Wheel of Fortune Tarot Art History: Symbolism Across Decks

BY NICOLE LAU

Wheel of Fortune has been turning for over 500 years, but its appearance has evolved dramatically across different tarot traditions. From medieval fortune to cosmic cycles, each deck's interpretation reveals different facets of this master of destiny and change. This is the art history of Wheel of Fortuneβ€”how symbolism, culture, and philosophy have shaped the card we know today.

The Origins: Medieval Tarocchi (15th Century)

The earliest known tarot decks emerged in 15th-century Italy. Wheel of Fortune was "La Ruota della Fortuna"β€”representing fortune, fate, and the medieval concept of Fortune's wheel.

Key characteristics:

  • Great wheel with figures rising and falling
  • Representing fortune, fate, and destiny
  • Focus on the turning of fortune
  • Numbered X (the tenth card)

Symbolic meaning: In medieval society, Wheel of Fortune represented the goddess Fortuna's wheelβ€”the belief that fortune was fickle, that what rises must fall, and that fate controlled human destiny.

This wasn't yet about cycles and acceptanceβ€”it was about the capricious nature of fortune and the powerlessness of humans before fate.

Tarot de Marseille (17th-18th Century)

The Marseille tradition standardized tarot imagery across Europe. Wheel of Fortune retained the wheel with figures but simplified the imagery.

Key characteristics:

  • Wheel with animals or figures
  • Creatures rising and falling
  • Focus on fortune's turning
  • Numbered X (the tenth card)

Symbolic evolution: The Marseille Wheel of Fortune emphasizes the eternal cycleβ€”what goes up must come down, what falls will rise again. The wheel turns constantly, bringing change and transformation.

This version emphasizes the cyclical nature of fortune and the inevitability of change.

Rider-Waite-Smith Deck (1909)

This is the transformation that defined Wheel of Fortune for modern tarot. Created by artist Pamela Colman Smith under Arthur Edward Waite's direction, this version elevated Wheel of Fortune from fortune to cosmic cycles.

Key characteristics:

  • Great wheel with sphinx on top
  • Anubis rising, Typhon descending
  • Four winged creatures in corners (angel, eagle, lion, bull)
  • Hebrew letters and alchemical symbols on wheel
  • Focus on cosmic cycles and divine order
  • Numbered 10 or X

Symbolic revolution: Waite and Smith completely reimagined Wheel of Fortune. No longer just about fortune, this became about cosmic cycles, divine order, and the eternal turning of destiny.

The sphinx represents the riddle of fate. Anubis (rising) and Typhon (falling) represent the eternal cycle of rise and fall. The four creatures represent the four fixed signs and divine knowledge. The Hebrew letters spell YHVH (the divine name), showing that the wheel turns according to divine law.

This version asks: What if fortune isn't random, but part of a divine cycle? What if the wheel turns according to cosmic law?

Thoth Tarot (1969)

Created by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris, the Thoth deck presents Wheel of Fortune as a cosmic principle of eternal change and transformation.

Key characteristics:

  • Complex wheel with multiple symbols
  • Rich symbolism of cycles and change
  • Jupiter symbolism prominent
  • Focus on cosmic cycles and transformation
  • Numbered X

Symbolic depth: Crowley's Wheel of Fortune is the cosmic wheelβ€”the eternal cycle of creation and destruction, the turning of ages, the transformation of all things.

The wheel contains symbols of transformation, change, and cosmic cycles. Crowley wrote: "The Wheel of Fortune represents the Universe in its aspect of continual change." The wheel isn't about luckβ€”it's about the eternal law of change.

Modern Interpretations (1970s-Present)

Contemporary tarot has exploded with diverse interpretations of Wheel of Fortune, each reflecting different cultural perspectives and spiritual philosophies.

Wild Unknown Tarot (Kim Krans)

Wheel of Fortune appears as a wheel with natural cyclesβ€”representing the turning of seasons, the cycles of nature, the eternal flow. Emphasizes Wheel of Fortune's connection to natural cycles.

Modern Witch Tarot (Lisa Sterle)

Contemporary wheel with modern symbols, showing cycles in modern context. Brings Wheel of Fortune into accessible, contemporary practice.

Afro-Brazilian Tarot

Wheel of Fortune as OxalΓ‘, Yoruba deity of creation and cyclesβ€”divine cosmic cycles, eternal transformation, sacred turning.

Tarot of the Divine (Yoshi Yoshitani)

Wheel of Fortune as various fate deities from world mythologyβ€”emphasizing universal themes of cycles and destiny across cultures.

Symbolic Elements Across Traditions

The Wheel

Medieval: Fortune's wheel with figures
Marseille: Wheel with animals/figures
Rider-Waite: Cosmic wheel with sphinx
Thoth: Complex cosmic wheel
Modern: Various representations of cycles

The Figures

Medieval: Humans rising and falling
Marseille: Animals or figures on wheel
Rider-Waite: Sphinx, Anubis, Typhon
Thoth: Symbolic creatures
Modern: Sometimes present, often reimagined

The Symbolism

Medieval: Fortune and fate
Marseille: Cycles and change
Rider-Waite: Divine order and cosmic cycles
Thoth: Cosmic transformation
Modern: Various cycle interpretations

Evolution of Wheel of Fortune's Number

Wheel of Fortune has consistently been numbered 10 (or X) across traditions:

Medieval: X - the tenth card

Marseille: X - representing completion and new beginning

Rider-Waite: 10 or X - the number of cycles

Thoth: X - cosmic completion

Ten is the number of completion, cycles, and new beginnings (1+0=1).

What The Art Reveals

Across five centuries and countless decks, certain truths about Wheel of Fortune remain constant:

  • They always involve cyclesβ€”whether fortune, fate, or cosmic law
  • They represent changeβ€”whether random or divine
  • They involve turningβ€”whether wheel, fortune, or destiny
  • They show rise and fallβ€”whether figures, animals, or symbols
  • They are numbered tenβ€”the principle of completion and new beginning

The art evolves, but the archetype endures. Wheel of Fortune keeps demonstrating that life moves in cycles, that change is constant, and that the wheel always turns.

Choosing Your Wheel of Fortune

When selecting a tarot deck, pay attention to how Wheel of Fortune is depicted. Different artistic interpretations will resonate with different aspects of your journey:

Choose Rider-Waite if: You want clear symbolic imagery and the classic cosmic cycles interpretation.

Choose Thoth if: You're drawn to cosmic transformation, eternal change, and Crowley's philosophy.

Choose Marseille if: You prefer traditional imagery and want to connect with the fortune aspect.

Choose modern decks if: You want representation that reflects your culture, identity, or contemporary understanding of cycles.

Or collect multiple decks and notice how Wheel of Fortune speaks differently through each artistic lens. The archetype is vast enough to contain all interpretations.

Wheel of Fortune's Future

As tarot continues to evolve, so will Wheel of Fortune. Future decks will undoubtedly present new interpretationsβ€”perhaps Wheel of Fortune as climate cycles, as technological change, as the turning of ages.

But regardless of how the art changes, Wheel of Fortune's essential message remains: Life moves in cycles. Change is constant. The wheel always turns. And resistance creates suffering.

Wheel of Fortune has been turning for 500 years, demonstrating this truth. It will be turning for 500 more. Because the principle it embodies is eternal: the wheel turns, cycles move, and change is the only constant.

May you find your Wheel of Fortune.
May its image speak to your cycles.
May its turning call to your flow.
May you discover, through art, that you've always been Wheel of Fortune.

As you contemplate the ever-turning Wheel of Fortune and its rich tapestry of meaning across the ages, you might feel called to deepen your own journey with the cards through the reflective practice of a 52 week tarot journey a year of weekly spreads daily pulls deep reflection, allowing the cycles of your life to unfold with intention. To align your personal energy with the cosmos's grand design, consider creating a sacred space using the cosmic alignment ritual kit for syncing with the celestial flow, inviting the stars to guide your next turn. And for those moments when you wish to feel the wheel’s momentum personally, the fortuna favens a magic circle of fortune scented soy candle can transform your space into a luminous hub of change and opportunity.

Back to blog

More Ways to Deepen Your Practice

If you've ever felt like your practice isn't going deep enough β€”
like your mind stays busy, your body never fully settles, or the space around you feels distracting β€”
it's often not about discipline.

It's about environment.

The right environment doesn't just support your practice β€” it becomes part of it.
When space, scent, sound, and intention align, the shift in awareness happens more naturally and more deeply.

Imagine this:
sacred symbols on the walls, soft fabric against your skin, a steady place to sit.
A match is struck. Smoke rises β€” bergamot, frankincense β€” something ancient and grounding.
Sound moves quietly in the background, and time begins to slow.

You don't force the state.
You arrive in it.

This is what a ritual feels like when every element is aligned.

If you want to make your practice feel like this, start simple:

You don't need everything.
Just one element can change the entire experience.

The tools that help create this space β€” and how to use them in your own practice:

Tapestries

Sacred symbols woven into fabric become silent guardians of the space β€” helping the mind cross the threshold from the ordinary into the sacred. Designed to anchor your ritual environment and hold energetic intention throughout your practice.

Yoga Mats

A dedicated surface signals to body and spirit alike: this is where the work begins. Everything else falls away. Built for comfort and stability, so your body can settle fully while your awareness expands.

Audio Meditations

Let sound do what the mind cannot do alone. In the stillness it creates, intuition finds its voice. Guided sessions crafted to deepen receptivity, clear mental noise, and prepare you for meaningful spiritual work.

Ritual Kits

When the tools are already gathered, the only thing left is intention. Light something. Begin. Thoughtfully assembled sets that bring together everything needed for a complete, intentional ceremony.

Personal Practice Journals

Every reading, every vision, every quiet knowing β€” written down before the ordinary world reclaims it. Structured to support reflection, pattern recognition, and the long-term deepening of your practice.

Apparel

What you wear into a ritual becomes part of it. Soft, intentional, yours. Designed for ease of movement and energetic comfort, from morning meditation to evening ceremony.

Aromatherapy Candles

A flame changes a room. Let the scent that rises with it mark the beginning of something set apart from the rest of the day. Formulated with sacred botanicals to cleanse energy, anchor intention, and deepen meditative states.

Books

Some knowledge can only be absorbed slowly, over many readings. Let the right book become a companion to your practice. Curated titles spanning mysticism, ritual, and esoteric wisdom β€” to take your understanding further.

Ready to deepen your practice? Explore our curated tools below.

Magical Shielding Workbook Β· 30 Days of Energetic Protection Practice Nicole Lau

Magical Shielding Workbook Β· 30 Days of Energetic Protection Practice

$4.99
Tarot Journaling Prompts: 100 Questions for Self-Discovery - Digital Download Guide

Tarot Journaling Prompts: 100 Questions for Self-Discovery

$15.99
Call in True Love - Professional Cover with Text

Call in True Love Β· Soulmate Frequency Meditation Audio（WAV + PDFοΌ‰

$2.99
VIRGO Raglan Shirt - Matching Reference Style

♍ VIRGO 3/4 sleeve raglan shirt

$29.00
Emotional Filter Ritual - Professional Spell Kit Cover

Emotional Filter Ritual Β· Printable Spell Kit

$8.99
Beginner's First 10 Spreads Cover

Beginner's First 10 Spreads: Start Your Tarot Journey

$9.99
Product mockup

Spell Casting Unisex Classic Tee

$16.00
Kundalini Rising Through Chakras Cover

Kundalini: Rising Through Chakras Audio

$4.99
174Hz Pain Relief professional audio cover

174Hz Pain Relief & Grounding Audio

$3.99
10Hz Alpha Waves audio cover

10Hz Alpha Waves - Relaxation & Flow State Audio

$3.99
Product mockup

"Amor Sui Potentia" - Self Love Magic Circle Scented soy candle

$30.00
Product mockup

"Negotium Prosperum" - Business Success Magic Circle Scented soy candle

$30.00
Product mockup

Amor Vincit Omnia Oversized heavyweight sweatshirt

$53.50
Product mockup

Celestial Weave Bandana

$28.00
Web of Abundance - Professional Spell Kit Cover

Web of Abundance Β· Manifestation Spell Kit

$8.99
Modern Hermetics A Bridge Between Psychology and Science Nicole Lau

Modern Hermetics A Bridge Between Psychology and Science

$6.99
The Three Hermetic Laws: Mind, Correspondence, and Vibration Nicole Lau

The Three Hermetic Laws: Mind, Correspondence, and Vibration

$5.99
Product mockup

Gnosis Awakening Candle | Sophia Divine Wisdom Ritual Soy Candle

$30.00
Product mockup

Persephone Descent Candle | Mystery Initiation Shadow Work Ritual Soy Candle

$30.00
Product mockup

Norse Rune Magic Candle | Viking Protection & Divination Ritual Soy Candle

$30.00
Product mockup

β™Œ LEO Basic Pillow

$30.00
Lover's Pathway Whisper - Professional Spell Kit Cover

Lover’s Pathway Whisper Β· Printable Spell Kit

$8.99
The Wish Ignition Ritual Kit - Professional Spell Kit Cover

The Wish Ignition Ritual Kit Β· A Printable Manifestation Spell Set

$8.99
The Magic of Light and Flame: A Guide to Candle Magic Basics and Practices Nicole Lau

The Magic of Light and Flame: A Guide to Candle Magic Basics and Practices

$6.99
The Monastic Tradition: The Spiritual Practices of the Ancient Mystery Orders Nicole Lau

The Monastic Tradition: The Spiritual Practices of the Ancient Mystery Orders

$4.99
Astrology and Philosophy: The Structure of Astrological Thinking from Plato to Jung Nicole Lau

Astrology and Philosophy: The Structure of Astrological Thinking from Plato to Jung

$5.99
Astrology and Cultural Systems: The Mapping of Astrology in Religion, Festivals, and National Rituals Nicole Lau

Astrology and Cultural Systems: The Mapping of Astrology in Religion, Festivals, and National Rituals

$5.99
Jung and the Archetype: Tarot, Astrology, and the Bridge of the Unconscious Nicole Lau

Jung and the Archetype: Tarot, Astrology, and the Bridge of the Unconscious

$5.99
Jung and Alchemy: The Mystical Journey of Individuation Nicole Lau

Jung and Alchemy: The Mystical Journey of Individuation

$4.99
Jung and the Mysticism of Dreams: Symbols and Revelations of the Unconscious Nicole Lau

Jung and the Mysticism of Dreams: Symbols and Revelations of the Unconscious

$5.99
Product mockup

Om Symbol Magic Pillow

$30.00
Product mockup

Metatrons Cube Magic Pillow

$30.00
Product mockup

Ouija Board Unisex Classic Tee

$16.00
Product mockup

Radha's Love Pillow

$30.00
Product mockup

Orthogonal Dimensions Yoga Mat

$71.50
Product mockup

Astrology Map Yoga Mat

$71.50
Product mockup

Om Symbol Yoga Mat

$71.50
Product mockup

Moon Phase Bath Mat

$25.00
40 Candle Magic Setups: Ritual Configurations cover

40 Candle Magic Setups: Ritual Configurations

$12.99
50 Love Rituals Sacred Practices for Heart and Connection Cover

50 Love Rituals: Sacred Practices for Heart & Connection

$17.99
Celtic Fire Inspiration Brigid Flame Meditation Audio Cover

Celtic Fire & Inspiration: Brigid's Flame Audio

$4.99
Product mockup

Tarot Major Arcana Mandala Flag

$38.00
Product mockup

Tarot Card Laptop Sleeve

$29.00
Sun: Vitality & Life Force Activation - Planetary Frequency Meditation Audio Cover

Sun: Vitality & Life Force Activation Audio

$4.99
Product mockup

Spiritual Awakening Mandala Flag

$38.00
Product mockup

Spell Begins with Breath Oversized heavyweight sweatshirt

$54.00
Product mockup

Shadow Integration Is a Spell Throw Blanket

$57.50
Product mockup

Sacred Space Throw Blanket

$34.00
Product mockup

Sacred Geometry Desk Mat

$17.00
Product mockup

Pentacle Bath Mat

$25.00

Explore more rituals, tools & wisdom

Related articles

About Nicole's Ritual Universe

Nicole Lau β€” UK certified Advanced Angel Healing Practitioner, PhD in Management, published author.

She built Mystic Ryst on a single belief: that spiritual practice doesn't require a retreat or a perfect moment. It belongs in the ordinary β€” in the morning before work, in the breath between meetings, in the objects you choose to surround yourself with.

Through thousands of learning resources, books, and ritual tools, Mystic Ryst helps you weave mysticism into daily life β€” so that even the busiest day carries intention, meaning, and depth.

Explore Our Collection