The Wheel of Fortune represents the endless cycle of life and the ups and downs of life. The Rider/Waite/Smith deck’s Wheel is an exercise in symbolism. The Wheel itself has three circles, symbols and letters. There are creatures adorning the wheel and at each corner of the card. At first glance this card is very difficult to decipher. You have to understand at least part of the symbolism or memorize the meaning of the card, which is what I believe most people do. In Today’s Journey Tarot, this most difficult card has been replaced with Key 10 Life – which is what all the symbolism basically boils down to. The image is a roller coaster. It aptly depicts the ups and downs of life as well as the cyclic nature of our existence. The riders on the roller coaster have no way off the ride so they are destined to continue traveling the loop and dealing with the twists and turns along the way.

Teresa Sue McAdams, co-creator of “Today’s Journey Tarot”, co-author of “Today’s Journey Tarot, A Traveler’s Guide”, co-author of “Tarot Meditations, A Journal for Self Discovery”, and author of “Lessons, The Wisdom Within Each Moment”

In Key 9 Guidance, Today’s Journey Tarot portrays a very different image from the traditional Rider/Waite/Smith cards. The Hermit shows an aged and bearded man standing on a snowy mountain top. He is holding a staff and a lighted lantern. The Hermit is looking down. This card, like the others in the deck, is full of symbolism. But to the uninitiated it is difficult to sort all of that out. Plus the name of the card is somewhat deceiving. The Hermit guides. He shows the way to truth and wisdom. In considering this basic meaning the creators of Today’s Journey Tarot, Expanding Dimensions, asked ourselves what guides us? In our modern world information is at our fingertips like never before. We seek answers in books, on the web and tablets, and from our connection to our higher selves. So Key 9, which we call Guidance, is set in a library where all of these resources can be found. Besides the library’s resources, our seeker also has available to him the light from the merkaba shaped lamps that illuminate each table – the same star that lights the Hermit’s lantern. It represents the ethereal sources which are also available. True, this symbolism is also not apparent to the uninitiated, but the most important element here is seeking and receiving guidance, wisdom, inner strength and knowledge.

Teresa Sue McAdams, co-creator of “Today’s Journey Tarot”, co-author of “Today’s Journey Tarot, A Traveler’s Guide”, co-author of “Tarot Meditations, A Journal for Self Discovery”, and author of “Lessons, The Wisdom Within Each Moment”

The Strength card in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck shows a woman dressed in a long white gown, opening or closing a lion’s mouth. She obviously has control over this animal. While there are symbols in the card such as the lemniscate above her, the apparent reaction to this picture is that she would not have the strength to do this unless there was something unseen at work here. The creators of Today’s Journey Tarot brought this concept into the modern world with a martial artist preparing to break boards. (This was an obvious symbol to the members of Expanding Dimensions since three of us are martial artists.) To the uninitiated, this too is a feat of strength. Many people believe that martial artists train to become physically strong and that is where this strength comes from. While there is rigorous training in the martial arts, the real strength that allows for the success of this demonstration lies within – just as it does with the woman in the Strength card. It is strength that comes from the mind and the spirit. It is a mastery of determination, confidence, and self awareness. Finally it is a knowing that what you aspire to do is already done.

Teresa Sue McAdams, co-creator of “Today’s Journey Tarot”, co-author of “Today’s Journey Tarot, A Traveler’s Guide”, co-author of “Tarot Meditations, A Journal for Self Discovery”, and author of “Lessons, The Wisdom Within Each Moment”