The Great Wheel Turns
🌟 The Eternal Cycle
The Wheel of Fortune shows a massive wheel suspended in the sky, inscribed with Hebrew letters spelling YHVH (the unpronounceable name of God) and alchemical symbols for mercury, sulfur, water, and salt. Four winged creatures—a man, an eagle, a bull, and a lion—occupy the corners, representing the four fixed signs of the zodiac and the four evangelists. The wheel itself has three figures: a sphinx at the top holding a sword, a snake descending on the left (the Egyptian god Typhon), and a jackal-headed Anubis ascending on the right.
This complex symbolism points to one simple truth: everything changes. What goes up must come down, and what descends will rise again. The Wheel of Fortune represents the turning point—that moment when circumstances shift, when luck changes, when a new chapter begins. It reminds us that we live within cycles larger than ourselves, subject to forces we cannot fully control.
Note: In the Tarot de Marseille, this card is similarly numbered X and called La Roue de Fortune, depicting a simpler wheel with figures rising and falling on its rim.
💖 Love & Relationships
When the Wheel of Fortune appears in a love reading, it often signals a significant turning point or change in your romantic life. For singles, this can indicate a fated meeting—someone important entering your life at exactly the right moment. There's a quality of destiny to these encounters; they feel meant to be.
For those in relationships, the Wheel suggests evolution and change within the partnership. This could be moving to a new stage (engagement, marriage, moving in together) or simply a shift in the dynamic between you. The Wheel reminds us that no relationship stays static—either it grows and evolves, or it stagnates and declines.
Questions to ask: Am I open to the changes coming in my love life? Do I believe in fate or do I fight against the natural flow? What cycle am I completing, and what new one is beginning?
💼 Career & Life Path
In career matters, the Wheel of Fortune is excellent news—it indicates favorable changes, unexpected opportunities, and a general upswing in your professional fortunes. This could manifest as a promotion, a job offer, a successful project, or simply a period where everything seems to go your way.
The Wheel also speaks to timing. It's a reminder that there are seasons in our professional lives—times to push forward and times to wait, periods of growth and periods of consolidation. The key is recognizing which phase you're in and working with it rather than against it. When the Wheel appears, it's often saying: "The time is now. Opportunity is knocking. Don't hesitate."
Career guidance: Be ready to seize opportunities when they appear. Trust that you're in the right place at the right time. Understand that success often comes through a combination of preparation and fortunate timing.
🌌 Spiritual Significance
Spiritually, the Wheel of Fortune represents karma, fate, and the great cycles of existence. It reminds us that we're part of something much larger than our individual lives—we're connected to cosmic patterns, natural rhythms, and the unfolding of destiny itself.
The sphinx at the top of the wheel represents the riddle of existence—there are mysteries we cannot fully understand, forces beyond our comprehension. The ascending and descending figures show that life moves in cycles: birth and death, success and failure, joy and sorrow. Wisdom lies not in resisting these cycles but in understanding our place within them.
The Hebrew letters on the wheel (YHVH) represent the sacred and unknowable name of the divine, suggesting that behind the apparent randomness of fortune lies a deeper order, a divine intelligence guiding all things.
⚡ The Shadow Side
Reversed or challenged, the Wheel of Fortune can indicate bad luck, unfavorable timing, or resistance to necessary change. Perhaps you're fighting against inevitable transitions, trying to keep things the same when evolution is required. Or maybe you're experiencing a downswing—what was working before no longer works, and you're struggling to adapt.
The shadow of the Wheel can also manifest as a victim mentality—blaming everything on "bad luck" rather than taking responsibility for your choices. Remember: the Wheel turns for everyone, but how we respond to those turns is within our control. We can't stop the Wheel from spinning, but we can learn to ride it with grace.