“Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.” 
– Seneca

Fate, momentum, cycles, luck, shifting/fulcrum, divine forces

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Overview

Divine Timing

Something has turned the wheel for you. There is nothing you can do to stop it. There is something weird about fate and free will; you never really know how much you’re in control of.

Whatever it is you’re doing, you’re on the path that was intended for you, and thus you will be rewarded. The wheel will spin, a prize drawn.

You’re right on time, not too early, not too late. You are where you are supposed to be exactly as you’re supposed to be there.

Fate Vs Free Will

The Wheel of Fortune has a very controversial meaning int he way that it is the intersection of fate and free will. Just how much of our life do we have control over? How much can we leave up to higher powers? These are questions that are made to be unanswered. So laugh along with chance and chaos, and learn to roll with it.

Symbolism

The Wheel of Fortune is pictured as a brown wheel in the sky surrounded by clouds. The outer part of the wheel spells “T-A-R-O” and written between the letters are the Hebrew letters that spell out the unspoken name of God. The Alchemist symbols for mercury, Sulphur water and salt are in the middle ring. The smallest ring is split into six parts around the bullseye. On the top of the wheel is a blue sphinx yielding a sword and, on the bottom, a red dog–eared humanoid. In each corner are clouds, each with a different creature on it; A Lion, A bull, An eagle, and an Angel. All of them are reading books. A golden snake comes from the left side of the wheel heading towards the red creature.

The Four Figures

The four figures have correlates to the Four fixed signs in astrology, the four cardinal directions, the four archangels, the four elements, and the four seasons. Pretty much anything that can be categorized into fours can find an alignment here.

The Bull — Taurus — Gabriel —South — Spring — Earth

The Lion — Leo — Michael —East — Summer — Fire

The Eagle — Scorpio — Raphael —West —Autumn — Water

The Angel — Aquarius — Uriel —North — Winter — Air

Modern interpretations do a lot of switching around of these angels, but some discernment makes it easy to realize who belongs where based on their characteristics.

Meaning

Destiny beyond your control

The Gods have a sick sense of humor, and they hate being bored. So occasionally, you’ll get a random occurrence in your life that is so out of the blue it makes you wonder for the rest of your life. This could be meeting someone you’ll never forget, or witnessing something that burns into your memory. Whatever the sequence, or the cause— it’s something that will change the trajectory of your life.

Prosperity

This isn’t always a bad thing. This could be a lump sum of cash that allows you to pursue something you’ve always wanted to. It could be a job you were destined to have and didn’t even know it. Based on astrology, we all have a way we’re supposed to impact the world and this occurrence— lucky or not— is made to inspire you to reach the heights you were meant to.

Timing is everything

The wheel spins in a circle like a clock. This can be seen as time itself. Everything has a time and a place, and what is made for you will come to you — when the time comes. Do not rush to find a relationship, you might miss the one truly meant for you. Don’t try to force something, you’ll regret it when you have to sacrifice something else later on.

Influence on Suites

During a reading, pay attention to the majority of the cards that are present. Depending on the number of Tarot cards of each suite, the meaning of the card can take a different shape.

When cups dominate a reading with The Wheel of Fortune the relationship you just started (or ended) was fated to change you. Whether good or bad, it was ultimately for your highest good. Remember the blank slate in front of you is the opportunity to build a life on your terms.

With wands dominating the reading, it indicates that the universe is impressed with all your efforts. The amount you put into something was extraordinary in its feat. This could be anything from showing up soft when it something was hard, surviving against all odds, or putting in more work than anyone would have bothered. This might’ve been out of character but for your benefit, and will result in good karma or a profit.

With Pentacles present with The Wheel, there could be a bonus, a raise, a job you were destined for, or the avoidance of cataclysm.

With a lot of swords, you are mentally shifting out of an old perspective. Something has altered the way you see the world, and inspired you to seek a deeper truth.

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The Wheel of Fortune Reversed

“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Resistance, misfortune, delays

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In the Reversed position, you can turn the meaning of The Wheel of Fortune upside down and inside out, or it can be perceived as something else. Reversed cards can be read a few different ways. If you want to know the source of the concept of why this card is defined the way it is, check out the article “Reading Reversals” in Chapter 6 of this knowledge base.

If you simply want to know the reason and not the method of deciphering, here are some possible ways to read the card in reversed.

I’m obsessed with the symbolism behind The Wheel of Fortune in the reversed position. It’s one of the most intricate reversed cards in all of Tarot due to its round nature. Let’s unpack this:

It seems everyone likes tho think that this card can be chalked down to ‘misfortune’ but that wouldn’t be doing it justice. The term “Taro” is reversed to read “Rota”

Rota (n.) the supreme ecclesiastical and secular court of the Roman Catholic Church

Continuing down this terminology rabbit hole:

Secular (adj.) (of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule; not belonging to or living in a monastic or other order.

With Anubis (Red figure) and Set (snake figure) now being on the top of the card, and Aquarius and Scorpio on the bottom, the meaning of the Wheel of Fortune in the reversed holds far deeper connotations than simply “misfortune” which in itself is not enough to define how deeply intricate this card Goes.

Deciphering the Wheel of Fortune Reversed

Misfortune

You have defied the fate that was intended for you, and the power that maybe are judging your journey to this point. Though you may not align with a religion, there will be consequences for straying from your path. The wheel will spin backwards, the Divine GPS will recalibrate. If your intentions were positive, you will continue with another chance and a “+1Up” life. If you intentions weren’t well placed, you will lose something dear.

Returning to the last save point

Due to the fact that the first fixed signs are positioned on top, you maybe returning to a previous part in your journey. This can be as far back as a full restart, or it could be just a few steps. Life is all about learning, and clearly you missed a vital cue along the way. This is a re-do, a rare chance to begin again and do it properly this time.

I’m not sure what happens if you rebel against destiny too severely, so it’s best to put your head down and keep walking.

Fear of Change, not taking risks

Without risk there is no reward, and there is also no growth. There is no progression in your comfort zone, it’s like the limbo of the material world. There is also a strong likelyhood you’re not content with your life. Without putting yourself out there, you’re refusing the fortunes that await you.

Gambling with fate, taking too many risks

On the other hand, this could symbolize that you have a problem with risk taking. Whether you’re drowning in debt and dodging loan sharks, or jumping out of plane, there is only so many times you can do something crazy before you get caught in the undercurrent and swept away completely. In the best case scenario, your physical body escapes unscathed. In the worst case scenario you’re looking at life, limb or a body full of metal like Travis Pastrana.

Jumping the Gun

Everything comes at its own time. You could live in the same county as the love of your life, and never know it. Fate has a funny way of keeping you two minutes apart, just out of each others reach, sharing a friend in common but never actually coming to meet each other. This is is just one example of how things are divinely guided. They were always there, you just never knew it. The same goes for everything in life, it will alway be there, orbiting closer and closer to your sun until you are due to impact it.All you can do is sit back, relax and let the heavens giggle at the absurdity.