The Journal · fool's journey

7 August 2026 · 17 min read

The complete Major Arcana of the Rooted Remembrance Tarot, the deck that walks beside the Fool throughout this journey.

Part Two, Through Darkness into Light

"The deepest wisdom is often discovered after we have walked through our greatest challenges."

By the time the Fool reaches this stage of his journey, he is no longer the carefree traveller who stepped so confidently from the cliff's edge. Life has shaped him through love, discipline, solitude and transformation.

Now he enters the most profound chapter of all. These cards represent the soul's darkest nights, greatest awakenings and ultimate triumph. They remind us that every life contains periods of uncertainty, but beyond every storm lies the promise of clear skies.

Card XIV, Temperance

Finding Harmony Within

Emerging from the profound transformation of Death, the Fool is greeted by the gentle presence of Temperance. One foot rests upon the earth while the other touches water, symbolising the balance between the practical and the emotional, the physical and the spiritual. Water flows effortlessly, mixing between two cups, illustrating that life is rarely about extremes. Instead, fulfilment is found through balance, patience and gentle integration.

Temperance teaches the Fool that healing cannot be rushed and after every ending comes a period of adjustment. New beginnings require time to take root, just as a newly planted tree cannot be hurried into maturity.

In modern life, we are often encouraged to seek instant results. Temperance offers a quieter message.

• Slow down.

• Breathe.

• Allow yourself the grace to grow naturally.

This card encourages moderation in all things. Whether balancing work and rest, giving and receiving, or speaking and listening, harmony becomes the foundation of lasting happiness.

The Spiritual Lesson

Life flourishes when we learn to live in balance rather than excess.

Reflection

"Where in my life could I invite more patience, moderation and harmony?"

Pictured: Temperance, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XV, The Devil

Breaking the Chains We Cannot See

Every traveller eventually faces their shadow. The Devil represents those invisible chains that prevent us from living freely.

• Fear.

• Self-doubt.

• Negative thinking.

• Unhealthy habits.

• Material attachments.

• False beliefs.

Many traditional tarot illustrations show two figures standing in chains before the Devil. Yet upon closer inspection, the chains hang loosely around their necks, they can remove them. This is one of tarot's most powerful messages.

Often, the prison exists only because we believe we cannot leave.

The Fool begins to understand that true freedom does not come from changing the outside world.

It begins by changing himself.

The Devil asks difficult questions.

What stories do you tell yourself?

What fears keep you small?

What habits prevent you becoming who you were born to be?

By recognising these patterns, the Fool takes the first step towards liberation.

The Spiritual Lesson

Freedom begins with awareness.

Reflection

"What belief, habit or fear is holding me back from living authentically?"

Pictured: The Devil, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XVI, The Tower

When Everything Changes

If the Devil reveals the chains, the Tower breaks them. Lightning strikes an ancient tower.

• The crown falls.

• Walls crumble.

• The foundations collapse.

At first glance, the image appears frightening, yet the Tower is not a card of punishment. It is a card of truths, sometimes we build our lives upon beliefs that are no longer true.

Perhaps we have outgrown a relationship,

A career,

A way of thinking,

A version of ourselves.

The Tower clears away what has become unstable, making space for something far stronger.

Many people can recognise Tower moments in their own lives.

• Unexpected redundancy.

• The end of a long relationship.

• Moving home.

• Illness.

• A sudden awakening that changes everything.

Although these experiences are rarely comfortable, they often become the turning points that ultimately lead us towards a more authentic life.

The Fool discovers that even when life seems to be falling apart, something deeper is often falling into place.

The Spiritual Lesson

Sometimes life dismantles what no longer serves us so that we can rebuild upon truth.

Reflection

"What old foundation in my life is ready to be replaced with something stronger?"

Pictured: The Tower, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XVII, The Star

Hope After the Storm

After chaos comes stillness.

After darkness comes light.

The Fool now encounters one of the most comforting cards in the tarot.

The Star.

A peaceful figure pours water onto both land and water beneath a sky filled with brilliant stars.

• Hope has returned.

• Healing has begun.

The Star asks for nothing except trust.

Not blind optimism.

Not unrealistic expectations.

Simply quiet faith that healing is possible. For many people, the Star appears after periods of grief, anxiety or significant life change. It reminds us that we are never truly alone. Even the smallest star shines brilliantly against the darkest sky.

The Spiritual Lesson

Hope is often strongest after adversity.

Reflection

"What gives me hope, even during difficult times?"

Pictured: The Star, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XVIII, The Moon

Walking Through Uncertainty

The Fool's journey now becomes mysterious once more. The bright certainty of daylight fades beneath the silver glow of the Moon.

• Dreams become vivid.

• Instincts awaken.

• Old fears resurface.

The Moon represents those periods in life when the destination is unclear. We cannot yet see the whole path, we question ourselves, we wonder whether we are making the right decisions. Yet the Moon reminds us that uncertainty is not failure.

It is simply part of the journey.

Not every answer arrives immediately.

Sometimes we must trust our intuition long before logic catches up.

The Fool learns to walk forward despite not seeing the entire road ahead.

The Spiritual Lesson

Trust your intuition when certainty is unavailable.

Reflection

"Am I allowing fear to cloud my intuition, or am I quietly trusting my inner wisdom?"

Pictured: The Moon, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XIX, The Sun

Living Authentically

Morning arrives, the clouds disappear. Warm sunlight fills the landscape. The Fool has emerged from darkness with a renewed appreciation for life.

The Sun represents joy, vitality, confidence and authenticity.

It reminds us that happiness often comes from something beautifully simple. Being ourselves.

Children embody the energy of the Sun naturally, they laugh freely, they explore fearlessly.

They celebrate life without self-consciousness. As adults, we sometimes forget this.

The Sun invites us to rediscover our own sense of wonder.

• To celebrate our achievements.

• To embrace gratitude.

• To share our light with others.

The Spiritual Lesson

Your greatest gift is being authentically yourself.

Reflection

"Where in my life do I feel most alive and joyful?"

Pictured: The Sun, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XX, Judgement

Awakening to Your True Self

As the Fool nears the end of his journey, he pauses to reflect upon everything he has experienced.

Judgement represents awakening rather than judgement in the ordinary sense.

• It is a moment of clarity.

• A spiritual awakening.

The Fool looks back with compassion rather than regret.

Every mistake carried a lesson, every challenge strengthened his character, every joy became a treasured memory.

Judgement reminds us that growth requires forgiveness.

Not only forgiving others, but forgiving ourselves. Only then can we truly move forward.

The Spiritual Lesson

Growth begins when we release regret and embrace wisdom.

Reflection

"What past experience can I now view with compassion instead of criticism?"

Pictured: Judgement, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

Card XXI, The World

Completing the Circle

The Fool reaches the final card of the Major Arcana, The World.

Here he discovers not an ending, but a profound sense of completion.

• The lessons have been learned.

• The fears have been faced.

• The soul has grown.

The World represents fulfilment, integration and harmony.

Every previous card has contributed to this moment.

Without the uncertainty of the Moon, the joy of the Sun would not shine so brightly. Without the upheaval of the Tower, the hope of the Star would hold less meaning. Without Death, there could be no renewal.

The Fool finally understands that every experience, both joyful and painful, has shaped the person he has become.

Yet something remarkable happens.

Standing at the completion of the circle, he notices another familiar figure waiting patiently at the beginning of a new path.

The Fool.

Once again.

Life itself is not a straight line.

It is a spiral, each new beginning carries the wisdom of every journey that came before. Every ending opens the door to another adventure. Every reading of the tarot invites us to begin again.

The Spiritual Lesson

Completion is simply the beginning of a new cycle.

Reflection

"Looking back over my own journey, what lessons have brought me to where I stand today?"

Pictured: The World, from the Rooted Remembrance Tarot.

The Universal Story We All Share

The Fool's Journey is far more than a sequence of tarot cards.

It is the story of every human life, we begin with innocence, we learn, we love, we lose, we change, we heal. We discover who we truly are.

That is why the Major Arcana continues to resonate with readers across cultures and generations. These cards are not merely predicting the future.

They are illuminating the path we are already walking.

Every tarot reading becomes an opportunity to recognise where we are on that path and to trust that each experience, however challenging, is helping us become wiser, kinder and more authentic.

The Fool's greatest discovery is not hidden within any single card.

It is the realisation that the journey itself has always been the destination.

Bringing the Journey Into Your Own Life

"The Fool's Journey is not simply a story contained within the tarot, it is the story we continue to write every day of our lives."

By the time the Fool reaches The World, he has discovered something remarkable. The people he met were never strangers. The Magician showed him his own potential, The High Priestess revealed his intuition.

The Emperor taught discipline,

Strength revealed his courage.

The Hermit illuminated his inner wisdom, The Devil exposed his fears, The Star restored his hope. Every Major Arcana card reflected a different part of himself.

This is why the Fool's Journey continues to resonate with tarot readers across the world. These timeless archetypes are not distant mythical figures; they are living symbols that speak to our own experiences, our relationships, our dreams and our personal evolution.

Whenever we shuffle a tarot deck, we are not simply asking what will happen next.

We are asking:

"Where am I on my own journey?"

Recognising Your Own Fool's Journey

One of the greatest gifts of tarot is its ability to help us understand where we are in life. Perhaps you have just started a new career, You are standing with The Fool.

Perhaps you are learning new skills, The Magician walks beside you. Maybe life feels uncertain and your intuition is growing stronger, the High Priestess is quietly guiding your steps.

Some people spend months in the gentle healing of Temperance. Others experience sudden life changing moments beneath The Tower. Many readers find themselves revisiting The Hermit several times throughout their lives, discovering that solitude is not isolation but an opportunity to reconnect with themselves.

There is no right place to be.

Every stage has something valuable to teach us.

The Fool's Journey Is Not a Straight Line

One of the most common misconceptions about tarot is that the Fool's Journey happens only once. In reality, life moves in cycles, You may complete one chapter only to find yourself standing once again at the edge of the Fool's cliff.

• A new relationship.

• A new home.

• A new business.

• Retirement.

• Parenthood.

• Bereavement.

• Healing.

Every significant life event begins another Fool's Journey.

Each time, however, you begin with greater wisdom than before.

You are never the same Fool twice.

Journalling Through the Major Arcana

Keeping a tarot journal is one of the most rewarding ways to deepen your understanding of the Major Arcana. Rather than trying to memorise keywords, allow each card to become a conversation with yourself.

You may wish to reflect on questions such as:

• The Fool

"Where am I being invited to trust life?"

• The Magician

"What strengths have I forgotten that I already possess?"

• The High Priestess

"What is my intuition quietly trying to tell me?"

• The Empress

"How can I nurture my creativity more fully?"

• The Emperor

"What structure would help my dreams become reality?"

• The Lovers

"Am I making choices that truly reflect my values?"

• The Chariot

"What goal deserves my complete focus?"

• Strength

"How can compassion become my greatest strength?"

• The Hermit

"Where do I need silence in order to hear myself clearly?"

• Wheel of Fortune

"What change am I resisting?"

• Justice

"Am I living in alignment with my own truth?"

• The Hanged Man

"Could a different perspective change everything?"

• Death

"What am I ready to release?"

• Temperance

"Where do I need greater balance?"

• The Devil

"What belief keeps me feeling trapped?"

• The Tower

"What old foundation is no longer supporting my growth?"

• The Star

"What gives me hope?"

• The Moon

"Can I trust my intuition even without certainty?"

• The Sun

"What brings genuine joy into my life?"

• Judgement

"What lesson has life recently revealed?"

• The World

"How have I grown during this chapter of my journey?"

Choosing a Tarot Deck for Your Own Journey

Every tarot deck tells the Fool's Journey in its own unique artistic voice. Some artists draw inspiration from mythology and folklore. Others celebrate nature, dreams or the cosmos. This diversity is one of tarot's greatest treasures.

At The Guilded Veil, we are passionate about supporting independent artists whose creativity brings fresh life to these timeless archetypes.

Whether you are captivated by the surreal photography of the Somnia Tarot, the dreamlike symbolism of the Lucid Dreams Tarot, the emotional storytelling of The Shadows We Cast Tarot, the deeply rooted wisdom of Rooted Remembrance Tarot, or the celestial beauty of Cosmosis Tarot, every authentic indie deck offers a new perspective on the Fool's timeless adventure.

A tarot deck should do more than simply look beautiful. It should speak to your soul. When you find a deck that truly resonates with you, every reading becomes more personal, more intuitive and more meaningful.

Why Supporting Independent Tarot Artists Matters

Every independent tarot deck begins with a single creative vision. Months, often years, are devoted to researching symbolism, sketching concepts, refining artwork, writing guidebooks and overseeing production. Behind every authentic deck stands an artist who has poured countless hours of imagination, passion and craftsmanship into bringing their vision to life.

By choosing genuine indie tarot decks, you help preserve originality, creativity and artistic integrity within the tarot community. Supporting independent creators encourages innovation and ensures that future generations of artists can continue sharing fresh interpretations of these timeless archetypes. Every authentic purchase is an investment in creativity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fool's Journey?

The Fool's Journey is a symbolic interpretation of the twenty two Major Arcana cards, representing the soul's path through life's experiences, challenges and spiritual growth.

Is the Fool's Journey based on historical tarot?

While the Major Arcana has existed for centuries, the idea of reading the cards as one continuous spiritual journey became popular during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and is now widely embraced by tarot readers worldwide.

Why does the Fool have the number zero?

Zero represents limitless potential. Unlike the numbered cards that follow, the Fool exists outside ordinary experience, symbolising infinite possibility and the beginning of every adventure.

Is the Death card something to fear?

No, the Death card almost always symbolises transformation, endings and renewal rather than physical death. It represents clearing away what no longer serves us so that new growth can begin.

Which Major Arcana card is the most powerful?

Every Major Arcana card carries equal importance. Their significance depends entirely upon where you are within your own personal journey.

Can beginners understand the Fool's Journey?

Absolutely, in fact, learning the Fool's Journey is one of the most enjoyable and intuitive ways to begin studying tarot because it connects each card into one meaningful story.

Does every tarot deck follow the Fool's Journey?

Yes, although artistic interpretations vary enormously, the sequence and underlying symbolism of the Major Arcana remain remarkably consistent across most traditional tarot decks.

How often do we experience the Fool's Journey?

Many times, every major life transition begins another cycle, allowing us to revisit familiar lessons with greater wisdom and experience.

Final Thoughts

The Fool's Journey is much more than a collection of tarot card meanings.

It is a map of the human experience.

Each of us has stood at the Fool's cliff, uncertain yet hopeful. Each of us has searched for the wisdom of the Hermit, survived the upheaval of the Tower and found renewed hope beneath the Star.

Each of us continues to walk our own unique path towards wholeness.

That is the enduring beauty of tarot.

Its symbols do not tell us who we should become, they gently remind us who we have always been.

So the next time you shuffle your tarot deck, pause for a moment before turning the first card.

Ask yourself:

"Where am I on my own Fool's Journey today?"

You may be surprised by the answer!

And wherever you find yourself, remember this:

• The journey is never truly over.

• The Fool is already preparing to take the very first step once again.

The twenty two Major Arcana of the Rooted Remembrance Tarot, from The Fool to The World.

Continue Your Tarot Journey

If this exploration of the Fool's Journey has inspired you to deepen your relationship with tarot, we invite you to discover the carefully curated collection of authentic independent tarot decks at The Guilded Veil.

Every deck we offer has been chosen for its artistry, quality and meaningful storytelling, helping you continue your own journey through the timeless wisdom of the Major Arcana.

Whether you are purchasing your very first tarot deck or adding another treasure to a growing collection, we hope you find one that speaks directly to your heart.

Happy reading and may your journey always be guided by curiosity, wisdom and wonder.

Over the next few blog posts we will be looking at the four suits within the Minor Arcana and how they relate to our everyday lives, starting with Pentacles.

• ♡• May your path be illuminated, your intuition trusted and your cards always reveal the wisdom you seek. Until next time... welcome to The Guilded Veil •♡•