Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning

Keywords (Upright)

• fate
• cycles
• change
• karma
• turning point

Keywords (Reversed)

• resistance to change
• bad luck
• misalignment
• stuck cycles

Card Description & Esoteric Background

At the heart of the tarot, the Wheel of Fortune spins—cosmic, mysterious, and inevitable. Encircling the wheel are the four fixed signs of the zodiac—Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius—each holding an open book that symbolizes wisdom, evolution, and timeless truths. The wheel itself bears Hebrew letters spelling YHVH (the name of God), alchemical symbols, and the letters T-A-R-O, forming a continuous loop of transformation and mystery.

Above the wheel sits the regal Sphinx, sword in hand, embodying the guardianship of higher truth. On one side descends the serpent Typhon, a force of entropy and downward pull; on the other rises Anubis, god of transitions and rebirth, lifting toward new horizons.

“In the Thoth Tarot, the wheel bursts into kaleidoscopic motion, animated by Hermanubis, Typhon, and the Sphinx—together expressing the interplay of fortune, knowledge, and shadow.”

Astrologically ruled by Jupiter and aligned with the Hebrew letter Kaph (כ)—meaning “palm” or open hand—this card speaks to destiny as both a gift and a profound challenge.

The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning: Upright

When upright, the Wheel of Fortune signals powerful change and a karmic turning point. Forces beyond your immediate control are setting events in motion—trust the unfolding.

Key Upright Interpretations:

• Karmic Cycles: The culmination of past choices leads to a new chapter, guided by unseen hands.
• Positive Momentum: Luck, opportunity, and beneficial shifts are aligning.
• Divine Timing: Even if the outcome is uncertain, trust that the wheel turns with sacred purpose.

The wheel of fortune tarot card meaning in this position invites you to release rigid control, stay adaptable, and move with destiny’s current rather than against it.

The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning: Reversed

Reversed, the Wheel of Fortune suggests a sense of blockage or resistance. Change is still needed—but may be delayed by fear, denial, or lingering attachment to old cycles.

Key Reversed Interpretations:

• Resistance to Change: Holding on tightly out of fear, preventing natural evolution.
• Perceived Misfortune: What appears as bad luck could be a hidden spiritual redirection.
• Stuck Cycles: Repetitive patterns keep you anchored; awareness is the first step to transformation.

“In reversal, this card gently challenges you: surrender control, embrace timing, and allow growth to unfold without force.”

Summary: The Ever-Turning Wheel

The Wheel of Fortune embodies the invisible architecture of fate—always in motion, always shaping life’s unfolding story. Upright, it heralds pivotal shifts and cosmic timing. Reversed, it signals stagnation, fear, or a call to break entrenched patterns.

“Ultimately, this archetype asks: Will you rise with the wheel—or resist its motion and remain caught beneath it?”