The Fool assures us that, in our journey towards self-knowledge, even if we’re not fully aware of where we’re going, and at risk of falling or failure, we are never alone. The dog capering at The Fool’s side will warn him of the drop, perhaps, before he takes the step into the abyss. Or perhaps the dog is joyful because, although we perceive there to be a long drop about to befall The Fool, it is, in reality, only meter or so to the next bluff down.
The dog is The Fool’s companion and can represent our inner voice and awareness. This voice can warn us, or guide us, if we care to listen, and trust what it has to say.
The Fool speaks of new beginnings, the unknown, and personal development. His eyes are closed, in the Rider-Waite deck, and he is captured in the act of taking a leap of faith; and perhaps that is what we must all be prepared to do to begin our journey of self-discovery.
The Fool upright symbolizes correct action - even if everyone around you thinks you’ve got everything backwards - because it is action-driven by self-awareness and a trusting of the instincts. Therefore, when The Fool pops up reversed he often indicates incorrect action. This could either take the form of going against your judgment and taking a risky course of action despite your inner guide warning against it; or it sometimes means that you are resisting taking the first step of a journey due to, perhaps, fear of the unknown, or a lack of self-belief.
The sun blazing down upon The Fool, and his serene expression, can offer us comfort and strength at the beginning of our own personal journeys. As does his lack of a number: nothing is fixed yet, and so all possibilities and potentialities remain in play.