The Magical Ritual of The Sanctum Regnum
Eliphas Levi
X. The Wheel of Fortune - La Roue de Fortune
The Wheel of Ezekiel is the type on which all the Pantacles of the Higher Magic are designed.
When the adept is in the blessed possession of a full knowledge of the powers of the Seal of Solomon, and of the virtues of the Wheel of Ezekiel, which is indeed correspondent, in its entire symbolism, with that of Pythagoras, he has sufficient experience to design talismans and pantacles for any special magical purpose.
The Wheel of Ezekiel contains the solution of the problem of the quadrature of the circle, and demonstrates the correspondences between words and figures, letters and emblems; it exhibits the tetragram of characters analogous to that of the elements and elemental forms. It is a glyph of perpetual motion. The triple ternary is shown; the central point is the first Unity; three circles are added, each with four attributions, and the dodekad is thus seen. The state of universal equilibrium is suggested by the counterpoised emblems, and the pairs of symbols. The flying Eagle balances the man; the roaring Lion counterpoises the laborious Bull.
Kether, the Crown; Tiphereth, Beauty; and Yesod, Foundation, form a central axis; while Wisdom, Chokmah, equilibrates with Understanding, Binah; and the Severity of Justice, Geburah, makes a counterpoise with the Mercy of Justice, Chesed; similar conceptions are the contests between Eros and Anteros, between Jacob and the Angel, Samael and Anael, Mars and Venus. The Philosophic Cross and the Greek monogram of Christos are comparable also to this magical wheel.
In order that a consecrated talisman shall give real help to you, it must be well understood, and the correspondences realised; for a pantacle is an ideal materialised, made visible, made portable, and may contain as much knowledge as a book. It is an image of some part of God and His works, it is as a card of the eternal kingdom.
Consider well the aim to be accomplished, and the powers to be invoked; select the symbols, emblems, and letters with the greatest care, seeking Chokmah and Binah from that spark of the Divine which overshadows you, and then trace, mark, or engrave your chosen design upon a plate of gold, silver, or of Corinth brass, or cut it on precious stones, or draw it upon virgin parchment. When the work has been skillfully and accurately finished, then submit it to consecration with prayers and invocations of the Four and of the Seven, using suitable perfumes in the incense; after which wrap up the talisman in clean silk and place it in a cedar casket, and it will be effectual to carry it always about with you.
Notes
The Tarot Trump marked 10 is named the Wheel of Fortune; the card shows a wheel supported on two upright beams. Hermanubis stands on one side, and Typhon on the other; above is the Sphynx holding a sword in its Lion's jaws. Eliphaz Levi alleges that Etteilla, who made a superficial study of the Tarot, is answerable for a more modern form of this card, in which the beings around the wheel are a man, a mouse, and a monkey.
The meanings of this Trump are said to be paternity, virile force, manifestation, and principle. P. Christian remarks that on the Physical plane the card points out the varying changes of the so-called fate or fortune.
This key is figured by Levi in his Clef des grands mysteres, page 117.