Wheel of Fortune

Upright Meaning

A great wheel spins in the sky, adorned with Hebrew letters and alchemical symbols. On its rim, a serpent descends while Anubis rises and the sphinx sits regally at the top. In the four corners, winged figures — an angel, an eagle, a bull, a lion — each read books. The wheel turns; what is up comes down; what is down rises. The only certainty is change itself.

Reversed Meaning

Reversed, the Wheel feels like it's turning against you. There is resistance to inevitable change, clinging to the past, or a run of bad luck that feels personal. The key is to remember it is still turning — this position is not permanent.

Guidance & Advice

Upright

Accept that much is beyond your control. Work with cycles rather than against them. Identify where you are on the wheel and prepare for the inevitable turn

Reversed

Let go of what must change. Find your footing within the disruption rather than resisting it. This too shall pass.

History & Symbolism

Rota Fortunae — the Wheel of Fortune — was one of the most common medieval allegories, depicting Fortuna spinning a wheel upon which kings rose and fell. The tarot version fuses this with Kabbalistic mysticism and the fixed signs of the zodiac.

What to Look Out For

Don't mistake the position you're in for a permanent state. Whether you're at the top or the bottom, the wheel is always turning.