Wheel of Fortune (X)
The Heavens as the central motif, with the Angel and the Wing, the Serpent and the Dragon and the Lion in a secondary part. From The 1909 tarot.
What is happening
Waite, 1911 “Sometimes the sphinx is represented couchant on a pedestal above, which defrauds the symbolism by stultifying the essential idea of stability amidst movement.”
Waite, 1911 “Behind the general notion expressed in the symbol there lies the denial of chance and the fatality which is implied therein.”
Key · 4 motifs
Tap a motif on the picture, or a line below. Its note opens under the line, with the reading its author gave it.
- Primary motif
- Secondary motifs · 3
The picture
A wheel lettered TARO and ROTA with alchemical signs, a sphinx with a sword seated on top, a serpent descending at the left and a jackal-headed figure rising at the right; the four living creatures with open books in the corners, on clouds; the Heavens as the central motif, the Angel, the Serpent and the Lion by eye. By eye
Decoded: every motif is marked, and each mark carries the reading its author gave it, quoted from the text, or says that it is observed on the picture and not read. The composition, the picture read whole in our own words, comes with the entry.
No entry yet for this motif. The wall gathers every work that carries it.
By eye The central motif, the wheel.
Waite, 1911 “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.”
Waite, 1911 “The transliteration of Taro as Rota is inscribed on the wheel, counterchanged with the letters of the Divine Name--to shew that Providence is implied through all.”
No entry yet for this motif. The wall gathers every work that carries it.
By eye A secondary motif, the four living creatures in the corners.
Waite, 1911 “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 Lévi in respect of Ezekiel's vision, as illustrative of the particular Tarot Key.”
No entry yet for this motif. The wall gathers every work that carries it.
By eye A secondary motif, descending on the left of the wheel.
Waite, 1911 “In this symbol I have again followed the reconstruction of Eliphas Lévi, who has furnished several variants. It is legitimate--as I have intimated--to use Egyptian symbolism when this serves our purpose, provided that no theory of origin is implied therein. I have, however, presented Typhon in his serpent form.”
No entry yet for this motif. The wall gathers every work that carries it.
By eye A secondary motif, lower right, winged, with a book.
Waite, 1911 “But this is the Divine intention within, and the similar intention without is exemplified by the four Living Creatures.”
Also carrying the Heavens
15 works, 8 with it as the central motif. The symbol.
Also carrying the Angel and the Wing
16 works. The symbol.
Also carrying the Serpent and the Dragon
11 works. The symbol.
Also carrying the Lion
6 works. The symbol.
In the same series
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