The Wheel of Fortune Card Fully Explained | Fate, Change, and Cosmic Cycles

Associated Information

Related Keywords:Cycle of time, Fortune Corresponding Astrological Body: Jupiter Element: Fire Element

Key Words

Changes in destiny, mysterious transformations, unpredictable future, natural laws, mysterious forces, fate and opportunity, self-operating, going with the flow.

Upright Interpretation

Sudden fortune, impending change in circumstances, success through adapting to the situation, seizing opportunities granted by fate, unexpected developments, an unpredictable future, unexpected shifts in romantic luck.

When the Wheel of Fortune is upright, it tends toward good luck and favorable arrangements. However, the mechanisms behind the wheel’s turning are often beyond human understanding. Though upright suggests smooth progress, the outcome of fate remains unknown, and uncertainties persist. Yet, if one understands fate—sees it clearly and accepts it—then grasps the opportunities created by the upright Wheel, everything can still move in the right direction.

Reversed Interpretation

Sudden misfortune, unable to resist changes in the situation, loss of control over developments, missed opportunities, failure due to missing the critical moment of fate, unfavorable unexpected events, lack of answers, being manipulated, hidden machinations by others.

When reversed, the wheel leans toward bad luck, being dictated by the environment, and the tricks of fate. It reflects helplessness, misaligned timing, unpreparedness, and difficulties. In such times, besides reassessing one’s learning state and approach to the current environment, one must also activate their creativity to forge a new path in destiny and break free from the old tracks of fate.

A reversed Wheel of Fortune may also suggest the querent holds an incorrect attitude toward their current fate—being too arrogant or overconfident, believing they can conquer and control everything. However, humans are merely players in the grand cosmic plan. We must face the vast, infinite universe with humility and reverence. Sometimes, the querent lacks experience (failing to learn essential life lessons during a developmental stage). For example, a querent may be extremely dependent on their partner, needing constant presence to feel secure, believing that absence would destroy the relationship. This stems from past experiences—she is an orphan, lacked care in childhood, and consequently lacks trust in people and environments. This mistrust leads to insecurity and chaos in intimate relationships.

Whether upright or reversed, the Wheel of Fortune benefits life. When encountering misfortune, one should not lament fate but instead accept its limitations—it’s already telling you: this path is blocked. One must find the path to freedom from within a limited environment. Though fate appears uncontrollable (this card is one of only two Major Arcana cards that do not depict humans—the other is the Moon), it is a natural force. Yet, through assessment and choice, we can still create new possibilities at the right moments.

Detailed Meaning of the Card

The "Wheel of Fortune" is a card with a cosmic worldview, representing life’s opportunities and shifts in destiny.

Transitioning from the previous Card IX "The Hermit" to Card X "The Wheel of Fortune" is a passage from seclusion to re-emergence—from the largest single-digit number 9 to the beginning of a new cycle at 0. The Wheel, like zero, forms a circle—a rotating cycle. As the midpoint of the 22 Major Arcana cards, it represents the great turning point of destiny and unpredictable changes.

On the Wheel appears the word "TORA," the same as found in the "High Priestess" card, symbolizing the Book of Wisdom—fate, truth, and the unending cycle of life.

The Wheel drives the changes of the world and nature. The Four Holy Beasts—Bull (Taurus, Earth, Spring), Lion (Leo, Fire, Summer), Eagle (Scorpio, Water, Autumn), Angel (Aquarius, Air, Winter)—represent the cycle of seasons, holding books and chanting scriptures, symbolizing learning and growth. The Sphinx, with a human face and lion body, holds mysteries; the snake symbolizes wisdom; Anubis, with a jackal's head, guides souls to the spiritual realm.

The inscriptions TARO (Tarot) and TORA (Wisdom) within the wheel symbolize the Tarot as a book of wisdom that helps one comprehend the natural changes of the world. The Tarot reveals the truths of life.

The Wheel of Fortune represents a forward-moving thread, an extension from past to present, a force that propels progress. In this thread of fate, the most important thing is participation—once you join in, fate will endow your life with meaning and elevation.