Among all the Major Arcana, Wheel of Fortune Tarot is one of the most symbolic and mysterious cards. Unlike most Major Arcana cards, it contains no central human figure. Instead, an enormous golden wheel floats against a bright blue sky, surrounded by mystical creatures, sacred symbols, and ancient wisdom.
I think nothing in life remains the same forever. Fortune rises and falls, opportunities appear unexpectedly, and every ending naturally leads to a new beginning. Whether you're seeking guidance through a Tarot Reading or learning Tarot Card Meanings, the Wheel of Fortune represents destiny in motion.
Wheel of Fortune Tarot Symbolism
Every detail of the Wheel of Fortune carries deep esoteric meaning drawn from Kabbalah, alchemy, Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology, and the Bible.
The Three Concentric Circles
At the center sits a wheel composed of three concentric circles.
These circles symbolize the process of creation in Kabbalah:
The innermost point represents the Divine Source or the World of Emanation.
The second circle represents the World of Formation.
The outer circle represents the material world we experience every day.
The design illustrates how all creation expands outward from a single divine source into physical reality.
The Empty Inner Circle
The smallest circle contains no symbols.
Its emptiness represents:
Infinite creative potential
Pure consciousness
Limitless possibilities
The origin before form exists
It reminds us that every new cycle begins with unseen potential.
The Alchemical Symbols
Inside the second circle appear four ancient alchemical symbols:
Mercury
Sulfur
Salt
Water
In medieval alchemy, Mercury, Sulfur, and Salt were considered the three essential elements of creation, while Water represented the transformative process.
Alchemy teaches that transformation often requires dissolution before rebirth. Something old must end before something greater can emerge.
The Wheel therefore symbolizes personal evolution through continual transformation.
The Serpent
Descending along one side of the wheel is a serpent.
In Greek mythology, the serpent represents the monster Typhon, a force of destruction eventually defeated by Zeus.
Symbolically, the serpent represents:
Chaos
Ego
Decline
Destruction
Necessary endings
Its downward movement reminds us that every cycle contains periods of loss and challenge.
Anubis: The Jackal-Headed Guardian
Rising beneath the wheel is the jackal-headed figure commonly associated with Anubis, the Egyptian guide of souls.
Anubis represents:
Death and rebirth
Spiritual evolution
Transition
Protection during change
Rather than fearing endings, the card encourages us to embrace transformation as part of our destiny.
The Sphinx
At the top of the wheel sits the Sphinx holding a sword.
The Sphinx symbolizes:
Wisdom
Higher consciousness
Balance
Mastery over change
Although the wheel constantly turns, the Sphinx remains calm and unmoving.
Its message is simple:
True wisdom comes from remaining centered while life changes around you.
TARO, ROTA and Hidden Messages
Around the outer wheel appear the letters:
TAROT
These letters can be rearranged into several meaningful Latin words:
ROTA — Wheel
TORA — Divine Law
ORAT — Speaks
ATOR — Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of beauty, music and love
Together they form the symbolic phrase:
"The Wheel speaks the Divine Law of Hathor."
The wheel reminds us that destiny follows a higher order beyond human control.
The Sacred Name
Between the letters are four Hebrew characters forming YHVH, one of the oldest sacred names of God.
This reinforces that the turning of fate is guided by universal intelligence rather than random chance.
The Four Living Creatures
In each corner appears one of the four winged beings from the Book of Revelation:
Angel
Eagle
Lion
Bull
Each reads an open book, representing eternal wisdom.
They also correspond to:
Air
Water
Fire
Earth
These four elements remind us that all creation exists in perfect balance despite constant movement.
Clouds
The clouds symbolize primordial chaos.
They remind us that life often appears uncertain while hidden order quietly unfolds behind the scenes.
Wheel of Fortune Meaning
Among all Tarot Card Meanings, the Wheel of Fortune is the card of cycles.
The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that life is always moving. A difficult moment today may become the turning point that changes your future.
This card encourages trust in divine timing rather than resistance.
Sometimes what first appears to be bad luck later becomes life's greatest blessing.
Wheel of Fortune Love Meaning
The Wheel of Fortune Love Meaning is highly positive.
For singles, the card often predicts:
A destined meeting
Love at first sight
Soulmate connections
Unexpected romance
Divine timing
For couples, it signals:
Relationship growth
Marriage
New chapters together
Renewed passion
Positive change
If the card appears reversed, it may indicate delayed timing, resistance to change, or repeating unhealthy relationship patterns.
The lesson is not to force love but to trust that the right connection arrives at the right moment.
Wheel of Fortune Career
When interpreting Wheel of Fortune Career, this card often signals major professional shifts.
Possible meanings include:
Promotion
New job opportunities
Business growth
Unexpected financial gains
Career breakthroughs
Favorable timing
The Wheel often appears just before important turning points.
However, success requires recognizing opportunity when it arrives. Waiting too long or resisting change may cause the moment to pass.
