The Wheel of Fortune:  Cycles, Fate, and the Ever-Turning Path

The Wheel of Fortune is one of those cards that carries weight before you even turn it over. In most tarot decks, its presence marks a shift: fate turning, cycles moving, and a reminder that nothing stays still for long. In Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot, the Wheel of Fortune is not only about change, it’s a layered, living symbol of the interconnectedness of all things and the eternal rhythm that underlies existence.

Imagery in Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot

At the heart of this card is the Wheel itself, envisioned here as the Sun. This is a striking choice: it makes the wheel not just a turning point, but the very source of vitality, warmth, and the life force. The Sun as the wheel suggests that every turn is an infusion of energy, whether we are rising into joy or descending into challenge; the motion itself fuels growth.

Encircling this are the Four Elements, water, air, earth, and fire, anchoring the card in the natural cycles of creation, transformation, and renewal. Their placement reminds us that change is not random: it is a constant rhythm that all life moves through.

The Ouroboros, the serpent eating its own tail, wraps through the design, echoing infinity and the self-renewing nature of existence. This is change as continuity;  endings folding into beginnings without pause.

In each corner stand the Angel, Eagle, Bull, and Lion, the symbols of the four evangelists from Christian tradition. In Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot, they also embody spiritual guidance in every direction, suggesting that no matter where the wheel turns, there is divine wisdom available to navigate it.

How it Compares to Traditional Depictions

In the Rider–Waite–Smith deck, the Wheel of Fortune is surrounded by these same four figures, representing not only the evangelists but also the fixed signs of the zodiac, Aquarius, Scorpio, Taurus, and Leo,  symbols of stability amidst change. The RWS wheel also often features Hebrew letters and alchemical symbols, emphasising the mysteries of fate and transformation. Lieselle’s version streamlines some of these esoteric elements, instead emphasising the universal language of the four elements and the ever-present Sun as a life-giver.

The RWS ouroboros often appears as a single snake, sometimes alongside other mystical creatures on the wheel’s surface. Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot places the Ouroboros in a more prominent, almost guardian-like position, a protector of the cycle and a reminder that endings and beginnings are always linked.

Meaning in a Reading

When the Wheel of Fortune appears, it speaks of movement. In my deck’s interpretation, this movement is not random; it’s the interplay of fate, natural law, and the unseen threads that connect every part of your life. The card marks turning points... changes that can be joyous or challenging, but always transformative.

It also carries a strong message of interconnectedness. The four elements invite you to see how different areas of your life influence one another: relationships affecting career, career affecting health, and so on. In a reading, this can be a call to zoom out and see the bigger pattern rather than focusing on one piece in isolation.

The Ouroboros teaches that every ending feeds a beginning. The reversal of fortune (whether you perceive it as luck turning for or against you) is never final. Each phase is simply one part of the larger cycle.

Traditional Keywords vs. Lieselle’s Perspective

In traditional tarot, keywords for the Wheel of Fortune often include:

Fate

Destiny

Cycles

Luck (good or bad)

Turning points

In Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot, while these meanings remain, there’s an added emphasis on spiritual navigation, vitality, and conscious participation in the cycle. It’s not just “fate happening to you,” but an invitation to engage with the process and to see the wheel as a journey you travel with awareness, trusting both its rises and its falls.

The Wheel of Fortune is a card that refuses to let us stay still. Whether in its traditional form or in the radiant imagery of Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot, it teaches that change is inevitable, interconnected, and often guided by forces larger than ourselves. When it appears, it’s a reminder to let go of resistance, trust the wheel’s turning, and embrace the lessons each new phase brings.

The Wheel Turns: Finding Your Place in Life’s Rhythm

Step into the cycles of fate with Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot.  A hand-illustrated deck where each card carries layered meaning and luminous artistry. Created to guide, inspire, and align you with life’s ever-turning path.

Experience the Wheel of Fortune (and every other card) as it was meant to be seen. Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot deck is available now, inviting you to read with a tool infused with intention, artistry, and spiritual depth.

Discover the deck here