The Wheel of Fortune: When Life Feels Out of Control
If you pulled the Wheel of Fortune and immediately heard a game show audience shouting in your head, you're not alone. That spinning wheel—where you never know if you'll land on a prize or lose everything—captures exactly what this card is about. And if you're reading this because life feels like it's spinning out of control right now, the Wheel has an important message for you.
What the Wheel of Fortune Really Means
The Wheel of Fortune is card number 10 in the Major Arcana, and it represents cycles, timing, and the truth that life moves in patterns whether we're ready or not. In most decks, you'll see a wheel with figures rising and falling, sometimes with astrological symbols, sometimes with creatures at each corner representing the fixed signs of the zodiac.
This card shows up when you're in the middle of a cycle you didn't choose. A job loss. A sudden breakup. A health crisis. A financial blow. Something shifted, and you had no say in it. The wheel turned, and here you are—feeling like a contestant on a game show you never signed up for.
Unlike cards that ask you to take action or make a choice, the Wheel of Fortune says: some things are simply in motion. The seasons change. Economies rise and fall. People grow and sometimes grow apart. Your job isn't to control the wheel. It's to understand where you are in the cycle and what that position is teaching you.
Want the traditional symbolism and deeper meanings? Read our complete guide to The Wheel of Fortune card.
Why You're Feeling Out of Control Right Now
When the Wheel of Fortune appears, it often reflects what therapists call "external locus of control"—the feeling that forces outside yourself are running your life. And sometimes? That's true. You didn't cause the layoffs. You didn't create the pandemic. You didn't choose your family of origin.
But here's where anxiety takes over: when one thing feels out of control, your brain starts scanning for ALL the things you can't control. Suddenly it's not just the job—it's the economy, your savings, your age, your marketability, whether you'll ever feel stable again. The wheel isn't just spinning; it's a hurricane.
This card appears when you need to distinguish between:
- What's actually changing (the specific situation)
- Your catastrophic story about what it means (the anxiety spiral)
The Wheel is turning, yes. But you're not strapped to it helplessly. You're standing at the center, watching it move.
What the Wheel of Fortune Wants You to Know
Here's the medicine hidden in this card: cycles always turn.
When you're at the bottom of the wheel—broke, heartbroken, lost—it feels permanent. Your anxious brain whispers: This is how it will always be. But the Wheel of Fortune doesn't allow for "always." It only knows movement.
The wheel turns:
- Winter becomes spring
- Recession becomes recovery
- Grief softens into acceptance
- Rock bottom becomes the foundation you build on
This doesn't mean "everything happens for a reason" or "just stay positive." It means: this moment is not the whole story. You're in a chapter, not the ending.
The Wheel also reminds you that when you were last on top of the wheel—feeling secure, in control, riding high—that wasn't permanent either. Everything moves. That's not a threat. That's a promise.
Beyond the Cards: What You Can Do Right Now
Tarot offers perspective, but it's not a substitute for real support when anxiety has you in a chokehold. Here's what you can do today:
1. Ground yourself in the present moment.
Anxiety lives in the future (what if this happens? what if I can't handle it?). The 5-4-3-2-1 technique brings you back: Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste. Do this when the spiral starts.
2. Distinguish between the event and the story.
Write two columns: "What actually happened" vs. "What I'm afraid it means." Example:
- What happened: I got laid off.
- What I fear it means: I'm unemployable, I'll lose everything, I'll never recover.
The second column is anxiety talking, not truth. Challenge it.
3. Identify what you CAN control.
You can't control the economy. You CAN update your resume, reach out to contacts, set a budget, ask for help. Make a list of 3 small actions within your power. Do one today.
4. Seek support if anxiety is overwhelming.
If you're spiraling daily, losing sleep, or having panic attacks, please reach out:
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America: adaa.org (find a therapist)
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7)
- Psychology Today Therapist Finder: psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
Tarot is a tool for reflection. Therapy is a tool for healing. You deserve both.
5. Journal with the Wheel of Fortune.
Pull the card and write:
- What cycle am I in right now?
- What's ending? What's beginning?
- Where have I been on this wheel before, and how did I survive it?
- What would it feel like to trust the turning instead of fighting it?
Using Tarot as Part of Your Healing Practice
The Wheel of Fortune teaches you to work WITH cycles instead of against them. Here's how to use this card when life feels chaotic:
Daily check-in spread:
Draw one card and ask: What small thing can I control today?
This isn't about fixing everything. It's about reclaiming tiny bits of agency.
Wheel of the Year practice:
Track where you are in your personal cycle. Are you in winter (resting, grieving, waiting)? Spring (new beginnings, fragile hope)? Summer (growth, momentum)? Fall (harvest, gratitude, release)? Each season has different needs. Honor where you are instead of rushing to the next phase.
Releasing control ritual:
Write down everything you're trying to control but can't. Read the list aloud, then burn it safely (or tear it up). Say: I release what isn't mine to hold. I trust the turning of the wheel.
If you're ready to build a regular practice of using tarot for emotional regulation and self-compassion, explore our Tarot for Self-Care course—a gentle, beginner-friendly way to turn daily overwhelm into moments of clarity.
This card brings both a warning and a comfort: nothing stays the same. The chaos you're in right now? It's temporary. The wheel is already turning. Let it guide your next reading—and your next breath.
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