The Wheel of Fortune represents the cycles of life, the seasons of the year.  It is the 10th Major Arcana card.  When it appears in a reading it often indicates a major change in circumstances brought about by outside influences.  This card suggests that an understanding of life's cycles and a willing to accept changes may be beneficial.  The Wheel of Fortune reinforces the idea that sometimes things happen as part of the natural cycle of life.  This card represents major changes in one's life, a life altering shift. 

On the Fradella Adventure (FA) card we see a young man, aptly named Rush, racing around the inside of the Wheel of Fortune.  He is going so fast that he leaves a trail of smoke in his wake.  The risk for Rush is that the faster he runs, the quicker he ages.  So although he is using his power for the good of others, he is ultimately hurting himself.

On the Anna K (AK) Wheel of Fortune there is a wooden paddle wheel on an axle slowing spinning its way around.  At the bottom of the wheel is a figure who has recently fallen off.  Atop the wheel are a man and woman celebrating, oblivious to their impending fall.  And clinging to the wheel as it works its way upwards is another figure, holding on for dear life and she tries to make it back to the top.  On the right of the wheel is a shadowy figure of an older woman whose serious mien oversees all of this as she turns the handle that spins the wheel.

Looking at Rush I was struck by one of the ironies of life - we are always in a rush to grow up, racing towards adulthood and all the imagined privileges that accompany it.  When we arrived at this hallowed state we realize that it's not all its cracked up to be.  Just as with the Wheel of Fortune itself, there are ups and downs in life whether we are children, adolescents or adults.  Each phase of our lives has its responsibilities, its positives and negatives.  Often as adults we yearn for the "good old days" when life was simpler and we were able to just hang out with our friends.  I have often expressed this desire.  I miss NYC in the 70s when it was gritty and full of risk, mystery and adventure.  Now it's become a wonderland for tourists and the rich.

I am reminded of the power of the Wheel when I look at the state of the world and the economy.  As sad as it is to see a once giant corporation like GM declare bankruptcy, the reality is that it's part of the natural cycle of things.  The US might have been the dominant nation for many years but just like Egypt, Rome, England and even the Catholic Church, that dominance had to eventually wane.  Now we are watching as formerly "third world" nations begin their ascent to power.  The one aspect of this entire process that I find fascinating is that, must like Rush, the cycles seem to occur faster.  Rome was dominant for centuries.  England for maybe a century (I'm specifically thinking of Victorian England when it was said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire") and the US has been dominant for only a few decades.  It seems as though with each technological advancement we made, we also speed up the process of any one culture or nation being dominant.

Even in America we can see the ebb and flow, the rise and fall of various mindsets.  In the late 60s and 70s America was an amazing place full of the desire to change the world, establish equal rights for all, to explore strange new worlds (or realms of alternate realities).  Then in the 80s and early 90s we entered a phase of conservatism and consumerism in which the rules of the game were "he who dies with the most toys wins".  Conservative ideals and agendas ruled the day.  Unions' power eroded, the working man's rights were chipped away and the concept "greed is good" became part of the national consciousness.  We also became a debtor nation for the first time ever (thank you Ronald Reagan).  We might have been perceived as strong but not necessarily likeable.

Bill Clinton brought back a measure of prosperity and allowed us to feel better about ourselves but it was a fight.  The conservative forces had enjoyed their moment in the sun and were not going away quietly.  Now with President Obama  we see a return to hope.  People are feeling optimistic and think things will get better.  And I think they probably will.  It may take longer than we'd like but as Blood, Sweat and Tears used to sing "What goes up must come down".  The same applies with what goes down.  It will eventually come up although it may be different than what we had going down.  Civilizations rise and fall.  Political ideologies rise and fall.  Even our own personal fortunes ebb and flow.  This can be very helpful to remember when you're in a down turn.  Things will eventually get better, they always do.  Of course how long it will take is anyone's guess.

As for me personally - I'm in a bit of a downturn.  Having been laid off I should probably be more worried about finding a source of income.  However I'm not focusing on just the money right now.  I did that once before and ended up being very unhappy.  I want to find something that makes me want to get up every morning; that fulfills me on a number of levels not just financial.  And I know I can do that.  I just have to focus my energies on it and manifest it in my life.