Symbolism & Imagery:
In most traditional Tarot decks, the tenth card depicts a wheel surrounded by creatures. The Wheel has contains symbols, most notably the Hebrew letters YHVH, the name of God. The Letters TARO also are shown on the Wheel, presumably meaning Tarot. Nearer to the middle of the Wheel are four symbols. These are alchemical symbols that represent the four elements.
Because of the symbols on the Wheel, we can see that it represents life and the universe as a whole. Fate, power, and destiny are all contained in the Wheel.
There are creatures around the Wheel. A lion, an eagle, a bull, and an angel are sitting in the four corners of the Tarot card, surrounded by clouds. They all have wings, with a book in their hands. This shows us the wisdom of the universe and the great fate that we all have.
A snake is on the left-hand side of the Wheel, symbolizing good and evil. On the right is the Egyptian God Anubis, who is the lord of the Dead. At the top of the Wheel sits a Sphynx with a sword, master of strength and knowledge. He is sat at the top now, but as we know, the Wheel will always be turning.
The Wheel of Fortune is a beautiful and interesting card, and often hard to truly understand. But, by understanding the key symbolism on the card, we can learn what the card represents.