Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed & Love

The great wheel spins. On the card, mysterious symbols circle an enormous wheel—a sphinx sits at the top, a serpent descends on one side, Anubis rises on the other. You feel it in your gut: something is about to change. The Wheel of Fortune has appeared, and the only certainty is that nothing stays the same.

The Wheel of Fortune is card number 10 in the Major Arcana, representing cycles, fate, turning points, luck, and the ever-spinning nature of life's fortunes. What goes up comes down—and what goes down will rise again.

Quick Reference

Upright Meaning

The Wheel of Fortune upright signals a pivotal turning point in your life. The wheel is spinning in your favor—luck, synchronicity, and opportunity are aligning in ways that feel almost magical. An unexpected door opens. A chance encounter changes everything. The timing suddenly clicks. This card says: pay attention, because the universe is moving pieces on your behalf.

But The Wheel carries a deeper lesson beyond good luck. It teaches that life moves in cycles—seasons of abundance and seasons of challenge, periods of growth and periods of rest. Nothing is permanent, not even hardship. If you've been going through a rough patch, The Wheel upright is perhaps the most reassuring card you can pull: things are about to shift.

This card also speaks to destiny and karma. There's a sense that certain events are meant to happen—that you're exactly where you need to be, even if it doesn't make sense yet. Trust the timing of your life.

Reversed Meaning

The Wheel of Fortune reversed suggests setbacks, delays, or a feeling that luck has abandoned you. Plans fall through. Timing is off. You might feel like the universe is working against you rather than for you. This can be deeply frustrating—but remember, the wheel always keeps turning.

This reversal can also indicate resistance to change. You may be trying to hold on to a situation, relationship, or identity that has run its course. The Wheel reversed gently insists: let go. Clinging to what was only delays what could be. The faster you release, the faster the wheel spins toward something better.

Wheel of Fortune in Love & Relationships

If you're single: The Wheel of Fortune suggests a fateful romantic encounter may be approaching. This could be a chance meeting that changes your life—someone you bump into unexpectedly, a mutual connection, a moment of perfect timing. Stay open and alert. Destiny has a way of arriving when you least expect it.

If you're in a relationship: This card signals a new chapter in your partnership. It could be positive—a breakthrough, a renewal, a lucky turn of events—or it could mean the relationship is evolving in ways that require adaptation. Either way, change is coming. Flow with it rather than fighting it, and the relationship will be stronger on the other side.

Wheel of Fortune in Career & Finances

In career readings, The Wheel of Fortune points to fortunate developments: a promotion, a new opportunity, an industry shift that works in your favor. If you've been feeling stuck professionally, this card says movement is coming. Be ready to seize the moment when it arrives—luck favors the prepared.

Financially, this card can indicate a windfall or a positive change in your financial situation. However, it also reminds you that fortunes fluctuate. Save during abundance, prepare during prosperity. The Wheel teaches financial wisdom through its very nature: what goes up will eventually come down, so build your reserves now.

Wheel of Fortune as Advice

Trust the cycle. You are not stuck forever. The situation you're in—whether wonderful or terrible—is temporary. The Wheel keeps turning regardless of your worry. Your job isn't to control the spin; it's to ride it with grace. When you're up, be grateful and generous. When you're down, be patient and persistent. The turn is always coming.

Card Combinations

• Wheel of Fortune + The Magician = Luck meets skill. A golden opportunity arrives, and you have everything you need to capitalize on it.
• Wheel of Fortune + The Tower = Dramatic, unexpected change. The old structure collapses, but a new cycle begins immediately.
• Wheel of Fortune + Justice = Karma in action. What you've put out into the world comes back to you—for better or worse.

Explore more:

• Major Arcana Deep Dive
• Complete Tarot Card Meanings List