From Medieval Latin follus, from Vulgar Latin follis (foolish) meaning “windbag, empty-headed person.”

The Fool is an archetypal character common in art and storytelling, often with religions connotations (be it Christian, Buddhist, or Islamic). In the esoteric interpretations of Tarot, the fool is a naive protagonist traversing the mysteries of life. The “Fool’s Journey” is a symbolic representation of facing the unknown and encountering the fundamental archetypes of existence.

In other words, the fool is the beginning of every journey, and is, necessarily, the beginning of learning. One cannot see the unknown without conscious recognition that one is such a naive fool, that the unknown is indeed unknown (and awaits discovery).