The Wheel of Fortune stands as one of the most dynamic and transformative cards in the tarot deck, representing cycles, change, destiny, and the inevitable turns of fate. As card number ten in the Major Arcana, this powerful symbol reminds individuals that life moves in cycles, and what goes up must come down, while what goes down will rise again. Nothing stays the same forever, and the changes experienced are part of a larger pattern and purpose. The Wheel asks individuals to remember that everything happens for a reason and that all experiences contribute to growth and evolution.
When The Wheel of Fortune appears in a reading, individuals are tapping into Jupiter energy, experiencing a time of growth, expansion, positive change, and opportunities that arise through divine timing rather than personal efforts alone. The card represents a significant turning point where life is changing, circumstances are shifting, and individuals are moving from one phase to another. However, this change is often beyond personal control—it represents the natural cycle of life turning. Trusting the timing, embracing change, and knowing that the wheel always turns toward one's highest good are essential attitudes, even when the outcome isn't yet visible.
The imagery and symbolism of The Wheel of Fortune card provide profound insights into its meaning. In the traditional Rider-Waite tarot deck, the card features a large wheel suspended in the sky, surrounded by clouds. The wheel is divided into sections and inscribed with alchemical and mystical symbols, representing the forces that govern change and transformation. Four Hebrew letters (YHVH, representing the divine name) appear on the wheel's rim, alternating with the letters TARO, which can be rearranged to spell TAROT, ROTA (meaning "wheel" in Latin), or TORA (meaning "law"). The middle wheel displays the alchemical symbols for mercury, sulphur, water, and salt—the building blocks of life and the four elements—representing formative power.
On the outer wheel, a snake moves downward, symbolizing life force energy and the cycle of change. Its descent into the underworld represents transformation and the shedding of the old. On the right side rises Anubis, the Egyptian God of the dead who welcomes souls to the underworld. On top of the wheel sits the Sphinx, representing knowledge and strength. In the corners of the card appear four winged creatures, each associated with the four fixed signs of the Zodiac: the angel is Aquarius, the eagle is Scorpio, the lion is Leo, and the bull is Taurus. Their wings signify stability amidst movement and change, and each holds the Torah, representing wisdom.
Upright Meaning and Key Interpretations
When The Wheel of Fortune appears upright in a reading, it carries powerful messages of positive change, good luck, destiny, and turning points. The key meanings include positive change, good luck, destiny and fate, turning points, cycles completing, expansion and growth, divine timing, opportunities, karma returning, and new chapters beginning. The Wheel of Fortune card represents a major turning point in life—the wheel is spinning in favor, bringing positive change, new opportunities, and forward momentum. What was stuck is now moving, and what was closed is now opening.
The card symbolizes the cycles of life that all individuals must go through. It embodies the inevitability of change and reminds seekers that life is rarely static. Changes will happen whether embraced or not, and the Wheel of Fortune appears to help individuals determine how to navigate these shifts. The card suggests that individuals are experiencing or about to experience a significant turning point where circumstances are shifting and they are moving from one phase to another.
Key interpretations of the upright Wheel of Fortune include:
- Cycles and Change: The card represents the natural cycles of life, reminding individuals that change is inevitable and part of a larger cosmic pattern
- Destiny and Fate: It signifies alignment with destiny and the unfolding of fate according to divine timing
- Turning Points: Major life changes are occurring or imminent, representing pivotal moments where direction shifts
- Good Fortune and Opportunity: Positive developments, luck, and new opportunities are emerging through cosmic alignment
- Karma and Life Lessons: The card represents the law of cause and effect, where past actions return as present experiences
- Expansion and Growth: Jupiter energy brings expansion, growth, and broader perspectives
- Divine Timing: Opportunities arise through timing rather than personal effort alone, suggesting trust in the process
The upright Wheel encourages individuals to make the most of the journey rather than focusing solely on the destination. Life will present many twists and turns, and the card advises trusting the need for change whenever it arises, as there is something to learn from each and every experience.
Reversed Meaning and Challenges
When The Wheel of Fortune appears reversed, it indicates different energetic patterns and challenges. The reversed keywords include bad luck, disappointment, misfortune, mishap, unforeseen setback, resistance to change, breaking cycles, lack of control, broken cycles, setbacks, missed opportunities, feeling stuck, and external forces.
The reversed Wheel of Fortune may suggest that individuals are struggling to accept change. They might be resisting the natural flow of life, holding onto situations that need to be released, or feeling that external circumstances are working against them. This position can indicate a period of bad luck or misfortune where things don't seem to go as planned.
However, the reversed card also offers guidance. It encourages individuals to reflect on the meaning behind unexpected events and to consider that letting go of control could be exactly what is needed to maintain inner peace. The reversed position might indicate that individuals are experiencing broken cycles or that they need to break free from repetitive patterns that no longer serve their highest good.
Symbolic Elements and Their Meanings
The rich symbolism within The Wheel of Fortune card provides multiple layers of interpretation:
The Wheel Itself: As the central image, the wheel represents the cyclical nature of existence—the constant turning of fortune, circumstances, and life phases. It reminds us that nothing is permanent and that all things pass in time.
The Four Creatures: The four winged creatures in the corners (angel/Aquarius, eagle/Scorpio, lion/Leo, bull/Taurus) represent stability amidst change. Each is associated with a fixed zodiac sign, symbolizing the enduring aspects of personality and character that remain constant even as circumstances change. They also represent the four evangelists and hold books of wisdom, suggesting that knowledge and spiritual understanding provide anchors during times of transformation.
The Sphinx: Positioned atop the wheel, the Sphinx embodies knowledge, strength, and mystery. It represents the wisdom needed to navigate life's changes and the strength to remain centered during transformation.
The Snake: The descending snake symbolizes the life force moving into the material world, representing transformation, shedding of old patterns, and the cyclical nature of energy.
Alchemical Symbols: The symbols for mercury, sulphur, water, and salt on the middle wheel represent the building blocks of life and the four elements, showing that change operates at the most fundamental levels of existence.
Divine Letters: The Hebrew letters YHVH and the arrangement of TARO/ROTA/TORA connect the card to divine law, cosmic order, and the underlying spiritual principles that govern change.
The Wheel of Fortune and Karma
The Wheel of Fortune is often called the wheel of karma, reminding individuals that "what goes around comes around." This principle suggests that actions have consequences that eventually return to the source. Being kind and loving to others tends to generate kindness and love in return, while negativity tends to generate negative returns. The card emphasizes the importance of sending out positive energy and intentions, as these will eventually circle back.
This karmic aspect also relates to the concept of life lessons. The Wheel asks individuals to remember that all experiences contribute to growth and evolution, even those that appear negative or challenging. Each turn of the wheel brings opportunities to learn, evolve, and align more closely with one's highest potential.
Divine Timing and Trusting the Process
A central message of The Wheel of Fortune is the concept of divine timing. The card suggests that significant changes and opportunities arise not through personal effort alone, but through alignment with cosmic timing and universal forces. This doesn't diminish the importance of personal effort, but rather suggests that there is an optimal time for everything.
When The Wheel appears, it encourages individuals to trust that they are in the right place at the right time, even if the situation doesn't immediately appear favorable. The wheel always turns toward one's highest good, even when that outcome isn't yet visible. This requires faith, patience, and the willingness to surrender to the natural flow of life rather than forcing outcomes.
Practical Applications and Guidance
The Wheel of Fortune offers several practical applications for navigating life's changes:
Embracing Change: Rather than resisting transformation, the card encourages openness to new directions and experiences. Change is presented as natural and ultimately beneficial.
Trusting Timing: When opportunities arise or situations shift, the card advises trusting that these developments are occurring at the appropriate time for one's growth and evolution.
Learning from Experiences: Every situation, whether positive or challenging, contains lessons that contribute to personal development. The card encourages seeking the wisdom in each experience.
Maintaining Perspective: During difficult times, remember that the wheel turns and circumstances will change. During good times, cherish the moments while they last, knowing that change is constant.
Sending Positive Energy: Since the wheel of karma turns continuously, the card reminds individuals to cultivate positivity, kindness, and constructive intentions in their interactions and decisions.
Riding the Wheel: Sometimes the best approach is simply to ride the wheel—to surrender to the flow of life rather than struggling against inevitable changes. This doesn't mean passivity, but rather active acceptance and adaptation.
The Wheel in Different Life Areas
While the core meaning of The Wheel of Fortune remains consistent, its appearance can have specific implications depending on the context of a reading:
Career and Business: The card may indicate a turning point in professional life, such as opportunities for advancement, changes in direction, or the need to adapt to new circumstances. It suggests that timing and alignment with larger forces play important roles in success.
Relationships: In matters of love and relationships, The Wheel can indicate meeting someone at the right time, relationship transitions, or the need to trust the natural evolution of connections. It reminds individuals that relationships also move through cycles.
Personal Growth: The card strongly emphasizes evolution and learning. It suggests that current experiences, whatever they may be, are contributing to spiritual and personal development.
Financial Matters: The Wheel often appears when financial circumstances are changing, suggesting that abundance flows in cycles and that opportunities may arise through fortunate timing.
The Relationship Between The Wheel and Personal Agency
While The Wheel of Fortune emphasizes cosmic forces and divine timing, it doesn't eliminate personal responsibility or agency. The card represents the intersection of fate and free will—while certain events may be destined or timed cosmically, individuals still have choice in how they respond to and work with these changes.
The guidance is to work with the wheel rather than against it. This means recognizing when opportunities are present and taking action, while also knowing when to step back and allow things to unfold naturally. It's a balance between participation and surrender.
Understanding the Cycle
The Wheel of Fortune teaches that life is a series of cycles rather than a linear progression. There are times for growth and times for rest, times for action and times for reflection. Recognizing this pattern helps individuals maintain perspective during both challenging and prosperous periods.
The card reminds us that: - Nothing stays the same forever - Change is natural and necessary - Difficult times will pass - Good times should be cherished - Each phase contains its own lessons and gifts - Trusting the process leads to greater peace
The Transformative Power of The Wheel
As one of the most transformative cards in the tarot, The Wheel of Fortune represents profound shifts in consciousness and circumstances. Its appearance often coincides with periods of significant personal evolution, where old patterns are released and new ways of being emerge.
The transformation facilitated by The Wheel is not always comfortable, but it is always purposeful. The card assures individuals that even when change feels disruptive or challenging, it is ultimately serving their highest good and contributing to their growth.
Conclusion
The Wheel of Fortune serves as a powerful reminder of the cyclical, ever-changing nature of life. It appears in readings to help individuals understand that they are part of larger cosmic patterns, and that change—whether welcomed or not—is a natural and necessary aspect of existence. Through its rich symbolism and profound messages, the card offers guidance for navigating life's inevitable ups and downs with grace, wisdom, and trust.
The key takeaways from The Wheel of Fortune include understanding that change is constant and natural, trusting in divine timing and cosmic forces, recognizing the karmic nature of experiences, embracing rather than resisting transformation, and maintaining faith that all turns of the wheel ultimately serve one's highest good.
Whether appearing upright or reversed, The Wheel of Fortune encourages individuals to remain open to life's lessons, to trust the process of transformation, and to remember that every experience contributes to the ongoing journey of growth and evolution. By aligning with the natural cycles represented by the wheel, individuals can navigate change more effectively and find peace amidst life's constant motion.
The card ultimately teaches that while we cannot control every aspect of our lives, we can control our response to change, our willingness to learn from experience, and our ability to trust in the underlying wisdom of the cosmic order. In doing so, we learn to dance with the wheel rather than be thrown by it, finding balance, growth, and ultimately, fulfillment in the eternal cycle of existence.