History and symbols
What Do the Lemniscate, the Wheel and the Serpent Mean in Tarot?
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The lemniscate, the wheel and the serpent are circular or cyclical symbols in tarot. The lemniscate, the sideways eight, suggests continuous flow and appears above The Magician and Strength in the Rider-Waite-Smith. The wheel recalls the cycle of ups and downs, and the serpent can signal transformation or temptation, depending on the card.
The lemniscate: the sideways eight
In the Rider-Waite-Smith, the lemniscate floats above the head of The Magician and of Strength. It is usually read as a symbol of continuous energy and self-mastery, or of a power that does not run out.
In Marseille decks, The Magician and Strength wear wide-brimmed hats of a similar shape, which shows how the idea has been transformed over time.
The wheel and the serpent
The wheel is a medieval image of Fortune, which turns and changes the position of who is on top and who is at the bottom. In the Wheel of Fortune card, it reminds us that situations are cyclical and pass.
The serpent is an ambiguous symbol in the tradition. It can be temptation, as in the garden of The Lovers, or renewal, because it sheds its skin. On The Magician, the serpent-shaped belt that bites its own tail is read as cycle and eternity.
- Lemniscate: The Magician and Strength, the idea of flow and mastery.
- Wheel: the Wheel of Fortune, the idea of cycle and change.
- Serpent: The Magician, the Wheel and The Lovers, with a different meaning in each.
How to use these symbols without overdoing it
These meanings are conventions of readers and esoteric authors, not fixed rules. The same symbol can be read differently depending on the card, the deck and the question.
A good practice is to first note what you see and feel, and only then compare with what the books say.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the lemniscate the symbol of infinity?
- Yes, the sideways eight is known today as the infinity symbol. In tarot it is usually read as continuous power, balance or an endless cycle.
- Do all cards with a serpent speak of danger?
- No. The serpent can indicate temptation, but also transformation, wisdom or cycle, depending on the context of the card.
- Does the wheel appear on other cards besides the Wheel of Fortune?
- The wheel appears most prominently in the Wheel of Fortune and, as an image, also in The Chariot, through the wheels of the vehicle. The meanings are different in each card.
Educational content, for reflection. Tarot does not replace medical, legal or financial advice.