Wheel of Fortune Tarot Art History: Symbolism Across Decks
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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 Fortune—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"—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 wheel—the belief that fortune was fickle, that what rises must fall, and that fate controlled human destiny.
This wasn't yet about cycles and acceptance—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 cycle—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 wheel—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 luck—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 cycles—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 Oxalá, Yoruba deity of creation and cycles—divine cosmic cycles, eternal transformation, sacred turning.
Tarot of the Divine (Yoshi Yoshitani)
Wheel of Fortune as various fate deities from world mythology—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 cycles—whether fortune, fate, or cosmic law
- They represent change—whether random or divine
- They involve turning—whether wheel, fortune, or destiny
- They show rise and fall—whether figures, animals, or symbols
- They are numbered ten—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 interpretations—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.
