X Wheel of Fortune

Have you ever wondered why certain images play on our unconscious understanding? The Wheel of Fortune displays so many links to different things, it makes me think it was all specifically planned.

When I had my daughter, Amy, illustrate my first birth chart template, back in the early 1990’s, we decided on this format, with the four evangelists in the corners. Of course, they are the Zodiac symbols of Taurus (bull), Leo (lion), Scorpio (eagle) and Aquarius (man), so already we have a link to astrology.

Even the compass points in the middle of the wheel hint at the four elements: Fire (north); Air (south); Earth (east); Water (west). And the lettering around the circle gives the opposite meaning if you go clockwise (TARO) or counterclockwise (TORA). And, if you start at the bottom you get ROTA.

But the Hebrew letters alongside the Roman letters form YHWH, the Tetragrammaton.

That leaves the three symbols immediately circling the centre: the Sphinx; the Serpent; and the Devil. Hmm.

Well, this analysis is slightly out-of-step with my original ideas, but mostly in tune with the concepts.

So, to recap, this one card is the coming together of three strains of thought: Egyptian, Hebrew and Roman. Maybe that’s why the Tarot was created. We cannot then pretend that modern man has all the answers. He needs the ancient wisdoms, too.

Amen.