The eight-spoked wheel
The cycle of time and events. Everything that rises will one day fall, and the other way around.
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Major Arcana · X
Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning
Wheel of Fortune is the card of change, fate and turning points. Life makes a full turn: what stood still begins to move. The card speaks of a chance you shouldn’t miss and of cycles that can’t be stopped.
Upright
- change
- luck
- a turn of fate
- cycle
- chance
Reversed
- bad luck
- stagnation
- resisting change
- loss of control
- repeating mistakes
Yes or no
Likely yes
The wheel is turning in your favor: circumstances are shifting, and a chance appears. But the answer depends on whether you seize it in time.
Ask the cards your own question →- Number
- X
- Element
- Fire
- Astrology
- Jupiter
Card symbolism in our deck
In Heinrich Pangrau’s deck, the card shows a large wheel with eight spokes and alchemical symbols. A winged creature sits on top; below, on the left, an angel reads a book, and on the right is the jackal Anubis.
Alchemical symbols
Transformation: the changes aren’t random; they alter the very essence of the situation.
The winged guardian on top
Wisdom that stays calm however the wheel turns.
The angel with a book
Knowledge and the law of fate. The book is a reminder that every turn has a cause.
Anubis
A guide between worlds. He rises with the wheel, a symbol of ascent and renewal.
The feather
Lightness and truth. Change is easier to accept when you don’t cling to the old.
Wheel of Fortune meaning
Wheel of Fortune upright is a turning point. Circumstances change, often unexpectedly and for the better: luck arrives, and a door opens that you hadn’t even thought about.
The card reminds you that life moves in cycles. The current stage is ending and a new one is beginning. The key is not to cling to the past and to notice your chance in time.
Wheel of Fortune reversed
Wheel of Fortune reversed is a streak of bad luck or a feeling that everything is working against you. Plans fall through, and events don’t depend on your efforts.
Another meaning is resistance to change and repeating the same mistakes. The wheel keeps turning, yet you land in a familiar situation again because you haven’t learned the lesson.
Wheel of Fortune in love, work, money and health
Love and relationships
Upright A fateful meeting or a new chapter in a relationship. For couples, change for the better; for singles, an encounter that seems accidental but turns out to matter.
Reversed Instability, an emotional roller coaster, repeating old patterns with a new person.
Feelings This person feels that meeting you was no accident. Their emotions are shifting, but overall they are open to the relationship growing.
Work and career
Upright A career turn, a new offer, a lucky coincidence. A good time for bold decisions.
Reversed A rough patch, deals falling through, changes you can’t influence.
Money
Upright Financial luck, unexpected income. Money comes in, but it goes out just as easily, so set some aside.
Reversed Unforeseen expenses, losses. Don’t take risks right now.
Health
Upright Your condition improves; a new cycle of recovery begins.
Reversed Old problems flare up, your well-being goes up and down. Sticking to a routine matters.
Wheel of Fortune as a person
As a person, Wheel of Fortune is lucky, easygoing and always up for something new, a lover of change. They can be inconsistent, but they have a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
The card’s advice
Upright Seize the moment: the chance is right here, so act.
Reversed Don’t fight what you can’t change. Think about which lesson keeps repeating in your life.
Card of the Day
Draw your card of the day
Wheel of Fortune as the card of the day
A day of surprises. Stay open to change: chance may work in your favor.
Combinations with other cards
- Wheel of Fortune + The SunGreat luck, a happy turn of fate.
- Wheel of Fortune + The TowerSudden changes that tear down the old order.
- Wheel of Fortune + The LoversA fateful meeting, an important choice in love.
- Wheel of Fortune + DeathThe end of one life cycle and the start of a new one.
- Wheel of Fortune + Ace of PentaclesAn unexpected financial opportunity.
- Wheel of Fortune + Eight of WandsRapid changes; events unfold at high speed.
Frequently asked questions about Wheel of Fortune
Is Wheel of Fortune a yes or no card?
Likely “yes”: circumstances are shifting in your favor, as long as you take the chance.
What does Wheel of Fortune mean in relationships?
A fateful meeting or a new stage for a couple.
What does Wheel of Fortune reversed mean?
A streak of bad luck, stagnation or repeating old mistakes.
What kind of person is Wheel of Fortune?
A lucky, easygoing person who loves change.
What does Wheel of Fortune mean as the card of the day?
A day of surprises and lucky accidents.