Marirowana Posted August 9, 2020 Posted August 9, 2020 (edited) For the Creative Tarot Circle here on the forum, I was doing some research about the Wheel of Fortune. A sentence in the Tarot Handbook by Hajo Banzhaf lead me to Carl Jung, and I ended up reading a chapter in ‘Jung and Tarot: an archetypal journey’, by Sallie Nichols. It gave me some surprising insights that I feel are resonating with me, specifically about the introvert/extravert conversation, and I would like to share some lines from the book with you. Quote “I find the Tarot Wheel an excellent vehicle to help me visualise and clarify what I think Jung meant by the often misunderstood terms “introvert” and “extravert”. The introvert I picture as living close tot the Wheel’s center. His first concern is with inner space. (...) The extravert I see as living closer to the outer rim, where he is attracted first of all by outer space. He likes motions, exploration, adventure, and he is stimulated by people, places and planets.” She then explains that the wheel is moving for each of us, but the people on the outside of the wheel are whirled about so fast from one activity to another that he experiences life as a disconnected series of ups and downs. For the people born more on the inside, on the other hand, that fast ride feels like a threat, he discovers life's meaning from the inside before he can take his place in the jumble of the world. But ofcourse... Quote “Obviously (and fortunately), a “pure” example of neither the extraverted nor the introverted type exists in nature. (…) The attitude types are not a rigid classification; they merely indicate an inborn tenancy, more pronounced in some than in others. As one grows in self-knowledge, his native bent becomes modified. Understood and accepted, one’s attitude type can become a source of strength rather than a limitation.” Quote “We are by no means flies enmeshed in Fate’s spinning web. (…) The extravert, born near the Wheel’s outer rim, can learn to move a little toward its hub. The introvert, born near the Wheel’s center, can learn to move toward its periphery. But since extravert and introvert experience the motion of Fortune’s Wheel differently, the techniques for moving about within its confines may be different for each.” Quote “To sum up: One might say the introvert learns to do by being and the extravert learns to be by doing. Then Nichols continues giving some practical advice for both introverts and extroverts on how to move about the Wheel, an which questions each of them can ask life. (for example: where the extravert may want to ask 'Who am I?', the introvert often already has a fairly good idea who he is. He may rather ask 'Who are they?'). As an introvert, I recognise my position near the hub of the wheel, with few extremes and no intense ups or downs. On all levels of life, I'm gliding through, rather than being in a rollercoaster. How do you feel about this? Do you think introverts and extraverts experience the Wheel of life differently? Do you keep this into account when reading for yourself, or for others? Please note, I'm not very familiar with Jung, but I like to get influences from all directions Here is a link in case you want to read more of the chapter in Google Books ( I started reading around page 187, practical advice starts at 192). Image is from the Jungian Tarot by Robert Wang. Edited August 10, 2020 by Marirowana added a comment to one of the quotes to give more context and page numbers
Flaxen Posted August 10, 2020 Posted August 10, 2020 That is really interesting! Thank you so much for sharing it here. It definitely gives some food for thought with regards to the Wheel of Fortune. I’m more naturally an introvert and can see how I glide through life avoiding extremes.
Marirowana Posted August 12, 2020 Author Posted August 12, 2020 On 8/10/2020 at 8:34 AM, Flaxen said: That is really interesting! Thank you so much for sharing it here. It definitely gives some food for thought with regards to the Wheel of Fortune. I’m more naturally an introvert and can see how I glide through life avoiding extremes. Thank you for sharing your thoughts as well!
Mab Posted August 30, 2020 Posted August 30, 2020 Thank you, this is an interesting insight, which has helped me, an introvert, interpret the Wheel of Fortune card in this context, as it has popped up this week.
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