The Wheel of Fortune

As this year comes to a close, I find myself naturally reflecting on what an eventful year it has been. The beginning of the year started with my car sinking, my neck re-injury, discussion of partial adoption/custody of my niece, and my uncle's death. And now, the year is ending with another car accident which has provided another painful neck episode, a serious change of direction for me where school is concerned, and the promise of a new love.

I've decided to quit graduate school and there are many significant reasons behind this that I'd rather not go into. So, that brings about a great change of direction for me and a lot of decisions must be made. And that, on top of this past year in general, makes me think so much about the ups and downs of life. Life really is always in constant cyclical motion. It's a basic premise...we are born, we live, experience, and then we slow down and die. Cycle of life.

In our lives, there will always be those moments of brilliance, clarity, extreme happiness...just as there will always be those moments of frustration, cloudiness, and extreme sadness. Fortune or luck comes our way and then bad fortune or bad luck comes our way. But life doesn't have to be this either/or existence. It takes considerable and constant effort to really focus on the core of who we are...beyond situational ups and downs...those elements of self that can be nurtured and relied upon for strength and peace to deal with all that is everchanging around us. We each possess a core...the hub of the wheel, if you will...and I wonder why it seems so difficult at times to really focus and draw upon that fundamental sense of self when the world is spinning around us. In large, I think that the momentum of the wheel of change...ups, downs, transitions...can be overwhelming.

It is easy to allow one's place on the wheel to dictate how one feels at a given moment in time. But it doesn't have to be that way. We don't have to rely so heavily upon our fortune at a given moment in time to dictate our ultimate happiness or sense of self worth. If we focus on the core of who we are, what really matters to us in life, etc., then those ups and downs will be easier to manage, to appreciate, and to grow from.

So, I am drawing upon this symbol of the wheel of fortune. Yes, the image and the description I am about to provide are based on tarot...something I do not buy into as a belief system or predictor of the future. I don't believe in any religion for that matter. But, I think that this symbol is very apt and I will likely utilize other tarot images in the future, as they can be symbolically effective. More than anything, I came across this image and it really provided great perspective.


THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
"May change support your growth."

The central theme of what is traditionally called the Wheel of Fortune
card is cyclical change. The Wheel keeps on rolling, churning events
in a ceaseless progression of ups and downs, either way freeing us
from the past. No one can escape its cyclical action, which can feel
somewhat terrifying -- no matter whether we are rising or falling.
When one is balanced on top there is a moment of crystal clarity, but
the only part of the Wheel not going up and down is the hub, which is
your eternal Self, the Source of Freedom.

Every one of us will occupy all the points on the wheel at some time
or another. The cycle of the wheel is its lesson -- and we can learn
to take comfort in it (as we do when we celebrate our birthday). If
you don't like the look of things right now, just wait -- things will
change. Of course, if you do like the look of things right now, enjoy
it while it lasts, because that will change too!

*image and description nabbed from www.tarot.com