The Story of the Tarot

The World is numbered 21 in the Major Arcana, and is governed by Saturn:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-Major_21.jpg

The Wheel of Fortune is numbered 10 in the Major Arcana, and is governed by Jupiter.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-Major_10.jpg

Note the four corners of the World Card, which, just like the Wheel of Fortune Card, bears the symbolism of the four Sepharic or angelic beings from Ezekiel's vision: Angel, Eagle, Ox and Lion.

These creatures were associated with the four directions, and the four elements of alchemy
(angel=air; eagle=water; ox=earth; lion=fire):

During New Testament times, these would be associated with the four Evangelists, Matthew (human or angel), Mark (lion), Luke (ox), and John (eagle).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...vangelists.jpg"The four Evangelists appear on the ceiling of the choir in the 15th-c. Church of St. Moritz in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany." - from a Wikipedia entry on the Four Evangelists

angel - air - light blue - spirit - intelligence - east - swords
lion - fire - yellow - life - will - south - wands
eagle - water - dark or green/blue - soul - wisdom - west - cups
ox - earth - dark green or russet, brown - body - strength - pentacles/coins

This is a fascinating thread. I was wondering if the Holy Fool from Parzival was culled from the Tarot? His characteristics certainly match up. Thinking of the Holy Fool also reminded me of Phillip K. Dick (who used the Holy Fool from Parzival in his The Transmigration of Timothy Archer). Dick apparently used the I Ching to come up with the entire plot for The Man in the High Castle. Thank you both for this enjoyable thread!