7 Facets of the Tarot Wheel of Fortune

The Tarot Wheel of Fortune card is the card of the Goddess of Fortune (Fortuna) in the Medieval Tarot. It is one of the most mystical cards in the deck and has more occult symbols on it than you can shake a stick at. Where to begin…

1. The Wheel itself is the most prominent symbol, of course. It has the letters T-A-R-O in the outer circle. These letters spell taro (tarot), orat (speak/pray), rota (wheel), tora (the Law) and ator (name of Egyptian deity). The words form the sentence ‘Rota tarot orat tora Ator,’ i.e. ‘The Wheel of Tarot speaks the law of Ator’. On the inner circle we find the alchemical symbols for mercury, sulphur, water and salt. In the centre of the Wheel we have 8 spokes converging. They spokes signify the eight sabbats in the Wheel of the Year, among other things.

2. There are seven beings in total on the Tarot Wheel of Fortune card. At the top of the Wheel we have Horus. The snake symbolises Set and the red creature is the Underworld deity Anubis. In the four corners of the card, we have four winged beings symbolising the four fixed signs of the Zodiac. The bull for Fixed Earth (Taurus), the man for Fixed Air (Aquarius), the Eagle (Fixed Water) for the evolved form of Scorpio and the lion for Fixed Fire (Leo). These four beings are referred to in Ezekiel 1:10 and also refer to the four evangelists Mark (lion), John (eagle), Matthew (man) and Luke (bull).

3. The Golden Dawn astrological correspondence is Jupiter, aka ‘the Great Benefic.’  This is obviously lucky but the Wheel reminds us that what goes up also must come down. Luck is never permanent and opportunities must be seized when the moment arises. Being centred in the hub of the wheel as much as possible through meditation makes it possible for us to stay alert to any new opportunities. If we are constantly being reactive to life’s ups and downs, it is much more difficult to see when there is a new opportunity waiting. Jupiter is an expansive energy and on the flip side of that, we need to be aware that it is also an energy that could tempt us to overreach and go overboard. A shadow expression of this is the compulsive gambler.

4. The highest spiritual potential of the Tarot Wheel of Fortune is to learn the greet everything in life with equanimity. We reach a place of equanimity in part through experiencing life’s ups and downs and in part through stillness, contemplation and meditation.

5. When the Wheel of Fortune shows up as the challenge, you might consider the following questions: ‘What opportunity should I look for next?,’ ‘What sort of activity makes me feel expansive?,’ ‘Where do I need to expand/contract?,’ ‘What risk must I take now?,’ and ‘What must I accept as inevitable?’

The Serenity Prayer is a good fit for this card:

‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.’

6. The Wheel of Fortune corresponds with Archangel Sachiel, ruler of Jupiter and Thursdays. This is the Angel to invoke for good fortune and help with your career. Do this on a Thursday and use an indigo or purple candle. Corresponding crystals are lapis lazuli and amethyst.

7. On a Wheel of Fortune sort of day, you may find yourself…

• Taking a risk
• Winning the lottery
• Stumbling across a new opportunity
• Feeling lucky
• Getting lucky
• Having a sense of fatedness
• Realising that what goes around comes around
• Totally overreaching
• Going over the top
• Overindulging
• Holding yourself back (Rx)
• Not taking any risks (Rx)
• Being really unlucky (Rx)
• Being super optimistic
• Have sense of connectedness through celebrating one of the Stations in the Wheel of the Year
• Blurting things out
• Not employing enough critical thinking
• Wanting luck
• Dreaming of a lottery win
• Feeling like a pawn in the Game of Life
• Centering yourself
• Feeling at the mercy of fate

The Frideborg Wheel of Fortune Card

Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Where in the Wheel are you now? Which way is the Wheel turning? Are you prepared to grab any opportunities that come your way? Do you rely on Fate to make your luck for you or are you the maker of your own good fortune?

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