The Wheel of Fortune card is one of my favorite in the Major Arcana.

In Carl Orff's symphonic masterpiece Carmina Burana, the opening 'Oh Fortuna' captures the stone cold-bitchiness of the Wheel of Fortune, where one's fate can seemingly change for the better or worse, without rational explanation:

O Fortune, you are changeable
waxing and waning;
life oppresses then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty and power
it melts them like ice.
Fate - monstrous and empty, you whirling wheel,
you are malevolent,
well-being is vain

EyeTarot defines the card in the following way:

* Pertaining to destiny
* Taking a chance, seeing fate's hand in luck or coincidences
* A reversal of fortune or course
* Seeing the cycles and patterns at play in one's life or a situation

If ever there was a card that seemed to defy the notion of 'free will' it is this one. Is our future (our successes and failures?) simply a matter of the Wheel of Fortune's stone cold hand?

I think interpreting the Wheel of Fortune card in this way would be unwise. As always, looking at the card's position is very telling. For instance, in any position besides 'outcome' it's probably more wise to evaluate if your ATTITUDE is what the Wheel of Fortune card is referring to. For instance:

* Are you assuming that the outcome of the issue on your mind is simply 'destiny' (that your actions cannot impact)?
* Are you choosing to see 'Fate' or 'luck' in a situation that has been influenced by your actions?
* In a way, this can also be thought of a card about karma. How have your choices/actions in the past influencing the cycles and patterns at play in your life right now?

Of course, there is such a thing as Randomness. Sometimes what happens can be said to be totally unrelated to your past or your choices. However, there is a danger in leaning towards an interpretation of this card that scoffs at free will: You will miss the ways in which your destiny is in YOUR hands.

For a study guide on the Wheel of Fortune tarot card, visit:
eyetarot.com/free-tarot-card-meaning-wheel-of-fortune/

Keep THREE eyes open...
Nikki Harris

Author's Bio: 

Nikki Harris has been a freelance marketing expert for the past 10 years. She is a longtime tarot enthusiast and healthy living advocate.

Nikki currently serves as Vice President, Marketing for EyeTarot.com. EyeTarot.com strives provides tarot enthusiasts around the world--both beginner and advanced --with tools that provide greater self-knowledge and awareness through use of the ancient divination system of tarot.

She can be reached at nikki@eyetarot.com