Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card: Symbolism, Interpretation & Upright Meaning

I’ll be honest, it took me quite a while to truly understand the meaning of the Wheel of Fortune tarot card. The Rider–Waite card, in particular, always felt a bit abstract to me. It took time and reflection before I could integrate its meaning and see where it fits within the Fool’s Journey.

The Wheel of Fortune sits on the second line of the Fool’s Journey. It resembles the phase of turning inward, away from the noise of the world, to discover who we really are. Coming right after the Hermit, this card is where we begin to understand the greater forces at work in life. It’s the moment we recognise that the world doesn’t revolve around us, and we start to make sense of our place within the larger flow of existence.

Symbolism and Imagery of Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

The Robin Wood Tarot offers a beautifully accessible version of this card. The Wheel is divided into colourful segments representing different emotional states: joy and ease at the top, challenge and struggle at the bottom. This reminds us how easily we move through these shifting experiences and how temporary they always are.

A small pinball circles the outer edge of the Wheel, symbolising what happens when we overidentify with our emotions or circumstances. When we’re at the top, we can’t relax for fear of losing it all; when we’re at the bottom, we worry it will always be this way. The card reminds us that peace doesn’t come from clinging to any point on the Wheel, but rather from finding stillness in its centre.

Upright Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning

When the Wheel of Fortune tarot card appears, its meaning is that the winds of change are moving strongly through your life. Things are shifting, perhaps unexpectedly, and the Universe is inviting you to flow with what is, rather than resist or control it.

You might be trying to speed things up or slow them down because where you are now feels uncomfortable. But the Wheel reminds you that everything is unfolding according to a larger rhythm, and one you don’t need to micromanage.

Whatever phase you’re in, the card encourages you to cultivate peace within it. If you’re in a season of abundance, focus on gratitude rather than fearing it will slip away. If you’re facing challenges, remember that no state lasts forever. Look back at past experiences you’ve overcome, as they are proof that you can move through this too.

Ultimately, the Wheel teaches us that there will always be factors outside our control. But when we connect with the centre of the Wheel, the calm, unchanging point at its heart, we find grounding and clarity. That still centre represents your eternal self: the part of you that remains worthy, loved, and whole, regardless of what happens externally. This is the place from which you can weather any storm.

Reversed Meaning of Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

Reversed cards take their meaning from context, so tune into your intuition and the surrounding cards when Strength appears this way. And as always, if reversed readings don’t feel aligned for you, you don’t have to use them.

An Obstacle on Your Path

When reversed, the Wheel of Fortune can suggest that you’re being swept away by external circumstances. Perhaps you’re trying to control too much and pushing for outcomes before they’re ready or resisting what’s unfolding. The discomfort you feel may be a sign that it’s time to let go of your attachment to where you are on the Wheel, and instead reconnect to the peace available in the present moment.

Shadow Side

Alternatively, this reversal might reveal the opposite: that you’ve surrendered too much control, leaving everything to fate. The Serenity Prayer captures this lesson perfectly:

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

The Universe is reminding you that while some things must unfold in their own time, others require your participation. Reflect on where you may be waiting for the Universe to act for you. What small, grounded steps could you take today to move things forward? Even the tiniest action helps shift the energy in your favour.

Final Thoughts

The Wheel of Fortune teaches us one of life’s deepest truths: change is inevitable, but suffering isn’t. We create peace not by controlling the Wheel, but by finding our stillness within it.

This card invites you to surrender to life’s natural rhythms while remembering your own power to act where you can. Every rise and fall, every turn of the Wheel, offers wisdom if you’re willing to stay open. Trust that even when you can’t see the pattern yet, the Universe is aligning everything perfectly for your growth.

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