Wheel of Fortune (tarot card)

Last updated

Wheel of Fortune (X) from the Rider-Waite tarot deck RWS Tarot 10 Wheel of Fortune.jpg
Wheel of Fortune (X) from the Rider–Waite tarot deck

Wheel of Fortune is one of 78 cards in a tarot deck and is the tenth trump or Major Arcana card in most tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.

Contents

Description

The Wheel of Fortune was a common allegorical symbol in European iconography. The four figures shown either climb, are at the summit, or fall, or at the bottom of a revolving wheel presided over by personified Fortuna. CarminaBurana wheel.jpg
The Wheel of Fortune was a common allegorical symbol in European iconography. The four figures shown either climb, are at the summit, or fall, or at the bottom of a revolving wheel presided over by personified Fortuna.

The card pictured is the Wheel Of Fortune card from the Rider–Waite tarot deck. A.E. Waite was a key figure in the development of the tarot in line with the Hermetic magical-religious system which was also being developed at the time, [1] and this deck, as well as being in common use today, also forms the basis for a number of other modern tarot decks. [2]

According to Waite's 1910 book Pictorial Key to the Tarot , the Wheel of Fortune card carries several divinatory associations:

10.WHEEL OF FORTUNE—Destiny, fortune, success, elevation, luck, felicity. Reversed: Increase, abundance, superfluity. [3]

The Wheel Of Fortune card, like other cards of the Major Arcana, varies widely in depiction between tarot decks. The card has been modeled ever since the tarot's inception in the 15th century after the medieval concept of Rota Fortunae , the wheel of the goddess Fortuna. Images generally show a six- or eight-spoked wheel, often attended or crested by an individual (sometimes human; sometimes a Sphinx-like half-human) attired in an Egyptian-style headdress. In some decks, such as the AG Müller, the wheel is also attended by an individual wearing a blindfold; and often there are people sitting or riding on the wheel whilst others are shown falling from it.

The wheel is not always shown inscribed with any lettering. Where this is the case, the letters T-A-R-O (clockwise) or T-O-R-A (counter clockwise) can often be found aligned against four of the spokes, which can also be interpreted as R-O-T-A, the Latin word meaning "wheel". In some decks, such as the Waite, the wheel is also inscribed with additional alchemical symbols representing the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water (which are also said to be represented throughout the tarot by the four "suits" of Pentacles or Discs, Swords, Wands, and Cups respectively. [3] These emblems can also be seen on the Magician's table in the Magician card [Card I]).

On the Waite card shown, though not necessarily on others, there are also four yellow winged creatures in the corners of the card, representing the symbols of the four Evangelists (The Lion, the Ox, the Man and the Eagle). These four Evangelists are also represented by the four fixed astrological signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. In addition a representation of the god Anubis is seen rising with the wheel on the right side, while the snake-like Typhon descends on the left. On the wheel, alternating with the letters T-A-R-O are the Hebrew letters י-ה-ו-ה, usually transliterated as YHWH (Yahweh - Hebrew for God).

Interpretation

A common aspect to most interpretations of this card within a reading is to introduce an element of change in the querent's life, such change being in station, position or fortune: such as the rich becoming poor, or the poor becoming rich. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarot</span> Cards used for games or divination

Tarot is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, tarot-playing cards spread to most of Europe, evolving into a family of games that includes German Grosstarok and modern games such as French Tarot and Austrian Königrufen. In the late 18th century French occultists made elaborate, but unsubstantiated, claims about their history and meaning, leading to the emergence of custom decks for use in divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy. Thus, there are two distinct types of tarot packs in circulation: those used for card games and those used for divination. However, some older patterns, such as the Tarot de Marseille, originally intended for playing card games, are occasionally used for cartomancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Arcana</span> Trump cards of tarot decks

The Major Arcana are the named cards in a cartomantic tarot pack. There are usually 22 such cards in a standard 78-card pack, typically numbered from 0 to 21. Although the cards correspond to the trump cards of a pack used for playing tarot card game, the term 'Major Arcana' is rarely used by players and is typically associated exclusively with use for divination by occultists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rider–Waite Tarot</span> Tarot deck

The Rider–Waite Tarot is a widely popular deck for tarot card reading, first published by the Rider Company in 1909, based on the instructions of academic and mystic A. E. Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, both members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Also known as the Waite–Smith, Rider–Waite–Smith, or Rider Tarot, the deck has been published in numerous editions and inspired a wide array of variants and imitations. Estimates suggest over 100 million copies of the deck circulate across 20 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Magician (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Magician (I), also known as The Magus or The Juggler, is the first trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in game playing and divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The High Priestess</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The High Priestess (II) is the second Major Arcana card in cartomantic Tarot decks. It is based on the 2nd trump of Tarot card packs. In the first Tarot pack with inscriptions, the 18th-century woodcut Tarot de Marseilles, this figure is crowned with the Papal tiara and labelled La Papesse, the Popess, a possible reference to the legend of Pope Joan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Empress (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Empress (III) is the third trump or Major Arcana card in traditional tarot decks. It is used in card games as well as divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hierophant</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Hierophant (V), alternatively depicted as The Pope or The High Priest (as a counterpart to "The High Priestess") is the fifth card of the Major Arcana in occult Tarot decks used in divination. It was identified as the Pope in early decks like Tarot of Marseilles, while modern decks like Rider–Waite Tarot may use the term hierophant (Ancient Greek: ἱεροφάντης), a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed "holy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

Death (XIII) is the 13th trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in tarot card games as well as in divination. The card typically depicts the Grim Reaper, and when used for divination is often interpreted as signifying major changes in a person's life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hanged Man (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Hanged Man (XII) is the twelfth Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chariot (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Chariot (VII) is the seventh trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strength (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

Strength is a Major Arcana tarot card, and is numbered either XI or VIII, depending on the deck. Historically it was called Fortitude, and in the Thoth Tarot deck it is called Lust. This card is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hermit (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Hermit (IX) is the ninth trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

Justice is a Major Arcana tarot card, numbered either VIII or XI, depending on the deck. This card is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Devil (XV) is the fifteenth trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Star (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Star (XVII) is the 17th ranking or Major Arcana card in most traditional tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The World (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The World (XXI) is the 21st trump or Major Arcana card in the tarot deck. It can be incorporated as the final card of the Major Arcana or tarot trump sequence (the first or last optioned as being "The Fool" (0)). It is associated with the 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet, 'Tau', also spelled 'Tav' or 'Taw'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judgement (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

Judgement (XX), or in some decks spelled Judgment, is a tarot card, part of the Major Arcana suit usually comprising 22 cards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ace of Wands (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Minor Arcana

The Ace of Wands is a tarot card of the Minor Arcana, arcana being Latin for mysteries. The cards of the Minor Arcana are considered to be lesser compared to the Major Arcana because they discuss the minor mysteries of life, less important archetypes. Modern tarot readers interpret the Ace of Wands as a symbol of optimism and invention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarot card reading</span> Using tarot cards to perform divination

Tarot card reading is a form of cartomancy whereby practitioners use tarot cards to purportedly gain insight into the past, present or future. They formulate a question, then draw cards to interpret them for this end. A traditional tarot deck consists of 78 cards, which can be split into two groups, the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. French-suited playing cards can also be used; as can any card system with suits assigned to identifiable elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fool (tarot card)</span> Tarot card of the Major Arcana

The Fool is one of the 78 cards in a tarot deck. In tarot card reading, it is one of the 22 Major Arcana, sometimes numbered as 0 or XXII. However, in decks designed for playing traditional tarot card games, it is typically unnumbered, as it is not one of the 21 trump cards and instead serves a unique purpose by itself.

References

Citations

Works cited

  • Douglas, Alfred (1972). The Tarot. Harmondsworth: Gollancz. ISBN   9780140037371.
  • Drury, Neville (2000). The History of Magic in the Modern Age. Constable. ISBN   9780786707829.
  • Reed, Ellen Cannon (1989). The Witches Tarot. Llewellyn. ISBN   9780875426686.
  • Waite, A. E. (1979) [1910]. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot . New York: Samuel Weiser. ISBN   0-87728-218-8.

Further reading