Cards of the Major Arcana: Wheel of Fortune – Strength – The Hanged Man

Today, we will present three more cards from the Major Arcana of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. Together, they illustrate the interplay of fate, inner strength and introspection in our life's journey.

The Wheel of Fortune card symbolises the cyclical nature of life and fate, reminding us that change is inevitable. It reminds us that good times and bad are transient.

The Strength card embodies inner courage, resilience, and compassion, emphasising the importance of gentle control over brute force.

The Hanged Man card represents surrender, new perspectives, and the necessity of letting go. It suggests that we must sometimes pause and re-evaluate our situations in order to grow as individuals.

The following are extracts from the author's book on tarot. Further information about the book can be found in the notes.

Card X of the Major Arcana: Wheel of Fortune

The wheel is one of the most important inventions in human history. Expressions such as 'I feel like I've been wheeled', 'wheel of time' and 'wheel of fate' have found their way into our everyday language. The 'Wheel of Fortune' is also the name of the tenth card in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

There are no people depicted on the Arcanum, only a variety of symbols. The spokes of the wheel, for example, represent the alchemical symbols for water, sulphur, mercury and salt. The four winged creatures from Ezekiel's biblical vision adorn the corners of the card and are closely related to the four elements and the four fixed signs of the zodiac.

The number four is a major theme of this card and is highly symbolic. In mystical traditions, it is considered sacred and represents the four pillars of the earth, the four cardinal points, and above all, the four elements. It is a divine number. ... End of excerpt.

Card XI of the Major Arcana: Strength

A woman wearing a white, flower-adorned robe stands against a yellow background. She holds the fearsome mouth of a lion in her hands with a gentle grip, and the lion looks up at her calmly. Although the card is labelled 'Strength', the woman does not appear to be exerting any such power. The beast has become a cuddly toy in her hands.

Yellow, the main colour of the picture, refers to the element of air and symbolises communication and spiritual power. The lion is red, the colour of fire, which symbolises strength and wildness. This is how the card appears in the Rider-Waite Tarot, but the image and name are similar in most decks.

The point here is not physical strength. The woman does not subdue the beast with muscle power, but with the strength of her spirit. It is her gentle inner strength that enables her to guide the lion in the right direction. ... End of excerpt.

Card XII of the Major Arcana: The Hanged Man

The name does not suggest anything positive at first and, if you are unfamiliar with Tarot cards, you may find it alarming. However, the card with the number XII is not at all terrible. The man in the picture is very much alive. In the Rider-Waite Tarot, he is hanging upside down from a lush green branch in a relaxed pose.

The Hanged Man has fully accepted his situation, as he put himself in this position. He also represents Odin, the Norse god, who hanged himself from the world ash tree Yggdrasil as a sacrifice. According to legend, he hung in solitude for nine days and nights, after which he was granted knowledge of the runes and their powers by the ancients.

In this respect, the image represents sacrifice or initiation – knowledge only becomes accessible once this has been achieved. In other decks, the card is also called 'The Lonely One' or 'The Sacrifice', which is certainly fitting. ... End of excerpt.

Would you like to find out more? Eleonore's book offers valuable guidance on using Rider-Waite Tarot cards. You can read some excerpts here:
– Using Tarot cards as a guide: Explore the wisdom of the Rider-Waite deck
– Mistakes when dealing with Tarot cards: The right way to use the Tarot
– How to interpret the hidden significance of Tarot cards: The Major Arcana
– Try swinging a pendulum. Communicate with your inner self
– Cards of the Major Arcana: The Magician – The High Priestess – The Empress
– Cards of the Major Arcana: The Emperor – The Hierophant – The Lovers
– Cards of the Major Arcana: The Chariot – Justice – The Hermit

© 'Cards of the Major Arcana: Wheel of Fortune – Strength – The Hanged Man. Exploring the themes of fate, inner strength, and introspection in the Tarot': A series of essays by Eleonore Radtberger (translated by Izabel Comati), 11/2025. Image credit: Pressenet.