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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THE HANGED MAN

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Basic Tarot Story
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The Fool settles beneath a tree, intent on finding his spiritual self.

There he stays for nine days, without eating, barely moving.

People pass by him, animals, clouds, the wind, the rain,

the stars, sun and moon. On the ninth day, with no conscious

thought of why, he climbs a branch and dangles upside down

like a child, giving up for a moment, all that he is, wants,

knows or cares about. Coins fall from his pockets and

as he gazes down on them - seeing them not as money but

only as round bits of metal - everything suddenly

changes perspective. It is as if he's hanging between

the mundane world and the spiritual world,

able to see both. It is a dazzling moment, dreamlike

yet crystal clear. Connections he never understood

before are made, mysteries are revealed.

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THE HANGED MAN
Basic Card Symbols
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A man hanging by one foot from a

Tau cross - sometimes from a bar or tree.

His free leg is always bent

to form a "4," his face is always peaceful,

never suffering.

Sometimes his hands are bound,

sometimes they dangle.

Sometimes coins fall out of his pockets or hands.

But timeless as this moment of

clarity seems,

he realizes that it will not last.

Very soon, he must right himself,

and when he does, things will be different.

He will have to act on what he's learned.

For now, however, he just hangs,

weightless as if underwater,

observing, absorbing, seeing.
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Basic Tarot Meaning
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With Neptune (or Water) as its planet,

the Hanged Man is perhaps the most

fascinating card in the deck.

It reflects the story of Odin who offered

himself as a sacrifice

in order to gain knowledge.

Hanging from the world tree, wounded by a spear,

given no bread or mead, he hung for nine days.

On the last day, he saw on the ground runes that

had fallen from the tree, understood their meaning,

and, coming down, scooped them up for his own.

All knowledge is to be found in these runes.

The Hanged Man, in similar fashion,

is a card about suspension, not life or death.

This is a time of trial or meditation, selflessness,

sacrifice, prophecy. The Querent stops resisting;

instead he makes himself vulnerable, sacrifices his

position or opposition, and in doing so, gains illumination.

Answers that eluded him become clear, solutions to

problems are found. He sees the world differently,

has almost mystical insights. This card can also imply

a time when everything just stands still, a time of rest

and reflection before moving on. Things will continue

on in a moment, but for now, they float, timeless.

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Thirteen's Observations

Neptune is spirituality, dreams, psychic abilities,

and the Hanged Man is afloat in these.

He is also 12, the opposite of the World card, 21.

With the World card you go infinitely out.

With the Hanged Man,

you go infinitely in.

This card signifies a time of insight so deep that,

for a moment, nothing but that insight exists.

All Tarot readers have such moments when we see,

with absolute clarity, the whole picture,

the entire message offered by a spread.

The Hanged Man symbolizes such moments of

suspension between physical and mystical worlds.

Such moments don't last, and they usually require

some kind of sacrifice. Sacrifice of a belief or perspective,

a wish, dream, hope, money, time or even selfhood.

In order to gain, you must give. Sometimes you need

to sacrifice cherished positions, open yourself

to other truths, other perspectives in order to

find solutions, in order to bring about change.

One thing is certain, whether the insight

is great or small, spiritual or mundane,

once you have been the Hanged Man

you never see things quite the same.
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From The Aeclectic Tarot

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There was a post up earlier very similar to this,

concerning THE FOOL card of the Tarot.

Check it here:

http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com/2009/09/fool.html
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THE FOOL

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The Fool is one of three cards in the Tarot

that is sometimes numbered uniquely, according to

the author or illustrator of a tarot deck.

Most often, the Fool is placed at the beginning

of the Major Arcana and is given the Number 0.

Sometimes, the Fool is listed as the last card in

the Trump cards, and given the Number 22.

Technically, the Fool is very much akin to the "Jester"

or "Wild Card" in regular playing cards.

He is outside the confines of the regular cards,

which gives him a special status which makes it

reasonable to place him at the beginning of the deck.

In this analytical series, the Fool follows the

traditional 0 placement.

The Fool represents the "everyperson" -

the essence of us all embarking on the journey of life,

self-discovery and mastery. He is the innocent,

the whimsical, the "inner child" mixed with the

"inner sage" that lives down deep inside of us all.

He faces life and his journey unafraid, trusting,

the perfect example of total and utter faith that

all will be well, that every experience has

a deep essential meaning.

He trapses along the crags of life,

regardless of any hidden peril or disappointment,

his eyes are turned to the heavens and he knows

that he will be kept safe and whole along his travels.

Key words associated with the Fool are

new beginnings, important decisions and optimism.

The Fool is sometimes known as the

most worthless card, yet also as the most valuable one.

He is the first and the last, the alpha and the omega.

It represents both the fledgling beginner

and the adept master.

The Fool reminds us of things, sacred things,

that we have forgotten or repressed.

The Fool knows his or her own ignorance,

thus is seen as the most wise.

The Fool represents the Negative space

above the Tree of Life, the source of all things.

It is the Qabalistic Zero, the Equation of the Universe,

the initial and final balance of the opposites,

both the father and the mother -

male and female, in an abstract sort of way.

The Fool is intricately linked with all 21 cards

of the Major Arcana - in fact, many theorists

maintain that the other Major Arcana cards are

parts of the Fool's whimsical journey of self-discovery,

culminating with the Number 21 World Card,

bringing successful completion, accomplishment

and fulfillment. Because the Fool is trusting and

open to all experiences, he provides the perfect

role model as we too embark on our life journey.

The Fool coaxes us to walk our own path,

not the path of the "herd".

To trust our own inner voice, our intuition

and our inner knowing and to embark on

our life course with faith and a stout heart.

We need trust, faith in the goodness of life and people,

and an undying belief that all will work out

exactly as it should.

The Fool is the ultimate "Free Spirit" -

this card represents the self-actualized person,

free from societal constraints, someone who is able to

let go of outmoded beliefs and ideals

with the courage to pursue their own special path.

Leslie Gibson

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Ask the mirror on the wall,

who's the biggest fool of all?

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Graeme Edge, The Moody Blues

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There's now a posting up similar to this

about Tarot Card Number 12,

The Hanged Man.

Check it here:

http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com/2010/10/hanged-man.html