Sage Leaves, October 8, 2024

Helping People Heal Through Tarot

Welcome to Sage Leaves, a compendium of wisdom for those seeking to heal ancestral wounds using Tarot as an assistant. In this issue, we will explore the archetype of The Wheel of Fortune and relate it to the Heroine’s Journey, as well as explore how it is read when it appears in a reading conducted for transgenerational healing.

Table of Contents

Black cat in the Autumn sun.

Card X: The Wheel of Fortune

Spotlight on a Jungian Archetype: The Wheel of Fortune

In Jungian psychology, the Wheel of Fortune card in Tarot represents the archetype of change, cycles, and the forces of fate, aligning closely with Jung's concept of the collective unconscious and the principle of synchronicity. This card reflects the cyclical nature of life and the understanding that everything is interconnected, constantly evolving, and subject to the shifts of fate.

1. The Archetype of Change and Cycles:

The Wheel of Fortune embodies the archetype of constant change, a reminder that life is in perpetual motion. In Jungian terms, this can be connected to the cycle of individuation—the process of becoming more whole, self-aware, and integrated. Just as the wheel spins, individuals must navigate the highs and lows of life, learning from both successes and setbacks. Jung believed that life's challenges, like those symbolized by the ups and downs of the Wheel, offer opportunities for growth and transformation.

2. Synchronicity and Fate:

Jung’s theory of synchronicity—the meaningful coincidences that occur in life—resonates strongly with the Wheel of Fortune. This card suggests that there are greater forces at play, often beyond our control, that can lead us to new paths or unexpected outcomes. The appearance of this card in a Tarot reading often hints at moments of synchronicity, where events seem to align mysteriously and purposefully.

3. Collective Unconscious:

The Wheel of Fortune can also symbolize the workings of the collective unconscious, a central concept in Jungian psychology. The collective unconscious contains archetypes, shared symbols, and experiences that all humans tap into, much like the unseen forces that turn the wheel. The card encourages the querent to recognize their place within the broader patterns of life, suggesting that the ups and downs they experience are part of a greater, universal cycle.

In essence, the Wheel of Fortune in a Jungian context reflects the inevitability of change, the interconnectedness of all events, and the potential for growth through life’s challenges, aligning closely with Jung’s ideas of synchronicity and the journey toward individuation.

The Wheel of Fortune & The Heroine’s Journey

In the Heroine’s Journey, the Wheel of Fortune plays a crucial role as a symbol of destiny, change, and the cyclical nature of life. It represents a turning point in the heroine's path, where she encounters forces beyond her control that influence her direction and growth. This card mirrors key stages in the Heroine's Journey, particularly those involving surrender to the unknown, embracing fate, and adapting to life's fluctuations.

1. Surrender to the Unknown:

In the Heroine's Journey, there comes a time when the heroine must surrender to forces larger than herself, relinquishing control and accepting that fate or destiny has a hand in guiding her path. The Wheel of Fortune embodies this surrender. It marks the moment when the heroine acknowledges that, despite her efforts, some aspects of life are subject to the twists of fate and the cycles of existence. This could signify a key event, a sudden change in circumstances, or a serendipitous encounter that shifts her path in ways she could not have foreseen.

This stage calls for flexibility and openness, reminding the heroine that life’s challenges and opportunities are constantly shifting. In this way, the card encourages her to trust the journey, even when the outcome is uncertain or unpredictable.

2. Turning Point in the Journey:

The Wheel of Fortune often represents a pivotal moment in the Heroine’s Journey—where the cycle of transformation intensifies. It can symbolize a time of growth or evolution, where she faces the inevitability of change, often tied to external forces such as relationships, career shifts, or internal revelations. In the Heroine’s Journey, this card marks a turning point that leads her toward deeper self-awareness, pushing her to evolve in ways she may not have anticipated.

It may signify the moment when the heroine begins to understand her purpose in a broader, universal context, stepping into her own power as part of the greater cycles of life.

3. Integration of the Shadow and Light:

The Wheel of Fortune also symbolizes the balance of opposites—light and shadow, success and failure, joy and sorrow. In the Heroine's Journey, the heroine must often reconcile these dualities within herself. The Wheel represents the natural ebb and flow between positive and negative experiences, reminding her that growth comes from both. This card invites the heroine to recognize the importance of integrating these experiences and emotions, rather than resisting them, as a key part of her spiritual and personal development.

4. Cyclical Nature of Life:

Another central theme of the Wheel of Fortune in the Heroine’s Journey is its connection to life’s cycles. The heroine often revisits earlier challenges or themes, but from a new perspective, indicating growth and evolution. The Wheel reminds her that what may seem like endings are often new beginnings, and the process of transformation is ongoing.

This cyclical element is particularly important in the Heroine’s Journey, where the journey is not a straight line but rather an ongoing cycle of discovery, challenge, healing, and rebirth. The heroine learns to navigate these cycles with grace and adaptability.

Conclusion:

In the Heroine’s Journey, the Wheel of Fortune represents a significant turning point and a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and growth. It symbolizes the heroine's need to surrender to the flow of destiny, trusting in the greater forces at play while embracing the changes that shape her path. The card encourages the heroine to find balance in both the highs and lows of life, integrating all experiences as part of her unfolding journey toward self-awareness and empowerment.

The Wheel of Fortune in a Reading for Transgenerational Healing

In a Tarot reading focused on transgenerational healing, the Wheel of Fortune card holds profound significance. This card represents the cycles of life, fate, and the forces of destiny, which are essential themes when working to heal patterns that have been passed down through generations. The card’s energy highlights the interconnectedness of individual and ancestral experiences, suggesting that the querent is at a turning point in both their own life and their family’s broader karmic journey.

1. Cycles and Ancestral Patterns:

The Wheel of Fortune emphasizes the cyclical nature of existence, mirroring how transgenerational trauma often moves through family lines in repeating patterns. These patterns could manifest as behaviors, beliefs, or emotional wounds that seem to echo through the generations. In a transgenerational healing context, this card signals that the querent may be in a pivotal moment where they have the opportunity to break these cycles or transform them.

The appearance of the Wheel of Fortune suggests that the querent might be the one chosen or positioned by fate to address these ancestral issues, finally bringing healing to something that has persisted across time. It points to the possibility of karmic closure or the resolution of inherited challenges, with the potential for freeing future generations from the same wounds.

2. Synchronicity and Divine Timing:

The Wheel of Fortune is closely linked to the concept of synchronicity, which plays a key role in transgenerational healing. Jungian psychology and the Tarot both recognize synchronicity as meaningful coincidences that bring to light deeper truths. In a reading for transgenerational healing, this card may suggest that the querent is experiencing moments of synchronicity that are not random, but rather clues or guidance from their ancestors, offering insights on how to heal.

The card’s message may be that the querent is at a turning point in their life, where the timing is right for them to engage in the work of transmuting family pain into wisdom and strength. It indicates that the events unfolding around them—whether positive or challenging—are not accidental but part of a larger cosmic plan. This can help the querent understand that they are part of a larger family legacy, and their healing efforts now may be a culmination of the work begun by those before them.

3. Acceptance of Change and Surrender:

In the context of ancestral healing, the Wheel of Fortune encourages the querent to accept the changes that are necessary for healing and growth. Ancestral trauma often leaves individuals feeling stuck in recurring emotional or behavioral loops. This card brings the message that the querent may need to surrender to the forces of change, understanding that healing involves not just looking back but allowing transformation in the present.

The Wheel reminds the querent that some aspects of their family’s trauma may be beyond their direct control. However, they can control how they respond to these challenges and how they choose to carry forward or release inherited emotional baggage. The Wheel of Fortune often suggests that the querent is in a position to make different choices, turning the wheel in a new direction that breaks free from old limitations.

4. Empowerment through Cycles:

Finally, the Wheel of Fortune can empower the querent by reminding them of their place in the grander cycle of life. Just as the wheel turns, life moves through cycles of hardship, healing, and renewal. In transgenerational healing, this card reflects the potential for renewal and the power to change the course of the family’s narrative. It suggests that the querent has the ability to navigate these cycles consciously, breaking free from patterns that no longer serve them and turning toward a future of greater healing and wholeness.

Conclusion:

In a Tarot reading focused on transgenerational healing, the Wheel of Fortune is a card of transformation, synchronicity, and the power of choice within cycles of fate. It encourages the querent to recognize that they are at a pivotal moment where healing inherited trauma is not only possible but necessary. By embracing change, recognizing meaningful patterns, and understanding their place in the larger cycle of life, the querent can break free from the repeating patterns of the past, bringing healing to themselves and future generations.

Personal readings now available!

Personal readings now available! Choose between 3-card spreads for a specific query or a weekly energetic influences reading. Please allow advance notice for your reading, and please make sure we have your email to fulfill your reading. You will receive a PDF that includes your personal card layout and a written interpretation of the cards by Dr. Shenlei Winkler, PhD.

Energetic Influences This Week 10/8

Energetic Influences for the Week of October 8-14, 2024.
Note the recurring cards Page of Cups and 10 of Swords.

This is a reading for the energetic influences at play for the week of October 8-14, 2024. I drew the 5 of Wands, The Empress, 4 of Pentacles, the Page of Cups, 10 of Wands, the 10 of Swords, and the Knight of Pentacles. Looking at the cards overall, this week brings an intense mix of challenges and opportunities for growth, as the cards and astrological influences push us to face inner conflicts, emotional truths, and eventual resolution. Now we will explore each of the cards laid for each day of the week for a guide to energetic influences for the week of October 8-14, 2024. Let’s explore the journey day by day.

Tuesday starts begins the week with tension and competition. The 5 of Wands symbolizes internal or external conflict, and as Venus in passionate Scorpio aligns with Mars in emotionally sensitive Cancer, we might find ourselves pulled between deep desires and the need for emotional security. We’ll likely face situations where others’ ambitions clash with our own, and we’ll need to choose our battles wisely. It’s important to stay calm and avoid being dragged into unnecessary confrontations.

After the chaos of Tuesday, we’re invited to reconnect with nurturing energy through The Empress. On Tuesday Jupiter begins to retrograde back through the sign of Gemini, and we’re encouraged to reflect on our inner growth, fertility, and creativity. This is a day to nurture ourselves, focus on self-care, and reevaluate what abundance means to us. We might feel drawn to the comforts of home or nature, reconnecting with the things that make us feel grounded and centered. Reflection on personal relationships may also reveal where we’ve been giving too much or too little.

The 4 of Pentacles signals the need to hold onto stability as the energy of the 1st Quarter Moon and the opening of the 10/10 Portal bring transformation. We might feel the urge to control or guard what we’ve built, whether it’s our finances, emotions, or resources. The day challenges us to balance security with openness, asking us to release what no longer serves us while preparing for the opportunities the 10/10 portal brings. There’s a delicate balance between fear of loss and the excitement of potential new beginnings.

With Pluto moving to direct forward movement, the energy lightens. The Page of Cups brings an invitation to explore our emotions with a sense of curiosity and wonder. Messages of love or inspiration may come our way, offering us emotional insight and renewal. This is a good day to follow our intuition and be open to unexpected emotions that may surface, as they likely carry deeper truths about our healing process.

By the weekend, we feel the weight of responsibilities piling up with the 10 of Wands. We might be carrying more than our fair share of burdens, and it’s time to reassess. Are we taking on too much? Saturday calls for a step back, a reassessment of what we’re carrying, and the possibility of delegating or letting go of what’s unnecessary.

Sunday brings a necessary ending with the 10 of Swords. As Mercury enters Scorpio, we are asked to dive deep into our minds and confront painful truths. This card represents the end of a difficult cycle, and while it may be painful, it’s also liberating. We’re clearing the path for something new to emerge.

The week ends with the steady energy of the Knight of Pentacles. With the /, we’re encouraged to stay grounded, patient, and focused on long-term goals. This is a day for methodical progress, where we put in the work needed to solidify what we’ve learned and prepare for future success.

As we navigate this week together, we’re challenged to face conflict, release what no longer serves us, and embrace transformation. It’s a week of intense inner work, but by the end, we’ll emerge stronger and more grounded. This week’s spread, with the recurring Page of Cups with follow-on energy from last week’s 10 of Swords, suggests that we are still working through emotional and intuitive lessons. We’re being asked to make grounded decisions and trust in our emotional wisdom as we navigate endings, new beginnings, and the search for balance. We have seen the Page of Cups appear in these spreads for the past three weeks. This week, as Pluto pauses on station in the final degrees of Capricorn, as it prepares to go direct, the Page of Cups reappears in the same locus, indicating an important push to guiding us toward emotional and intuitive transformation. Pluto’s influence intensifies this process, pushing us to confront deep-rooted patterns and hidden feelings.

Over the previous two weeks, the Page of Cups reappearance has urged us to explore these emerging emotions with openness and curiosity, while Pluto’s energy continues to demand that we face them with honesty. Together, we are being asked to balance emotional vulnerability with the strength to release old emotional blockages, paving the way for personal and collective transformation as Pluto leaves the heavy patriarchal energies of Capricorn and enters into the creative realm of Aquarius.

The Page’s energy aligns with this shift, reminding us to nurture our creative ideas and emotional growth with discipline and patience. Together, we are being asked to blend heart and structure, preparing to move forward with a balanced sense of emotional clarity and purpose.