The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card: Meaning, Symbolism, and Message
The Wheel of Fortune is card ten of the tarot, the symbol of cycles, change, and turning points. Explore its upright and reversed meanings and symbolism.
Halfway through the Major Arcana, the Wheel of Fortune turns. Numbered ten, it is the card of cycles and change, a reminder that life is always in motion and that whatever phase you are in, the wheel keeps turning.
The image and its symbolism
The Rider-Waite-Smith image is dense with symbols. A great wheel hangs in the sky, marked with letters and alchemical signs. A sphinx rests on top, a serpent slides down one side, and a jackal-headed figure rises on the other. In the four corners sit a winged bull, lion, eagle, and angel, each reading from a book.
The wheel itself is the cycle of life, fate, and fortune, forever rising and falling. The creatures climbing and descending are the ups and downs we all ride. The four winged figures in the corners are the fixed signs of the zodiac, suggesting stability that holds even as the wheel spins. The message: change is the one constant.
Upright meaning
Upright, the Wheel of Fortune speaks of:
- Cycles and the natural rise and fall of life
- Change arriving, often for the better
- Turning points and fortunate timing
- Destiny and forces larger than yourself
When it appears, it often signals that a shift is underway. If things have been hard, the wheel is turning up. The card encourages you to go with the movement rather than against it.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the wheel can feel stuck or unkind. It may point to a downturn in the cycle, to resistance to change, or to a streak of bad timing. The card’s quiet counsel is patience: the wheel will turn again, and meanwhile you can focus on what remains in your hands.
A famous admirer
Tarot’s view of fate and fortune has long inspired songwriters. Dua Lipa has spoken in interviews about reading tarot, and the Wheel’s themes of luck, timing, and turning points run through countless lyrics about chance and change. It is one of those cards whose imagery has slipped from the deck into the wider language of pop culture.
A closing thought
The Wheel of Fortune asks for a certain grace: to hold success lightly and hard times patiently, knowing both will pass. When it appears, trust the turning. For the full story of the cards, see our beginner’s guide to tarot, or keep symbols of life’s cycles close with our collection.
Frequently asked questions
What does The Wheel of Fortune card mean?
The Wheel of Fortune represents cycles, change, luck, and turning points. It is a reminder that life moves in cycles and that a shift, often for the better, is underway.
Is The Wheel of Fortune a lucky card?
It often carries a sense of fortunate timing and positive change, especially upright. At its heart it is about the turning of cycles, so it also reminds you that nothing stays fixed.
What does The Wheel of Fortune mean reversed?
Reversed, it can suggest bad luck, resistance to change, or feeling stuck in a downturn of the cycle. It may invite patience and a focus on what you can still control.