It is no secret that life has its ups and downs. When we are old enough we can even see the orderly cycles of our life, and if we are also wise enough we can see the sense behind these changes. Even daily life is full of cycles: sleeping, eating, breathing... The Wheel of Fortune tells us about the causes of change, why change is needed and, in the end, how to cope with it. Generally, tarot recognizes that we are all weavers of our own destiny, but also that our life is part of cycles far above us. This is subtly indicated by the absence of human figures on the card: at the centre of attention is a wheel that spins and takes us on a breathtaking voyage. The Wheel of Fortune represents unexpected events and twists of fate. You cannot predict surprises, but you can be ready when they come. The lesson is to always stay firm and calm in the midst of change. Changes are here for the spiritual development of the human being.
On the card
At the very centre of the card the wheel hangs suspended in space. The Roman letters around its circumference spell ROTA, "the wheel". We have already seen these letters on the scroll in the hands of The High Priestess. The wheel's purpose is to remind us of the importance of cycles and changes. The letters can also spell TORA, the body of spiritual knowledge and law found in the first five books of the Old Testament. ORAT suggests the oracle, a messenger of secrets and all that is hidden. TAO is "the way" of Taoism, the Eastern philosophical system. Of course, the word TAROT is also encoded on the wheel. So we could say that tarot is an oracle, a messenger ready to communicate to us hidden knowledge and secrets otherwise unavailable. On the wheel we can also see four Hebrew letters: Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh, YHVH, Yehovah. This Hebrew name of the Most High, usually called the Tetragrammaton, is the root of the creative process. These letters are mapped to the four elements, which were the first step from the unmanifested into the manifested universe and as such are the foundation of existence and indeed the first "Word". The alchemical glyphs on the wheel are the symbols for Mercury, Sulphur, Salt and Water. This message points to the goal of the alchemical process: through experience in our everyday lives, through the constant changes of the Wheel of Fortune, we alchemically refine our souls, which leads us to enlightenment through conscious experience. The wheel itself is composed of circles said to symbolize the four Kabbalistic Worlds. The hub and the eight radiating spokes illustrate that the effects the Wheel of Fortune brings originate in the Macrocosm and then descend into our private lives, the Microcosm. The snake beside the wheel symbolizes the involution of radiant cosmic energy into matter. The jackal-headed Hermanubis represents the evolution of consciousness from lower forms to higher ones; his eyes are said to be shaped like Yod, indicating that God's help is always near. On top of the wheel sits the Sphinx. Having mastered its lower animal nature, symbolized by an animal body with a human face, the sphinx is more a witness to the wheel's turning than a participant. The sphinx has both feminine and androgynous characteristics, portraying the balance and fusion of opposites, another nuance of the alchemical goal. The sword in its hand is the faculty of discernment, illustrating wisdom and wise choices. The Sphinx lives in the world but is not of this world. The number ten of this card strengthens that impression, being composed of zero, The Fool (the One consciousness), and one, The Magician (personality). The four beings in the corners symbolize not only the four Archangels at the four corners of the world, but also the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and the four fixed signs of the zodiac: a man (Aquarius), a lion (Leo), a bull (Taurus) and an eagle (Scorpio). All four beings hold a book, a reminder of the Book of Revelation and a symbol of inner knowledge. From their immutable position at the four corners of the world, they watch the beings circling on the Wheel of Fortune.
Upright
If you have been struggling, this card indicates that you will find the answer if you stop for a moment and view everything from a broader perspective. A turn of events lies in front of you. Fate spins off in new directions, so be prepared for new moments and maybe new actors in your story. Be brave and seize the opportunity. The card also represents the need to be careful, to realize and accept that fate is the result of what we have already done. Keep faith; this too shall pass. Maintain balance in the midst of change.
Reversed
If you have been struggling, this card indicates that you will find the answer if you stop for a moment and view everything from a broader perspective. A turn of events lies in front of you. Fate spins off in new directions, so be prepared for new moments and maybe new actors in your story. Be brave and seize the opportunity. The card also represents the need to be careful, to realize and accept that fate is the result of what we have already done. Keep faith; this too shall pass. Maintain balance in the midst of change.