The Wheel of Fortune

  "In this symbol I have again followed the reconstruction of Eliphas Levi, who has furnished several variants. It is legitimate--as I have intimated--to use Egyuptian symbolism when this serves our purpose, provided that no theory of origin is implied therein. I have, however, presented Typhon in his serpent form. The symbolism is, of course, not exclusively Egyptian, as the four Living Creatures of Ezekiel occupy the angles of the card, and the wheel itself follows other indications of Levi in respect of Ezekiel's vision, as illustrative of the particular Tarot Key. With the French occultist, and in the design itself, the symbolic picture stands for the perpetual motion of a fluidic universe and for the flux of human life. The Sphinx is the equilibrium therein. The transliteration of Taro as Rota is inscribed on the wheel, counterchangd with the letters of the Divine Name--to shew that Providence is implied through all. But this is the Divine intention within, and the similar intentionw ithout is exemplified by the four Living Creatures. Sometimes the sphinx is represented couchant on a pedestal above, which defrauds the symbolism by stultifying the essential idea of stability amidst movement.

  Behind the general notion expressed in the symbol there lies the denial of chance and the fatality which is implied therein. It may be added tha, from the days of Levi onward, the occult explanations of this card are--even for occultism itself--of a singularly fatuous kind. It has been said to mean principle, fecundity, virile honour, ruling authority, etc. The findings of common fortune-telling are better than this on their own plane."  A.E. Waite _Pictorial Key_

  This has to be one of my favorite cards and not really just for divination purposes...but also for the lessons of life that this card represents. What is the phrase- the only constant thing in life is change? This card shows the true cycle of life- from the smallest of projects to the life of an individual.

  In the Rider-Waite card we find three circles, in the middle circle we find the alchemical symbols for earth, air, fire, and water (salt, mercury, sulfur, solution). There are so many meanings for each of these terms...I'd strongly suggest that as part of your study of this card you make a subject heading for each of these and explore the variety of meanings, paths and contexts that each element brings. Do you see the salamanders of fire? What image does that bring to mind? What emotions do you associate with each of these? How do these all interrelate with each other?

  Depending on where you start the circle (in and of itself a thought provoking questions) you find the words TAROT or ROTA; Taro- the road of life, Rota- the wheel that turns. Now this looking clockwise- what if you read the wheel backwards (or life takes you backwards as well we know it can)? You get ORAT which finds its derivative in the greek "to speak" and TORA- knowledge or law (we saw this in the High Priestess card- remember?) We also find the tetragrammmaton of Yod, Heh, Vau , Heh- the Hebrew letters which symbolize "God"..or the universal creative process.

  There is the angel Typhon descending on the left side of the wheel- symbol of death...Anubis- the jackal-headed Egyptian guardian of the tombs rises on the right side of the wheel. Books in the background remind us of the knowledge of what has gone on and yet is still to be known and learned.

  In each corner of the card we again have the four elements represented: Upper left is Angel/man (air); lower left is the bull (earth); lower right is the Lion (fire) and upper right is the eagle (water). This is also interpretted as the archangels: Auriel (Taurs), Michael (leo) Gabriel (Scorpio) and Raphael (Aquarius).

  There is a blue sphinx sittting on top of the wheel (remember the sphinx discussion from the Chariot work) holding a sword- Sits on top of the wheel like a god,where he should be, the blue representing all levels of consciousness. Note the male sword and feminine breasts combined into one being. The snake is the symbol of life and fertility, of a being shedding its skin over and over...rebirthing.

  It is easy to first see in this card the divinatory meanings of fate, destiny, the wheel of life--and to see that it is a chance for someone to look at what fortune brings, or that indeed life is doing 'its thing'. At a deeper level is the caution to understand that all things in life go through this cycle. One has first the promise, the beginning, the building to finally reach the pinnacle, and the the slow turn downward where one finds death, destruction or transformation to start yet again.

  If one grieves, this card promises that the wheel is turning- sometimes so slowly that it hardly breathes, and sometimes so fast that it can throw you off of its spokes with its velocity. If one is happy- then this is a reminder to enjoy being in the moment...and fully appreciate life as it is.

  One of life's lessons, perhaps the most difficult is to remember that change will happen- yet all one truly has is the present moment. I think this paraphrase comes from the musical Rent-- the poignant reminder- there is no future, there is no past, there's only now.

  Now is all we have...the wheel will continue to turn, as it has since time beginning... look at the wheel as an opportunity to fully live in this moment...even if you do it only for a day. Remember- no future, no past- only now.

shadow

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