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Showing posts with label meaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meaning. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2011

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

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Above is the Wheel Of Fortune card from the A. E. 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, and this deck, as well as being in common use today, also forms the basis for
 a number of other modern tarot decks.
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The Wheel Of Fortune card, like other cards of the Major Arcana, varies widely in depiction between Tarot decks. Basically, this 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.
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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 wheel is not always shown inscribed with any lettering. Where this is the case, the letters T-A-R-O 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 of 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.

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On the Waite card shown, though not necessarily on others, there are also four winged creatures in the corners of the card, representing the symbols of the four Evangelists (The Lion, the Ox, the Man and the Eagle).  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), the name of the God of Israel.
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A common aspect to most interpretations of this card within
 a reading is to introduce an element of change in the querant's life, such change being in station, position or fortune: such as the rich becoming poor, or the poor becoming rich.

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Destiny; Fate; Superior Forces; Movement
Turning point; Opportunities; Possibilities
Development; Activity; Surprises; Expansion
Sudden Events; Speed; New Developments; Life Cycles
Interpretation; Sudden Change; Dissension; Approachability
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Symbolism in Mythopoetics
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In the Mythopoetic approach, which views the Major Arcana as a journey through life taken by the character of the Fool
 (the Fool being the first card, or the zero card, of the Major Arcana), the Wheel of Fortune represents the intercession of random chance into the Fool's path. The card represents the forces that can help or hinder the querant
suddenly or unpredictably.
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When the Tarot deck is used for divinatory purposes,
 the cards are often laid out in a 'spread', and the exact meaning of the card varies depending on the disposition of any surrounding cards.
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 In addition, as specific meanings can be drawn from the exact appearance of a card and, as mentioned, that can vary widely between decks, the interpretation of the card also can vary between decks. Some decks, such as Waite, carry a theological symbolism specific to their designer's interpretation; yet such meanings might not be associated with other variants on the same card, and they may not be acknowledged or referenced by any given reader.
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From Wikipedia
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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

DREAMING

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Early in evolution sleep was regarded as
 proving that the ghost soul could be absent from the body,
 and it was believed that it could be called back
 by speaking or shouting the sleeper's name.
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 In other forms of unconsciousness the soul
 was thought to be farther away, perhaps trying to escape
 for good—impending death. Dreams were looked upon
 as the experiences of the soul during sleep
while temporarily absent from the body.
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 The savage believes his dreams to be just as real
 as any part of his waking experience.
 The ancients made a practice of awaking sleepers gradually
 so that the soul might have time to get back into the body.
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All down through the ages men have stood in awe
 of the apparitions of the night season,
 and the Hebrews were no exception.
 They truly believed that God spoke to them in dreams,
 despite the injunctions of Moses against this idea.
 And Moses was right, for ordinary dreams are not
 the methods employed by the personalities of the
spiritual world when they seek to communicate
 with material beings.
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From THE URANTIA BOOK
Part III, 86, 5
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