The Artist's Concept
The primal shape and energy of the Wheel drew me into its vortex. The Wheel has a cosmic scope that transcends time and place, yet it is found in infinite varieties in both the macrocosm and the microcosm. It is a universal vehicle of change, and I'm here to enjoy the ride!
The Wheel of Fortune reminds me of the only constant in the Universe: Change. What goes around comes around. Existence is a series of changes, which provide the energy and impetus to turn the Wheel so that the next phase can be experienced. We must travel on the Wheel to experience the journey, and to evolve. The only way off this ride is either to let momentum fling you onto yet another wheel and another track, or to go through the center of the Wheel, the hub which does not turn, the eye of the revolving storm. To return to the center is to return to the Eternal Source, to join with the One and the Zero. (The Wheel = X = 10 = 1 + 0).
The design for the Wheel card started out with a vision of an infinite number of wheels interconnected throughout the universe, like cogs in a cosmic clock. The turning of each wheel interacts with the cogs of adjacent wheels, each subtly influencing the movement of the others, like spiral galaxies exchanging star matter as they graze each other in a cosmic dance. The central wheel in this card represents the wheel of our Earth sphere, with twelve spokes indicating the twelve signs of the Zodiac, the twelve months of the year, and the twelve hours on the clock. This wheel is blue to symbolize the Blue planet, the birthing waters of life. At the center of this wheel is the hexagram, the conjunction of the macrocosm and the microcosm. The downward-pointing triangle signifies the Divine descent into matter, and the upward-pointing triangle signifies the yearning to return to the Divine. At the center of the hexagram is the Eye of Shiva, the InnerEye which when opened destroys the universe and makes all One.
At the top left is the enigmatic Sphinx, intersecting the Earth wheel like a strange quark in a particle accelerator collision. The Sphinx represents the mystical goal: "To know, to will, to dare, and to keep silent". As in the Rider-Waite deck, the Sphinx is ascendant at the top of the Wheel. The Sphinx is older than recorded time, yet even its potent mysteries eventually erode and evolve into other forms.
At the bottom left is a spiraling DNA strand, indicating the force of creative evolution as it weaves its way through the universe. This spiraling strand is reminiscent of the snake on the Wheel in the Rider-Waite card, although instead of the destructive power of Set/Typhon (Egyptian god of chaos, storms, and the desert) here it represents the creative possibilities of Life.
At the bottom right is the Tao, in the form of two entwined galaxies, each providing essence to the other. The Tao symbolizes both the unity and the individuality of manifestation. "Everything comes from the Tao and returns to the Tao. She is no thing, no where, yet everywhere and everything. She does not know you, yet she touches you everyday." The fiery Tao is somewhat
akin to the red jackal-headed Anubis (Egyptian god of the dead) on the Rider-Waite card, which represents rising, life-renewing force.
At the top right is the planet Jupiter, which has been attributed to the Wheel of Fortune. "The Great Red Spot" on Jupiter is one of our solar system's most famous "wheels", always turning, always changing, awesome in its rotating force and splendor.
The borders on the card flow from green Earth (bottom left) to red Fire (bottom right) to blue Water (top right) to yellow Air (top left), representing the four primal elements. The title on the card echoes the circular shape and function of the Wheel, with the "X" reminiscent of an atom and its spiraling electrons.
Card Meaning
The Wheel indicates necessary change, and the interconnectedness of forces that lead to and from change. To evolve, one must accept and embrace change. You may be on the brink of a new endeavor or development: Go for it!
Reversed, the Wheel symbolizes a stubbornness and reluctance for change. You are stuck in a rut, but you may be satisfied with where you are. This may also indicate an intolerance of the beliefs and views of others.
Card Media
Created with Prismacolor® colored pencils on black paper. Original dimensions: 6.25 x 10 inches
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