Wheel of Fortune - Tarot Card Meaning

The Wheel of Fortune card reminds us that life is cyclical, and sometimes you are enjoying the good times, and other times you are enduring the bad. Wherever you are in the cycle, take advantage of it. Make the most of good luck to see how far you can push beyond your limits. Use challenging times to help you make necessary and lasting changes.

Upright Tarot Card Meanings - In Brief

In the upright position, the Wheel of Fortune card suggests that you are passing through a period of good luck. This can mean that now is the time to take risks as things are likely to go your way. But remember to act with integrity, as your actions will have consequences.

Reversed Tarot Card Meanings - In Brief

In the reversed position, the Wheel of Fortune acknowledges that you are passing through a challenging time. But try to look for opportunity in adversity. The discomfort that comes with challenge is often exactly what we need to make major and lasting changes.

Number - 10

The Wheel of Fortune card is linked with the number 10, which generally means that something has come to completion. This can be a challenging time, as you may feel like you are losing something even while you are achieving something you have worked hard for. You are also prepared for new challenges, so you may feel like you are on a downward trajectory, but this is just a new beginning.

Element - Fire

The Wheel of Fortune card is linked with the element of Fire and is linked with energetic life forces. While every life has its own core source of energy, it needs fuel to thrive and create sparks. It can be an indication that you need to take steps to fuel your own fire.

Planet – Jupiter

The planet Jupiter rules the Wheel of Fortune, which is fitting since it is the planet of good luck and growth. The universe does not just revolve, it revolves and expands at the same time. The same is true of the Wheel of Fortune. You aren’t going around in circles; you are growing with each rotation.

Wheel of Fortune - Tarot Card Description

While the Wheel of Fortune card appears differently in different decks, most pull on the symbology represented in the Rider Waite deck.

At the center of the card is a giant wheel. It is inscribed with the Hebrew letters YHVH, which is the unpronounceable name of god, and the letters TORA, which means law. There are also the alchemical symbols for mercury, sulfur, water, and salt, the building blocks of humanity. Together, these symbols represent universal law.

Three figures surround the wheel. The first is a snake, which could be Typhon, the Egyptian god of evil. The snake also represents life force entering the material world. There is also Anubis, the Egyptian god of death and rebirth in the afterlife, and a sphinx, which represents knowledge and strength.

On the four corners of the card are four winged figures, each representing a sign of the zodiac. The angel is Aquarius, the eagle is Scorpio, the lion is Leo, and the bull is Taurus. Their wings demonstrate an ability to create stability amidst the winds of change.

Read our profile of Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft.

Wheel of Fortune - Upright Tarot Card Meaning

The Wheel of Fortune card reminds us that the only thing certain in life is change. When it is in the upright position, it usually means that you are on the upward rotation of the circle, and you can expect luck and fortune to be on your side at this time.

Make the most of it! It is always worth celebrating the good things in life, and you will eventually have to enter another descending period. The card is also a reminder that you can’t control everything and sometimes you have to go with the flow and just deal with difficult things as best you can until they resolve themselves naturally.

The Wheel of Fortune is also a karmic card that reminds us “what goes around comes around”. This is why it is incredibly important what we put out into the world. Remember to treat others well and always act with integrity.

What to do?

When the Wheel of Fortune card shows upright in a reading you can be reassured that you are passing through a time of good fortune. Take advantage and push your luck and see if you can make more of what you have. But remember what you do now will influence what happens next, so only release positivity.

Wheel of Fortune - Reversed Tarot Card Meaning

The Wheel of Fortune card will often appear reversed in a reading to acknowledge that you are passing through a period of back luck. It happens. It can remind us that our current situation is partially of our own making, because our previous actions have consequences and we are living those now.

But that does not mean that now is a time to mope and accept our fate. You have an opportunity to take control of what happens next by making smart decisions and taking concerted action. This can be a particularly good time to break negative cycles that are keeping you stuck in place.

The Wheel of Fortune card can acknowledge that change is sometimes forced upon us, and this can be difficult to accept. But once change has happened it cannot be undone. It is better to look to the future rather than wish the past back.

What to do?

The Wheel of Fortune card reversed probably means that you are going through a difficult time. But remember that adversity is often opportunity and now is a time when you can affect important change in your life. Focus on moving forward and what is next rather than lamenting what has already passed.

Wheel of Fortune Tarot Reading

When the Wheel of Fortune card appears in a Tarot reading, it is a reminder that life is a cycle of constant change. Sometimes you are in a period of positivity and success, and at other times, you are in a negative period of challenge. Both represent opportunity. When luck is one your side, you can push yourself further and make big gains. When you are on the downward trajectory, this is an opportunity to make big and necessary changes.

Remember that while the universe rotates, it expands at the same time. Your circle of life does the same thing. Each time you make the rotation, your trajectory gets bigger and your possibilities get more exciting.