Wheel of Fortune: Cycles, Destiny & Karma

The Great Wheel Turns

Having journeyed through the sacred solitude of The Hermit, having cultivated the gentle mastery of Strength, having driven forward with the willpower of The Chariot, we now arrive at one of the most profound and humbling cards in the entire tarot: The Wheel of Fortune. This is the card that reminds us that life is not a straight line we can control, but a great cycle that turns, carrying us sometimes upward into the light, sometimes downward into the dark. It is the card of destiny, of karma, of the eternal dance of change that governs all existence.

In my many years of reading and teaching tarot, I have watched clients respond to this card in dramatically different ways. Some people light up with recognition and relief. "Ah, yes," they say, "that's exactly what I've been feeling—the ground shifting beneath me, everything changing." Others recoil, their faces tightening with fear. "But I don't want things to change," they say. "I like things exactly as they are." And I always remind them: The Wheel does not turn to punish us. The Wheel turns because that is the nature of reality. The only constant in life is change, and The Wheel of Fortune teaches us how to dance with that change rather than resist it.

Think of the moments in your own life when you have felt this turning. Perhaps after a period of great struggle, things suddenly began to flow—to your immense surprise and relief. Perhaps after years of success and comfort, everything seemed to fall apart, leaving you disoriented and humbled. Perhaps you have watched someone else's life take an unexpected turn—for better or worse—and wondered: how does this happen? That is The Wheel turning, reminding us that nothing in this world is permanent, that every peak contains the seed of its descent, every valley contains the promise of its rise.

The Mythic Landscape of The Wheel

Let me paint the scene for you as it appears in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck and in the collective imagination of humanity. A great wheel rises against the sky, suspended between heaven and earth. At the top sits a sphinx, holding a sword—symbol of wisdom and discrimination. On the right, the Egyptian god Anubis rises upward. On the left, the serpent Typhon descends downward. Around the rim of the wheel, strange figures cling—some rising, some falling, some holding on for dear life. In the four corners of the card sit four winged creatures—the four living creatures of the Book of Ezekiel, representing the fixed signs of the zodiac: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. They read from books, suggesting that wisdom is available to us even in the midst of constant change.

This image draws from the deepest wells of human mythology and philosophy. We find it in the ancient Greek concept of the Moirai, or Three Fates—Clotho who spins the thread of life, Lachesis who measures its length, and Atropos who cuts it. These three goddesses, who even the Olympian gods dared not cross, represent the inescapable nature of destiny. The Wheel reminds us that there are forces at work in our lives greater than our individual egos, greater than our plans and desires. But—and this is the crucial "but"—destiny is not the same as fatalism. The Fates spin, measure, and cut—but how we live between the spinning and the cutting is up to us.

We find it again in Heraclitus, the pre-Socratic philosopher who taught that "you cannot step into the same river twice" and that "change alone is unchanging." Heraclitus understood that the universe is in constant flux, that everything is becoming something else, that stability is an illusion. The Wheel of Fortune is this teaching made visible—a reminder that what goes up must come down, what goes down must come up, that success contains the seeds of failure, failure contains the seeds of success, that this is not a tragedy but simply the way things are.

And we find it in the Eastern concept of samsara—the wheel of birth and death, of reincarnation and karma, the endless cycle of cause and effect that governs existence until we achieve enlightenment. The Wheel of Fortune is samsara in miniature: every action has a reaction, every cause has an effect, every choice we make sets the wheel turning in a new direction. Karma is not punishment. Karma is simply consequence—the universe reflecting back to us the energy we have put out. The Wheel turns, and we reap what we have sown.

What The Wheel Teaches Us About Life

The Wheel of Fortune is numbered X—the number of completion, of perfection, of return to the beginning. After the nine previous cards of the Major Arcana—from the innocent leap of The Fool to the solitary wisdom of The Hermit—we have now come full circle. We have climbed the mountain. And now we learn that the mountain is on a wheel, and what goes up must come down. This is not a disappointment. This is liberation.

I have found that The Wheel teaches us seven profound truths about life and how to live it. First, that change is the only constant. In our culture that craves stability, security, and permanence, this is a revolutionary teaching. We build great careers thinking they will last forever. We enter relationships thinking they will never change. We accumulate wealth and possessions thinking they will keep us safe. The Wheel reminds us: everything changes. The person you are today is not the person you were ten years ago. The life you have today will not be the life you have ten years from now. This is not something to fear. This is something to embrace.

Second, that you are not always in control. The Hermit taught us inner guidance. Strength taught us gentle mastery. The Chariot taught us willpower. But The Wheel teaches us humility—that there are forces at work greater than our individual will, that sometimes life happens to us, that sometimes we must surrender rather than strive. This is not weakness. This is wisdom. Knowing when to act and when to accept, knowing when to drive forward and when to let the current carry you—this is one of the greatest lessons life has to teach us.

Third, that fortune is never permanent. When we are on the way up—when everything is going our way, when success after success comes easily, when we feel like we have figured it all out—The Wheel reminds us: this too shall pass. The person at the top of the wheel in one moment is at the bottom in the next. This is not a reason to resist success. It is a reason to enjoy it fully while it lasts, to share it generously, to remain humble and grateful. The higher you climb, the further you have to fall—but only if you identify with the height. If you remember that you are not the position on the wheel but the consciousness that observes all positions, you never fall at all.

Fourth, that misfortune is never permanent. When we are on the way down—when everything is falling apart, when one difficulty follows another, when we feel like we will never catch a break—The Wheel reminds us: this too shall pass. The person at the bottom of the wheel in one moment is at the top in the next. This is the great consolation of The Wheel: no matter how dark things get, the wheel keeps turning. Your lowest point is simply the point from which the only possible direction is up. Some of the greatest spiritual teachers, artists, and leaders in history have done their greatest work after hitting bottom. The darkness is not the end. It is the turning point.

Fifth, that every ending is a new beginning. The Wheel is circular, not linear. There is no final destination, no permanent stopping place. Every ending contains a new beginning, every death contains a birth, every closing door is an opening window. When something ends in your life—a job, a relationship, a dream—it is not the universe punishing you. It is the universe making space for something new, something better, something more aligned with who you are becoming. The difficulty is that we cannot see the new beginning while we are still grieving the ending. But trust me: it is there, waiting for you to be ready for it.

Sixth, that you always have a choice. The Wheel turns, and we cannot stop it—but we can choose how we respond to it. We can cling to the rim, terrified of falling, fighting every inch of the way. Or we can relax into the turning, trusting that whatever position we find ourselves in has something to teach us. We can rage at our misfortune, or we can ask: what is this here to teach me? We can become arrogant in our success, or we can remain grateful and generous. The Wheel turns, but our response is always our choice. That is human freedom in the face of destiny.

Seventh, that you are the center of the wheel. Here is the greatest secret of The Wheel of Fortune, the secret that changes everything: you do not have to be on the rim. You do not have to go up and down, up and down, forever. You can move to the center. At the center of the wheel, there is no movement. There is only stillness, only peace, only unchanging awareness. From the center, you can watch the wheel turn without being thrown by it. You can enjoy the view from the top without clinging to it. You can endure the view from the bottom without despairing of it. You are not the turning. You are the one who watches the turning.

Upright Wheel of Fortune: The Wheel Turns in Your Favor

When The Wheel of Fortune appears upright in your reading, change is coming—and it is change that works in your favor. The universe is aligning circumstances to bring you new opportunities, new beginnings, a change in fortune. This is a time of good luck, of destiny unfolding, of being in the right place at the right time.

Love & Relationships

In love readings, the upright Wheel often indicates a turning point in relationship matters. If you are single, this is a wonderful omen—someone significant may soon enter your life, seemingly out of nowhere. Keep your eyes open, be ready to say yes to unexpected invitations, trust that what is meant for you will find you. This is not a time to force connections or cling to patterns that are not working. It is a time to allow love to find you.

If you are in a relationship, the Wheel suggests that a new phase is beginning. Perhaps a period of difficulty is coming to an end, and a time of greater harmony and connection is starting. Perhaps you and your partner are about to embark on a new adventure together—a move, a child, a shared dream coming to fruition. The Wheel reminds us that relationships, like everything else, change and evolve. The secret to lasting love is not resisting that evolution but growing together through it.

Career & Finances

In career readings, the upright Wheel is one of the most favorable cards you can receive. It indicates a change in fortune—a promotion, a new opportunity, a lucky break, a project taking off in ways you did not expect. This is a time to take calculated risks, to say yes to opportunities that come your way, to put yourself out there. The universe is on your side right now. The work you have put in over the years is beginning to bear fruit. Karma is working in your favor.

Financially, the Wheel suggests improvement and positive change. If you have been experiencing difficulties, they are likely to ease. New sources of income may appear. Investments may pay off. This is not a time for reckless gambling, but it is a time for optimistic, grounded action. The Wheel reminds us that financial cycles, like all cycles, turn—and your turn is coming.

Personal Growth & Spiritual Journey

For personal growth and spiritual journey, the Wheel of Fortune is a card of destiny and spiritual awakening. You may find yourself at a turning point, where everything in your life seems to be rearranging itself to align with your true path. Synchronicities abound. People appear who help you on your way. Opportunities open up that you never imagined. This is the universe confirming that you are on the right path, that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

Let me share a client story that illustrates this beautifully. A woman named Sarah came to me several years ago at a very low point. She had lost her job, her partner had left her, she had gone through her savings, and she was living in a tiny apartment wondering how she would pay the rent the next month. "I don't understand," she told me through tears. "I have always been a good person. I have always worked hard. Why is this happening to me?"

When we laid out the cards, The Wheel of Fortune appeared in the center position. I smiled. "This is not the end of your story," I said. "This is the turning point. The Wheel is at its lowest point right now. That means the only way to go is up. But here's the thing: you have to let it turn. You have to be open to what comes next, even if it doesn't look like what you thought you wanted."

Sarah was skeptical, but she was also desperate enough to try anything. I suggested she start saying yes to every opportunity that came her way, no matter how small or insignificant it seemed. "Even if it's a friend inviting you for coffee, even if it's a volunteer position that doesn't pay, even if it's something you would normally say no to—say yes. The Wheel brings opportunity in unexpected packages."

Three months later, Sarah emailed me. She had said yes to a friend's invitation to a meditation class, even though she had never meditated before. At that class, she met a woman who ran a small nonprofit organization. They got to talking, and the woman offered Sarah a part-time job doing administrative work. It wasn't her dream job, but it paid the rent. A year later, that job had turned into a full-time position as program director. Sarah was not only making more money than she had at her old corporate job, she was doing work that truly mattered to her, work that made a difference in people's lives.

"I would never have chosen this path," she wrote. "I was so attached to my old life, my old idea of success. If none of those terrible things had happened, I never would have left. I never would have found this. The Wheel broke me open—and then it brought me everything I didn't know I wanted."

That is the magic of The Wheel: sometimes it has to break us open to give us what we truly need.

Reversed Wheel of Fortune: When the Wheel Turns Against You

When The Wheel of Fortune appears reversed, change is coming—but it is change that may feel like it is working against you. This is not a card of doom. It is a card of warning, inviting us to examine where we are resisting change, where we are clinging to what must pass, where we need to take responsibility for our situation.

Resisting the Inevitable

The most common meaning of the reversed Wheel is resistance to change. Perhaps you know in your heart that a situation in your life has run its course—a job that drains you, a relationship that is no longer healthy, a dream that is no longer yours—but you are clinging to it anyway. You are trying to stop the wheel from turning, and the more you resist, the more painful it becomes. The reversed Wheel reminds us: what must leave will leave, one way or another. The only question is whether you will let go gracefully or be dragged kicking and screaming.

Stuck in a Cycle

Another meaning of the reversed Wheel is being stuck in a repeating negative cycle. Perhaps you keep finding yourself in the same kind of toxic relationship, over and over. Perhaps you keep making the same financial mistakes, over and over. Perhaps you keep sabotaging your own success, just when things are starting to go well. The reversed Wheel is asking: what pattern are you repeating? What lesson are you refusing to learn? Until you learn the lesson, the cycle will continue. The wheel will keep turning in the same place, bringing you the same situations, until you finally get it.

Taking Responsibility

The reversed Wheel sometimes appears when we are refusing to take responsibility for our lives. We blame our bad luck on external forces. We say "why me?" instead of "what can I learn?" We see ourselves as victims of circumstance rather than co-creators of our reality. The reversed Wheel reminds us: karma is real. Every choice has a consequence. If you don't like where you are on the wheel, ask yourself: what choices have I made that brought me here? And more importantly: what choices can I make now to change my direction?

The good news about the reversed Wheel is that even when it feels like everything is going against you, the wheel is still turning. The lowest point is always the turning point. You cannot fall forever. You cannot stay at the bottom forever. The wheel will turn. The question is: will you be ready when it does? Will you have learned the lessons you needed to learn? Will you have let go of what was weighing you down? Will you be light enough to rise?

Practical Exercises for Working with The Wheel