Key Meanings

Upright

Cycles of change, destiny, good luck, turning points, karma, opportunity, expansion, fate, progress, forward momentum, unexpected fortune, life in motion

Reversed

Bad luck, resistance to change, stagnation, setbacks, losing control, delays, missed chances, broken patterns, clinging to the past, unwanted surprises, feeling stuck, karmic lessons

General Interpretation

Upright

Wheel of Fortune is card number ten of the Major Arcana. The Wheel of Fortune represents the cycles of life. Nothing in life is ever permanent. That's the essence of this card. When Wheel of Fortune appears in an upright position, it indicates that you are coming into a phase where things are changing for the better. Things should be going in your favour and you should have good luck and momentum. The wheel of life will turn with or without our permission, so this card also signifies that change is the only constant in life. Sometimes life will give you a gift you never dreamed you'd get. And sometimes it will open a door for you that you've earned by hard work and good karma.

Reversed

When the Wheel of Fortune lands reversed, all you're doing is spinning in the same direction you were before. It just feels like the wheel is turning against you. This reversed position can represent a period of bad luck, setbacks, or a feeling that you're spinning your wheels while the world moves on around you. You may feel powerless. Plans may collapse. The timing may be all wrong. But the wheel will turn again! Alternatively, the Wheel of Fortune in reverse can indicate you are trying to stop change from happening, holding onto something well past its sell-by date because you fear change more than the consequences of holding on.

Love & Partnership

Upright

If you are in a relationship, Wheel of Fortune upright is a good omen. Your relationship may be taking the next step or an impending storm in the relationship may resolve itself. This Major Arcana card indicates that you and your partner may be starting a new phase in your relationship, an exciting new chapter.

For single people, The Wheel of Fortune Tarot card can indicate a bit of luck in romance. Someone may come into your life out of the blue or you may have a chance encounter that leads to something more meaningful. There is a "right place, right time" element to the Wheel of Fortune in love for single people. Fate has a part to play, but you also have to be open to opportunity.

Reversed

In a relationship, the Wheel of Fortune reversed can indicate that you are going through a rough patch. You may be feeling disconnected from your partner or as if the relationship has stagnated. Old negative patterns may be resurfacing, the types of patterns that lead to arguments and resentment. The Wheel of Fortune reversed is not a signifier of endings. However, it can signify that the relationship may be going through a slump in its cycle.

For single people, in a general context, you may find that romantic timing is off when this appears in a reversed position. You keep meeting the wrong people or your relationships fizzle out before they go anywhere. Or you may find yourself holding on to past relationships or old beliefs about relationships. The wheel is turning, but that feeling of being stuck is usually an internal issue rather than an external one.

Social Relationships

Upright

Existing friendships and social connections should benefit if this card appears in an upright position. Old friends may get back in touch. You may find groups of people you associate with changing in a way that is positive and uplifting. The Wheel of Fortune upright in a social context can sometimes make it seem like the universe is sorting the people around you out and expanding your circle of friends. A previously stagnant relationship could be suddenly re-energised when Wheel of Fortune appears.

New social connections also carry that fortunate energy. You may meet someone at a most inopportune moment who will become an important part of your life! Networking is made easy, introductions happen, and social opportunities abound. There is a sense of serendipity with this card in a social context.

Reversed

Existing social connections may feel strained or stagnant when the Wheel of Fortune is reversed. Friends drift apart. Social gatherings feel forced or draining instead of fun. Sometimes this is just a natural evolution of your social circle, where people you used to feel close to are no longer compatible with this stage of your life. It's uncomfortable, but it's a part of life.

Meeting new people can be a bit more difficult at the moment as well. You may find that trying to extend your social circle doesn't lead anywhere or that the new people you meet aren't reliable. There is a sense of mismatch. The connections that are available don't fit, and the connections you need are just beyond your grasp.

Work & Career

Upright

In a career reading, Wheel of Fortune upright is a great omen! Things should be going in a positive direction. Promotions, new job offers, surprises! There is a real sense of things in your career path taking off without much effort on your part when this card appears. The effort you have put into your work in the past will finally be paying off, or you will catch a lucky break at the perfect time. It can also signify a big career change, becoming self-employed or switching to an industry you were destined for.

Reversed

In a career context, the Wheel of Fortune Tarot reversed can bring delays and frustrations. A promotion you hoped for may be delayed. A job offer may fall through. A project you are working on and hoping will launch may be delayed for reasons beyond your control. You may feel like the career world is against you, and with this card coming up, that can be disheartening. Alternately, this Major Arcana card in a reversed position can signify that you are repeating career patterns, such as staying too long in a job that's not right for you or making the same mistakes in multiple jobs/companies/roles. Again, the sense of stagnation this card brings to career matters is generally temporary, though it's not the sort of thing you'd believe at the time.

Money & Finance

Upright

Financially, the Wheel of Fortune upright is a good moving card. You may receive money from unexpected sources. An investment will pay off. You'll get that raise you've been hoping for, only sooner than you expected. This card indicates there is lucky energy surrounding finances, but again the Wheel is about cycles, so remember financial highs don't last forever. The point is to learn to appreciate the abundance you have. Windfalls, bonuses, and financial turning points are all things this card may signify.

Reversed

In a financial context, the reversed Wheel of Fortune Tarot card is not a great omen, as it signifies losses, unexpected expenses, or a downturn in general. You may feel like money is leaving your accounts faster than it's coming in. This bad financial luck can take the form of surprise bills, bad investments, or factors out of anyone's control like the economy. However, Wheel of Fortune reversed can also signify that you will reap what you've sown in terms of frivolous spending or razor-thin margins caused by an unwillingness to let go of outdated financial tactics. The cycle will turn, but things could get a bit rough before it does.

Spirituality

Upright

Spiritually, Wheel of Fortune upright teaches us that everything in life happens in cycles and nothing is wasted. You are trusting the bigger picture here. Call it karma, fate, divine timing, whatever you want, this card indicates that you are spiritually aligned and feeling like you are part of something bigger. You should be finding that you are growing in all areas easily and that synchronicities are happening more frequently. It's a great time to connect to whatever spiritual practice suits you.

Reversed

When reversed in a spiritual context, the Wheel of Fortune can indicate a crisis of faith or feeling like the universe is against you. You may feel like spiritual practices are meaningless to you at this time. You may be frustrated by fate or feel like life is unfair or out of control. You may be trying to resist the inevitable ups and downs of life. The spiritual lesson for you in this position is to learn to surrender.