The Wheel of Fortune (X)
The Wheel of Fortune and Its Meaning for Healing
(Keywords: Cycles, fate, luck, turning points, divine timing)
Overview of The Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune is the tenth card of the Major Arcana, symbolizing cycles of change, destiny, and the ever-turning nature of life. The imagery typically features a large wheel, often surrounded by mystical figures representing the elements of fate, karma, and divine intervention. Some versions of the card include a Sphinx at the top, symbolizing wisdom, and creatures such as a snake or Anubis representing the forces of transformation and the underworld.
This card is a reminder that life is constantly shifting—sometimes we are at the top of the wheel, enjoying success and prosperity, while at other times, we find ourselves at the bottom, facing hardship and uncertainty. Unlike The Chariot, which represents control over one's path, The Wheel of Fortune highlights the unpredictability of life and the role of fate in shaping our experiences.
When The Wheel of Fortune appears in a reading, it suggests a turning point, karmic shifts, and the need to embrace change. It is neither inherently positive nor negative but instead teaches that life’s ups and downs are part of a greater cycle, and adaptability is key to navigating them.
The Wheel of Fortune and Healing
The Wheel of Fortune’s energy in healing is deeply connected to accepting change, trusting the process, and understanding the cyclical nature of healing. Healing is rarely a straight path—it often involves periods of progress, setbacks, and unexpected shifts that ultimately lead to growth.
Healing Through Acceptance of Life’s Cycles
A fundamental lesson of The Wheel of Fortune is that everything in life moves in cycles—joy and sorrow, gain and loss, struggle and ease. Healing requires accepting this natural rhythm rather than resisting it.
Many people struggle with setbacks in their healing journey, feeling discouraged when progress slows or difficulties arise. The Wheel of Fortune teaches that these fluctuations are normal and part of a larger process. Even when times are tough, the wheel will turn again, bringing new opportunities for renewal and transformation.
True healing comes from embracing impermanence—understanding that pain does not last forever, just as happiness is not permanent. Instead of fearing change, this card encourages flowing with life’s transitions, trusting that every shift serves a purpose.
Healing Through Surrender and Trust in Divine Timing
The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that not everything is within our control. While personal effort is important, there are times when healing requires letting go and trusting in a higher plan.
For those struggling with uncertainty—whether about physical recovery, emotional healing, or spiritual growth—this card encourages faith. It suggests that even when answers are unclear, the universe is working behind the scenes to bring about needed change.
This may involve surrendering expectations, releasing attachment to specific outcomes, and trusting that the right timing will reveal itself when the moment is aligned. Healing is not always about immediate results—it often unfolds in ways that can only be understood in hindsight.
Healing Through Recognizing Karmic Patterns
Another aspect of The Wheel of Fortune is its connection to karma—the idea that past actions shape future experiences. Healing can be deeply connected to breaking karmic cycles and recognizing patterns that repeat in life.
This card encourages self-reflection:
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What lessons keep appearing in relationships or personal struggles?
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Are there past wounds that continue to resurface, asking for attention?
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How can awareness of these cycles lead to greater self-growth and healing?
Healing through this perspective involves consciously shifting negative patterns, making new choices, and stepping into a mindset of growth and evolution. The Wheel of Fortune teaches that awareness of these cycles allows us to respond differently, creating positive change instead of repeating old wounds.
The Wheel of Fortune Reversed: Overview
When The Wheel of Fortune appears reversed, its energy shifts from embracing change to resisting it, feeling stuck, or experiencing setbacks. The reversed Wheel may indicate a difficult period, unexpected misfortune, or frustration with a lack of progress.
This card can appear when someone:
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Feels out of control in their healing journey, overwhelmed by external circumstances.
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Struggles with resisting change, holding onto past pain instead of allowing transformation.
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Encounters repeated challenges, suggesting karmic cycles that have yet to be resolved.
Rather than seeing change as an opportunity for growth, the reversed Wheel suggests feeling trapped in misfortune, unable to move forward, or struggling to trust that things will improve.
The Wheel of Fortune Reversed and Healing
The reversed Wheel of Fortune highlights barriers to healing caused by resistance to change, fear of uncertainty, or feeling powerless in the face of challenges. To restore balance, it is necessary to release control, embrace life’s natural flow, and shift the perspective on difficulties.
Healing Through Letting Go of Resistance to Change
One of the biggest blocks to healing is resisting what is meant to change. The reversed Wheel often appears when someone clings to past wounds, refuses to accept new circumstances, or struggles with fear of the unknown.
Healing in this case requires surrendering to the transformation that is already happening. This might involve:
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Releasing attachment to how healing “should” look and embracing how it unfolds naturally.
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Acknowledging that certain endings are necessary for growth, even when they feel painful.
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Allowing space for uncertainty rather than trying to force control over outcomes.
The reversed Wheel reminds us that healing happens when we allow old energy to move out and new energy to take its place. Resisting this process only prolongs suffering.
Healing Through Finding Stability in Uncertain Times
When life feels unpredictable, healing can feel difficult because there is no sense of stability. The reversed Wheel suggests that someone may be struggling with emotional turmoil, external chaos, or uncertainty about their path.
During these moments, healing comes from finding stability within rather than seeking it externally. This can involve:
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Grounding practices such as meditation, journaling, or connecting with nature.
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Focusing on small, daily rituals that bring comfort and consistency.
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Reaffirming that even in difficult times, there is an inner place of peace to return to.
Rather than waiting for circumstances to change, the reversed Wheel encourages creating internal stability so that healing is not dependent on external factors.
Healing Through Recognizing and Breaking Negative Cycles
Another challenge of the reversed Wheel is feeling stuck in repeated patterns, as if healing never fully takes place. Whether in relationships, emotional responses, or personal struggles, this card suggests a cycle that keeps repeating because the lesson has not yet been fully understood.
Healing in this area involves:
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Identifying recurring themes in pain or struggle—what situations keep playing out in similar ways?
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Taking conscious action to respond differently rather than repeating old reactions.
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Recognizing that growth requires breaking free from old versions of the self and stepping into new ways of being.
The reversed Wheel reminds us that being stuck is often an illusion—once patterns are seen clearly, change becomes possible.
Final Thoughts
The Wheel of Fortune, both upright and reversed, teaches that healing is a process of cycles, change, and divine timing. Upright, it encourages acceptance of life’s ups and downs, trust in fate, and embracing transitions with an open heart. Reversed, it warns of resistance to change, feeling stuck in negative patterns, or struggling with uncertainty.
Ultimately, The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that healing is not linear—it moves in cycles, bringing growth through both light and dark phases. Whether riding the highs or navigating the lows, true healing comes from trusting that everything is unfolding as it should, allowing transformation to take place, and embracing the wisdom gained from each turn of the wheel.
Part of the self-designed Healing Tarot deck – coming soon.
