If you have studied Tarot you have likely heard of “The Fool’s Journey” – a conceptual and metaphorical journey of The Fool – card 0 – through the other 21 Major Arcana Cards. The Fool departs on his journey, innocent and hopeful and naïve; and encounters each of the Major Arcana cards where he learns an important life lesson and then continues on his journey.

As I reflect on this Fool’s Journey I contemplate how it is a classical and traditional way to learn about the Major Arcana – but in reality there is no set order in which the Fool might encounter each of these lessons. Tarot is like a book in which the pages are constantly rearranged and placed in a different order; this is the nature of the lessons and the readings we give with the cards.

Then I asked myself – what if we look at The Fool’s Journey in terms of The Wheel of The Year; with an astrological “Order”. This combines our Tarot learning with any Astrological study we might be doing – and helps us engage with The Wheel of The Year in yet another level of intentionality…

SO… this blog series was born! Welcome to The Fool’s Journey Through The Wheel of The Year!

This journey is cyclical – a wheel that doesn’t have a beginning or an end; but stories need beginnings, so we are going to start with Aquarius season and Imbolc.

Aquarius season is approximately from January 19 through February 19 each year.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Imbolc is the celebration of mid-winter – we are at the half-way point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Astrologically, Aquarius is the middle of the Winter Quadrant (Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces) and Imbolc is celebrated at the Middle of Aquarius Season – when the sun is at 15° Aquarius. With our modern Calendars, we celebrate this on or around February 1. (If you prefer astrological precision, you can always find out when the Sun will be at 15° Aquarius; in 2022 this falls on the night of February 3)

At this time of year, we collectively experience a feeling of starting over again – starting fresh. On New Year’s Day we set Resolutions, and for many people at Imbolc – it is a time of making wishes and setting our goals for the coming year. Spring is beginning in about 6 weeks – but any gardener knows that a successful garden begins before the seeds are even planted in the soil! There is some planning that happens; what kind of seeds do we want to get? How do we need to prepare the soil? Some plants need to be started indoors, and some need to be planted while it is still cold. But before all this comes one important thing – the decision to plant a garden or seed! The choice to try something new, or to have a goal is where we begin.

This is where we first meet The Fool – Major Arcana 0. Full of childlike exuberance, innocence, and even a bit naive – our fool has decided to try something new. Whether it is the garden that one is going to plant, or some other new adventure – the choice has been made and preparations begin. Traditionally, we see The Fool dancing joyfully along some mountain path – a knapsack of just a few of their necessities on their shoulder. The whole world lays out ahead of them waiting – which path will they choose? There is a sense of danger with the cliffside that the fool precariously walks upon; as with any journey if one is not careful things can quickly go awry. And this is the first time The Fool has walked this path – they do not know the way or what dangers lie ahead! But that does not stop our youthful and optimistic Hero – a soul who is determined to go out there and do the thing! Most cards also depict a companion animal like a small dog at the feet of the Fool – happily playing but also perhaps barking a warning for the Fool to look out and watch their step. The dog is the Fool’s instincts – which are the true guides at the beginning of any journey.