My favorite image for this card actually isn’t from a tarot deck. It’s a 1st Century CE Roman mosaic in Pompeii. A glorious, ancient memento mori which in my opinion perfectly illustrates X the Wheel of Fortune.
Suspended by a thread is the ultimate symbol of mortality, a skull. Directly beneath it is a butterfly, an ancient Roman way of thinking about, and depicting, the human soul. At left, dangling from one arm of a balance we see purple and white garments of high nobility, even royalty. To the right- equally balanced- are the rags and knapsack of poverty. Beneath all, the Wheel. Paused momentarily in it’s endless turning.
The Wheel is always turning; what goes up eventually comes down, and vice versa. Wealth, fame, power and luxury on one side with poverty, obscurity, powerlessness and forced frugality on the other. There’s other tarot cards that signal change on the horizon; Death and the Tower come immediately to mind. The changes heralded by the Wheel of Fortune, however, have the potential to be not just changes for the better- and, really, in the long run Death or the Tower can be the means to a positive end- these changes in circumstances are the hand of Fate, the workings of Karma, the arrival of one’s destiny. Unlike Death or the Tower, the Wheel of Fortune is generally interpreted as a striking change for the better.
When this card shows up in a reading, it signifies a dramatic stroke of good luck. Fortune is smiling upon you, and things are looking up. The hard work, study, effort and patience pay off at last. Gods be praised! It’s about time!
Unless of course it’s reversed.
In the reverse position there are two possibilities. One being, buckle up. It’s going to be rough going for a while. Surrounding cards may give more context as to the nature of coming difficulties; Three of Swords or Two of Cups reversed can indicate serious relationship troubles or a breakup. Five of Pentacles, Ten of Swords, or Eight of Wands reversed can signal loss of a job or income. Together with the Eight or Nine of Swords, the possibility of severe depression and emotional distress are signalled. In this context, the Wheel of Fortune reversed is warning that you’re in for serious trouble.
The other possible interpretation is, the querent is stuck. They know they’re stuck, they’re not happy about it. But for whatever reason, they aren’t doing anything to get unstuck. This is not about blame. It’s about responsibility, and doing what is within your power to do, to improve your situation. Choosing to remain in a horrible job or toxic relationship is unhealthy, and most people know that. However, refusing to decide whether to leave or remain is at least as unhealthy, and robs a person of their agency. The refusal to choose at all often leads to unhappiness and struggles dragging on for far longer than they should, and can end with a crushing defeat that might have been avoided.
When I think about the Wheel of Fortune and it’s image I’m struck by the thought that, no matter how the wheel is moving- uphill, downhill, along a smooth level road or a rutted dirt track- it is only the outermost part that actually touches whatever surface it’s rolling on. The hub remains fixed at the center. It turns with the rest of the wheel, and feels the jolting or ease of it’s passage, but isn’t touched by it. Fixed at the very center it supports the spokes and rim, holding the whole thing together with it’s strength while still allowing for movement. Without that strong, firm central support the wheel would collapse. For myself, the deeper message of X The Wheel of Fortune is one of equanimity. In triumph and success as well as trouble and loss, it is equanimity that makes moving forward possible.
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Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.
