What is the Wheel of Fortune?

The Wheel of Fortune is card number 10 in the Major Arcana. It embodies the cosmic truth that life is in constant motion—fortunes rise and fall, seasons change, and cycles repeat. After The Hermit's inward journey, the Wheel marks the turning point where external fate begins to shift.

Card Symbolism

In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, a great wheel floats among the clouds. Atop it sits a sword-bearing sphinx, while Anubis ascends on the right and the serpent Typhon descends on the left—representing the eternal cycle of rise and fall. The wheel bears the Hebrew letters YHVH (the name of God) interlaced with TARO. In the four corners, winged figures of the four evangelists (angel, eagle, lion, bull) read from open books, symbolizing the fixed signs of the zodiac and stable wisdom amidst change.

Upright Meanings

• A fortunate turn of events and good luck arriving
• A major turning point or the start of a new cycle
• Seizing opportunities at the right moment
• Karma and the law of cause and effect

Reversed Meanings

• Bad luck or unexpected setbacks
• Resistance to inevitable change
• Feeling powerless against the whims of fate
• Repeating negative patterns or cycles

Reading Tips

The Wheel of Fortune reminds you that change is the only constant. Good times and hard times are both temporary. When this card appears, embrace the flow of change, prepare to seize opportunities as they arise, and remember that even downturns eventually cycle back toward better days.