Hi, welcome back to the podcast, thank you for tuning in and being a part of the Earbud Coven.
Today’s episode is a tarot episode. We have been making our way through the high arcana of the tarot, we started with the fool and now we are card number 10 “the wheel of fortune.” I’ll be sharing with you how we can interpret this card and break down its symbology.
The main idea of the wheel of fortune is one fate or fortune.
The idea of living within one’s life purpose. However, this can be expressed in readings in several ways. But, before we talk about how to interpret this card with your clients, let’s look at what the card symbolizes…
- cycles
- seasons
- things will unfold at the correct time
- life, growth, decay, death, re-birth
- fate
- divine timing
- turning of the wheel through the phases of life
I see this pagan concept of cycles and fate depicted in 2 main ways. The first is through the myth of the 3 fates, secondly, it is shown through natural cycles and seasons. Both ways subtly layer pagan ideals within the artwork.
The idea of a wheel ties into the pagan beliefs around cycles. Most pagan paths follow the wheel of the year and have celebrations for the major and minor sabbats.
The majors being
- Yule – December 21
- Beltane – May 1
- Summer Solstice (midsummer) – June 21
- Samhain – October 31
The minors being
- Imbolc – Feb 2
- Ostara – March 21
- Lammas (1st harvest) – August 2
- Fall Equinox (Mabon) Sept 21
So, the artwork on the 10th card of the tarot often includes illustrations representing the 4 seasons or dividing the wheel into segments of 4 or 8. The lesson is that as our earth Gaia goes through natural cycles of rest and re-birth so do we. There is a deep truth to all things having a timing. All difficult times will pass and all beautiful moments will end. Nothing is permanent we are ever moving and turning like the wheel of fortune.
Sometimes the timing we are dealing with is divine.
Timing that is outside of our control.
This is illustrated by some artists by putting the 3 fates or Norns on the wheel of fortune card. The Norns or Fates are responsible for weaving the tapestry of life.We have free choice and control of our lives, but the Norns are the ones who cut the threads at the end of our time, they weave in the people whose lives we are to cross and those that we tie our fate to. These three sisters are my favourite part of mythology and lore. I absolutely love how they show up across different pantheons.
I think the best way to sum up what this card means is to quote the Byrds
“To everything turn, turn, turn
– the Byrds; Turn! Turn! Turn!
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven”
So when you are sitting across from your clients. What does this card mean …
Usually, it is a great omen and a very positive card. It confirms that your client is living in line with their fate and that their manifestations will come to fruition. The fates are smiling with them and possibly working in their favour.
The key is to know that the timing of when things come to fruition I outside of our control.
So, this card can also come up as a warning card, if your client is trying to push forward something before its time. Or if they are living in conflict with their life path. The Wheel of Fortune will move through cycles and bring things to fruition at the best time. Sometimes we do not agree with the timing. We need to trust in the wisdom of the 3 sisters who weave the cloth of life. If we push against their timing we will be the cause of our own sorrows.
The way that you are going to know how this card is to be interpreted is to look at where it is within a spread and the surrounding cards.
I have posted a YouTube video showcasing some of the Wheel of the year cards from my personal Tarot deck collection.
The decks I used for the video are:
- Mythic Tarot – Liz Greene and Juliet Sharman-Burke, illustrated by Tricia Newell
- Legacy of the Devine Tarot – by Ciro Marchetti
- Tarot of the Secret Forest – Lucia Mattioli
- Antique Anatomy Tarot – by Clair Goodchild
- Book of Shadows Tarot – by Barbara Moore and Grzegorz Krysinski
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Jodi Anne 
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