The INDIAN TAROTS – 10 – The Wheel of Fortune : Shanideb

Shani Devata is the younger son of Sun God (Surya Dev). The elder brother of Shani is Yama Devata. Shani is called Bada Thakur in Bengali regions due to his appearance like an old man. Shani is associated with the planet Saturn and has major importance in astrology. Saturn is one of the slowest planets that revolves around and it supposedly brings bad luck. However, this is not fully true. Shani Dev is the god who makes people lose their ego and become humble. Astrologically Shani’s transit stays for 7.5 years and this period is called ‘Sade Saati’. The first 2.5 years is the time when people lose their clear-thinking ability and chooses bad things. In the next 2.5 years, people suffer from health issues, especially stomach problems. In the last 2.5 years, people lose their decision-making ability. However, Shani dev teaches us life lessons throughout this period and makes us stronger from inside.

Shani dev’s idols are often placed beside Kali’s idols in temples. This is because these two deities influence our lives in opposite manner. Shani slows down our progress and Kali fastens the progress, and both of these happens for various different reasons based on situations. Shani dev is also a propagator of dharma. He values righteousness and punishes those who are dishonest. Therefore, Shani’s transit is considered a time for payback and turnaround. The best way to please Shani dev is to live a humble life and help those who need it. Donating to poor and helping the disabled people are recommended during Sade Saati. It is also said that if one becomes a Krishna devotee, Shani does not give him/her any troubles. Shani dev rides a crow, so it is advised that one can feed crows to please Bara Thakur. Many astrologers suggest gem stones to reduce the harsh effects of Shani, but it does not help much unless they follow a dharmic and humble life.

Shani is the disciple of Shiv and Shiv has titled him as the karmic judge. No one, even the gods could escape the judgement of Shani dev. However, one thing we have to realise is that, when Shani punishes us for our bad karma, it is a blessing because if goes unpunished, that judgement will happen in afterlife, in front of Yama dev and that time, the punishment will be much harsh.

I have kept Shani dev as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ because he has the power to alter human’s status. He can turn poor into rich and vice versa based on their karma.

Upright meaning

In tarot, the Wheel of Fortune card is often associated with change, cycles, and destiny. When the card is upright, it generally signifies positive traits such as change, cycles, and a sense of destiny. The upright Wheel of Fortune may represent a person who is experiencing a significant change or transition in their life, or it can indicate a need to embrace the cyclical nature of life and accept one’s destiny.

Reverse meaning

On the other hand, when the Wheel of Fortune card is reversed, it may indicate negative traits such as resistance to change, bad luck, or a feeling of being stuck. The reversed Wheel of Fortune may represent a person who is struggling to adapt to change or who is facing a run of bad luck, or who is feeling that they are trapped in a negative cycle. It could also suggest a need to take responsibility for one’s actions and to make changes in order to break free from negative patterns.