The Fool’s Journey: How Tarot Guides Us Through Life
- Soul Journey
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Unlock the Wisdom of Tarot: A Guide to Self-Discovery & Insight
For centuries, Tarot has served as a symbolic map of the human experience, offering insight into life’s challenges, transitions, and deeper meanings. Often misunderstood as mere fortune-telling, Tarot is, in reality, a tool for personal reflection and self-discovery—a way to connect with the wisdom already within you. Its origins stretch across esoteric traditions, drawing from Hermeticism, Kabbalah, and medieval mysticism. Today, its imagery can be found everywhere, from art and literature to movies and spiritual practices.
One of the most profound ways to engage with Tarot is through The Fool’s Journey, a narrative framework within the Major Arcana that mirrors the path of personal growth and transformation. This journey is not about a fixed destiny—it’s about understanding where you are, recognizing life’s lessons, and uncovering the next step on your path.
The Phases of The Fool’s Journey
The Fool’s Journey is a symbolic narrative that unfolds through the 22 cards of the Major Arcana, illustrating the soul’s path to wisdom, self-discovery, and spiritual enlightenment. Beginning with the Fool, Card number 0, a figure of pure potential and boundless curiosity, the journey weaves through life’s trials, lessons, and transformations, encountering archetypal forces that shape personal growth. Each card represents a pivotal moment of evolution, from the structure of the Emperor to the awakening of the Star, guiding the Fool toward deeper understanding. This cycle reflects the universal rhythms of existence, offering insight into our own spiritual and psychological development.
The Major Arcana’s 22 cards depict stages of human experience, guiding us through the arc of self-awareness, external challenges, and spiritual evolution. This journey unfolds in three broad phases:
Phase 1: Self-Awareness (Cards 1-7)
This phase represents the development of identity, personal power, and internal growth. Cards like The Magician (manifestation and willpower), The Lovers (relationships and choices), and The Chariot (determination and mastery) highlight the building blocks of the self.
Phase 2: Collective Influence (Cards 8-14)
Here, the focus shifts to how we navigate the world and integrate external lessons. Justice reminds us of cause and effect, The Hermit urges introspection, and Death symbolizes transformation and rebirth. This phase teaches us balance and surrender.
Phase 3: Cosmic Evolution (Cards 15-21)
In this final phase, we confront deeper truths and integrate the wisdom we’ve gained. The Devil challenges us to break free from illusions, The Tower shakes our foundations, and The Star offers hope. Ultimately, The World represents the completion of the cycle—wholeness, fulfillment, and readiness for a new beginning.
The Role of the Minor Arcana: Adding Depth & Context
While the Major Arcana represents significant life themes and spiritual lessons, the Minor Arcana brings those insights down to earth, highlighting the day-to-day experiences, emotions, and challenges that shape our journey. Comprising four suits—Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles—the Minor Arcana reflects different aspects of life: emotions and relationships (Cups), inspiration and action (Wands), thoughts and challenges (Swords), and material stability (Pentacles).
When a Minor Arcana card appears alongside a Major Arcana in a reading, it often adds detail and context to the overarching theme. For example, The Fool (Major Arcana) may signal a new beginning, but if paired with the Three of Pentacles, it suggests that collaboration and learning from others will be key to this new phase. Likewise, The Magician paired with the Eight of Swords may indicate that while you have the power to manifest your desires, self-doubt or limiting beliefs could be holding you back.
By working together, the Major and Minor Arcana create a nuanced and practical reading, offering both big-picture guidance and the specific, tangible steps that can help you navigate your journey with clarity and confidence.
Setting an Intention Before a Reading
Before engaging with the Tarot—whether in a professional reading or simply pulling a card at your local bookstore—it’s helpful to set an intention. This creates a meaningful space for insight.
Try this simple intention-setting exercise:
Find a quiet space. Take a deep breath and center yourself.
Ask yourself: What do I seek clarity on? Focus on open-ended inquiries like “What do I need to understand right now?”
Hold your question in your mind as you shuffle or prepare to receive a reading.
Remain open. The message may not always be what you expect, but trust that the cards will reveal what is needed in the moment.
By setting an intention, you create a sacred space for reflection, allowing the reading to be meaningful rather than arbitrary.
What to Expect in a Soul Journey Tarot Session
At Soul Journey, a Tarot reading is not about telling you what to do—it’s about guiding you toward what you already know deep within. Our sessions are designed to be supportive, intuitive, and insightful. Here’s what you can expect:
Discussing Your Why: We begin with a conversation about what has drawn you to the reading. Is there a challenge, question, or curiosity you want to explore?
Setting an Intention: We help you clarify what you hope to gain from the session.
Opening the Space: Through a brief meditation or breathwork, we create a space where intuition can flow freely.
Pulling the Cards: We draw a spread of cards, paying attention to patterns, symbols, and the energy they convey.
Deciphering the Message: Rather than dictating a rigid meaning, we work together to unpack the message, exploring how it connects to your life.
Integrating the Insight: We help you frame the reading so that it becomes a tool for awareness, rather than just an abstract message. You leave with clarity and a sense of direction, but always with the understanding that you hold the power in your own journey.
Sessions are available in person or via Zoom, offering accessibility no matter where you are.
A Sample Five-Card Tarot Reading
To illustrate how a reading unfolds, here’s a sample five-card draw with a mix of Major and Minor Arcana cards:
🃏 1. The Fool (Where am I now?) – You are at the start of a new adventure, full of potential and excitement. This card encourages openness and trust in the journey ahead.
🃏 2. Three of Cups (What is supporting me?) – Strong friendships, community, and celebration are surrounding you. Lean into the joy of shared experiences.
🃏 3. The Magician (What strengths can I rely on?) – You have all the tools to manifest what you desire. This is a time for confidence and action.
🃏 4. Eight of Swords (What is blocking me?) – A feeling of restriction or self-doubt is holding you back. The way forward is about shifting your mindset.
🃏 5. The Hierophant (What guidance should I follow?) – Seek wisdom in tradition, mentorship, or structured learning. A trusted guide may help you find clarity.
Each of these cards provides a clue, a piece of the puzzle that, when put together, offers a picture of where you are and what steps might be helpful next.
These clues are drawn into context around the intention that was set prior to the draw. The intention, the question, and the cards combine through a process of intuition, allowing deeper insights to emerge that are uniquely relevant to you.
Ready to Explore Your Own Reading?
Tarot is not about certainty—it’s about insight. If you’re feeling drawn to uncover the messages waiting for you, we invite you to book a Tarot session at Soul Journey. Whether you choose an in-person or Zoom session, we’ll help you interpret the signs, recognize the wisdom within, and step forward with clarity.
✨ Book your reading today and uncover the clues already present in your life.
We are located at 1600 Sarno Rd Suite 217
Melbourne, FL 32925
(321) 430-0911
MM45205
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