Major Arcana
Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune is one of the 22 Major Arcana in tarot. Upright, it speaks of cycles, destiny and change of fortune. Reversed, it points to bad patch, resisting change and delay. In yes-or-no questions it leans toward yes.
- Number
- 10
- Element
- Fire
- Astrology
- Jupiter
- Yes or no
- Yes
Symbolism
A great wheel suspended in the sky bears the letters TARO/ROTA and alchemical symbols. Around it, the four creatures of the Tetramorph (angel, eagle, lion and bull), reading books, represent the elements and the fixed signs. A serpent descends, Anubis rises and a sphinx sits on top: everything moves, but the center remains. The number 10 closes one cycle and begins another.
Affirmation
“I flow with the cycles of life and trust that each turn carries me forward.”
Upright meaning
- cycles
- destiny
- change of fortune
- opportunity
- turning point
- General
- The Wheel of Fortune announces a turn: something moves and the situation takes a new direction, often a favorable one. It reminds you that life is made of cycles, with ups and downs, and nothing is permanent. There is also a lesson in adapting and recognizing the right moment to act. Ride the tide when it comes.
- Love
- Unexpected changes, encounters that feel like fate and a relationship entering a new phase. As a couple, growth cycles call for joint adaptation. If single, luck favors new encounters.
- Work & money
- Opportunity, a change of scenery and favorable turns. A good moment to ride the tide and act quickly. Remember that conditions change, so build reserves for tougher cycles.
- Advice
- Accept the movement and be ready to seize the opportunity. Stay at the center of the wheel, balanced.
Reversed meaning
- bad patch
- resisting change
- delay
- repeating cycle
- lack of control
- General
- Reversed, the Wheel can indicate a period of apparent bad luck, delays or a cycle that repeats because something has not been learned. It also shows resistance to change and a feeling that things are out of control. The turn is still coming, but it asks you to own your part. Look for the pattern and break it.
- Love
- Repeating patterns, difficult phases or upheavals that unsettle. As a couple, resisting change wears you down; adapting brings you closer. If single, notice what repeats in your choices.
- Work & money
- Delays, unexpected changes that seem against you or opportunities slipping away due to hesitation. Avoid big risks right now. Review what repeats and adjust your strategy.
- Advice
- Ask what this cycle is trying to teach and change what is in your hands. Be patient with what you cannot control.
Guides about Wheel of Fortune
- What Does the Wheel of Fortune Mean in Tarot?See the meaning of the Wheel of Fortune (X) in tarot: cycles, change and luck, in love, at work and when it appears reversed.
- Is Wheel of Fortune a yes or no in tarot?Wheel of Fortune leans toward yes when a situation is changing course. See why the card speaks of cycles, what changes reversed and how to read the turn.
- Wheel of Fortune and The World Together: What Does This Combination Mean?Learn what Wheel of Fortune and The World together mean: a turning point that leads to the completion of a cycle, with examples and reversed readings.
- What Does Wheel of Fortune Mean as Someone's Feelings for You?See what Wheel of Fortune says about someone's feelings for you, upright or reversed, with an example and questions for following the movement.
- What Does The Hermit Card Mean in Tarot?See the meaning of The Hermit (IX) in tarot: introspection, chosen solitude, inner guidance and the search for meaning, in love and at work.
- Personal arcana 8 to 14: what does each number mean?Personal arcana 8 to 14, from Strength to Temperance, and the themes tradition links to each one: courage, pause, cycles and transition.