and somehow it all works; free lunch, perfect timing and a breeze that smells like a plot twist in your favour.
v. Working with these Energies
Balancing Bold Energy with Mindful Presence
The Fool and Aries are basically the cosmic duo of “let’s just do it and see what happens.” Both champion bold beginnings, daring leaps and the occasional glorious face-plant. But before you charge forward like a ram with a to-do list and no sense of direction, take a breath. Presence, pace and trust are the real magic here.
Aries gives you the fire to move whilst The Fool hands you the open-hearted enthusiasm to say yes, but neither are suggesting you abandon all forethought like it’s a bad ex. If The Fool shows up reversed, that’s your cue that perhaps enthusiasm has turned into an escape velocity. So instead of sprinting into the void, consider pausing just long enough to feel your feet on the ground. That pause is the middle path to self-trust, and the difference between mindful action and yet another lesson you’d probably prefer to swerve.
1. Embrace new beginnings with reflection and trust by considering a time when you took a leap of faith:
What was the outcome and how did it change you?
What new beginnings are calling you now?
When have you trusted your instincts, what happened and how can you increase trust in your intuition today as a result?
2. Explore spontaneity and innocence with awareness by thinking about a recent spontaneous action or decision:
How did it feel?
What did you learn?
How can you honour the honesty and sincerity of The Fool whilst staying rooted in the wisdom of your past experiences?
3. Harness astrological energy for inspired change:
In what ways are you being called to innovate or initiate right now?
How do Uranus (change) and Aries (drive) show up in your life?
What bold but meaningful action can you take this week to move forward with clarity?
4. Identify extremes and re-balance by reflecting on a recent moment where you were either impulsive or overly hesitant:
What was the trigger, and as a result, what were the extremes in your thoughts and/or behaviours?
How could you have brought in more balance?
What would walking a middle path have looked like in that moment?
5. Practice mindful action to anchor energy by choosing a simple activity like drinking tea, going for a walk, or stretching:
During the activity, stay present. Notice sensations, sounds, textures, and observe any impulses to rush or disengage.
After the activity, reflect on how it felt to slow down and stay present?
How might this support you in balancing the bold energy of Aries with the openness of The Fool?
vi. Building Skills
Mindfully Noticing Emotion Without Judgement
This short practice helps you stay present with your emotions, without needing to change them, analyse them or push them away. Emotions are experiences to notice and not problems to solve.
Begin by sitting comfortably.
Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a few slow, steady breaths, longer exhales than inhales. Let your body settle.
Now, gently bring your attention to what you’re feeling emotionally. Don’t name it right away. Just sense: Is there heaviness? Restlessness? A flutter in your chest? Let yourself feel whatever is there, without trying to fix it.
If you notice thoughts or judgments such as, “I shouldn’t feel this,” “This is too much,” or “I’m being dramatic”, simply notice them, then imagine them floating downstream like leaves on water, passing by, not needing your attention.
Remind yourself you have a right to feel what you feel.
Stay with this awareness for five minutes. Observe how the emotion naturally shifts, expands, or fades. You’re witnessing the flow rather than controlling it.
Today, practice this while gently reflecting on something that feels risky or uncertain.
Can you stay with it without jumping to action or avoidance? The goal isn’t to feel better. It’s to get better at feeling.
vii. Embodiment
Tarot is a language, but it’s also a felt experience. Embodiment is how you move it from the page into your body, your senses, your real life. This presence over performance. Before you try and memorise what The Fool means, feel its meaning.
When you learn a card through sensation, i.e. what it smells like, where it lands in your body and how it shows up in your day, you create a personal, unforgettable map. The Fool then turns into more than a suggestion and becomes part of you.
Smell: If The Fool were a scent, what would it be? Fresh air? Citrus? Wildflowers on an open road?
Body: Where do you feel it when you think about freedom or risk, your chest, your feet, your stomach?
Soundtrack: What song feels like The Fool’s energy right now?
Action: What could you do today that feels a little spontaneous, playful, or brave, even if it’s small?
Nature cue: Go outside. What in your surroundings reflects Fool energy? An open sky? A stray dog? A path you’ve never taken?
Notice what shifts: The goal is to feel alive, it’s not analysis.
viii. Your Impressions
Look at The Fool card in your own deck. Take a moment to observe without overthinking.
What stands out to you most?
How does this card feel in your body or mood - light, tense, free, uncertain?
If this card whispered a sentence to you, what would it say?
ix. Intuitive Meaning
Use this space to reflect on what The Fool means to you personally, not just what guidebooks say
When have you been The Fool in your life, inspiring or messy, or both?
What are you afraid to leap into and what might be waiting on the other side?
What would it mean for you to trust the journey, even if you can’t see where it’s going?
Applied insight with a 3-card micro spread using The Fool as your anchor:
What leap is calling me now?
What fear or belief keeps me from stepping forward?
What energy will support me if I do?
Pull cards. Note your feelings. Don’t rush the answers and let them unfold.
Write your own Keywords
Instead of copying from a book, write three you words. Not just “freedom” or “new beginning,” but words or phrases that encompass your lived experience:
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x. Closing Reflection: Track Your Evolving Lens
Your relationship with each card will grow over time because it’s meant to shaped by your life. Consider the prompts below to revisit and reflect.
What I thought this card meant when I first pulled it: —————————————————
A recent experience that changed how I see it: —————————————————
How I feel about it now, in my body or life: —————————————————
What surprised me as this card kept showing up: —————————————————
One way this card is living in my life right now: —————————————————
If this card visited me today as a guide, what would it want me to remember? —————————————————
Revisit these after a week, a moon phase, or a meaningful moment. Let the card evolve as you do.
If you feel a quiet sense of recognition, curiosity and want to explore it, browse the sessions page for what feels right.