Wheel of Fortune
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Wheel of Fortune ☽ ☾
Wheel of Fortune:
Key Meanings
Upright: chance, luck, turning point, karmic lessons, change, fate, welcome surprise, serendipity
Reversed: bad luck, chaos, misfortune, resistance, unexpected setback, disturbance, toxic patterns
Wheel of Fortune:
Archetypes
The Fates, The Three Sisters
Examples: The Moirai (Greek mythology; Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos), The Norns (Norse mythology; Urd, Verdandi, Skuld), Hercules (three old women)
Wheel of Fortune:
Description
The Wheel of Fortune represents the hand of fate. Often, life, and especially reincarnation, is described as another turn of the wheel. This card, in particular, features extensive esoteric iconography drawn from a range of religious traditions. To start, the Egyptian sphinx speaks to sacred knowledge and mystery. The four fixed zodiac signs occupy each corner, representing cosmic order. On the left, a snake faces downward, representing the inevitable fall or loss of control we all experience throughout life. The snake can also represent rebirth and pairs well with Anubis, the Egyptian god of the afterlife, on the right.
At the card’s center, we find the alchemical symbols for life’s building blocks: mercury, sulphur, water, and salt. These are paired around the circle with “Tora,” the Hebrew name for God, to represent Divine law. Taken altogether, we can interpret the Wheel of Fortune as the rise and fall of our lives, the cosmic balance of all life, and the inherent entropy of the Universe.
Wheel of Fortune:
Upright Meaning
While some events in our lives are written in stone, others are heavily influenced by freewill. The Wheel of Fortune upright is Tarot’s way of saying, “May the odds be in your favor”. This could be a sign that things might begin to go your way. At any rate, when upright, the Wheel of Fortune promises a positive spin. Perhaps a welcome change, a lucky encounter, or a turning point in a project or relationship. You may pull other cards to clarify, but your cards may also be nudging you to enjoy the surprise.
On the other hand, the Wheel of Fortune can be a reminder that what goes around comes around. The energy you put out will be the energy you get back. In this case, the turn of the wheel will have a pleasant outcome, though it may not be exactly what you imagine. If there is a decision to be made, do not spend too much time staring at the options spinning around. You are feeling lucky, and it’s time to take a chance and bet on yourself.
Wheel of Fortune:
Reversed Meaning
The Wheel of Fortune reversed brings an unexpected setback. You may feel cursed by a string of bad luck. Remember that this too shall pass, and that all of life is a series of ups and downs, lucky breaks and unhappy surprises. Sometimes embracing the chaos can be the easiest way through.
Be mindful that you are not repeating old, toxic patterns, which will inevitably end in unfavorable results. Take some time to pinpoint the lesson you need to learn and make a different decision. Sometimes, even doing something out of the norm can shift the energy and lead us in a new, more promising direction.