A Modern African Tarot

The eleventh card in A Modern African Tarot marks a shift from introspection to cosmic rhythm. Where IX HERMIT explores solitude and ancestral guidance, X WHEEL OF FORTUNE introduces the forces of fate, change, and opportunity. This card reimagines the traditional Wheel of Fortune through the lens of African mobility, urban aspiration, and spiritual timing.

In classic tarot, the Wheel of Fortune is a rotating disk surrounded by mystical creatures and symbols—angels, sphinxes, serpents, and letters spelling “TARO.” It represents cycles, luck, and the unpredictable nature of life. The imagery evokes medieval cosmology and esoteric systems. For many Africans, it feels abstract—detached from the tangible realities of movement, migration, and the pursuit of progress.

X WHEEL OF FORTUNE, in this reinterpretation, is grounded in place and possibility. A young person stands on a path in a grassy area, wearing headphones and a backpack. They face a sign that reads “GAUTENG,” pointing toward South Africa’s economic heartland. In the distance, a city skyline rises—tall buildings, a prominent tower, and the pulse of urban life. The sky is open, the road is clear, and the moment is charged with potential.

This card is not about spinning symbols—it’s about stepping forward. The figure is not passive—they are choosing. The backpack suggests preparation, the headphones imply focus, and the posture reflects readiness. The Wheel is not turning above them—it is turning within them.

The signpost reading “GAUTENG” is more than a location. It symbolizes movement toward opportunity, ambition, and transformation. In African contexts, migration—whether rural to urban, national to global—is often a rite of passage. It is driven by hope, necessity, and destiny. This card honors that journey.

The city skyline represents aspiration. It is the place where dreams are tested, where fortunes rise and fall, and where identity is reshaped. The prominent tower evokes visibility, elevation, and the desire to be seen. The Wheel of Fortune is not just spinning—it is calling.

The grassy path and cylindrical structure near the sign suggest groundedness and infrastructure. They remind us that change is not chaotic—it can be navigated. The Wheel does not spin randomly—it responds to rhythm, readiness, and ritual.

X WHEEL OF FORTUNE invites us to reflect on timing. In African traditions, destiny is often understood as a dance between personal will and ancestral design. This card suggests that fortune is not luck—it is alignment. It is the moment when preparation meets opportunity.

It also reframes the idea of fate. The figure is not waiting—they are walking. They are not hoping—they are moving. The Wheel is not a gamble—it is a cycle. It turns not to confuse but to evolve.

As the eleventh card in this series, X WHEEL OF FORTUNE marks a moment of transition. The Fool begins with openness, the Magician with focus, the High Priestess with insight, the Empress with creation, the Emperor with structure, the Pastor with influence, the Lovers with union, the Chariot with motion, Strength with grace, the Hermit with reflection—and now the Wheel with change. It teaches that life moves in seasons, and that each turn brings new possibility.

This reinterpretation frames destiny as active, grounded, and culturally resonant. The Wheel is not floating in the sky—it is embedded in the land, the road, and the choices we make. It is the reminder that we are not just subject to fate—we are participants in it.

With X WHEEL OF FORTUNE, the deck continues to speak to African identity, modern life, and spiritual depth. It offers a mirror for those who have long searched for themselves in the cards and found only foreign reflections. The journey now turns—toward Gauteng, toward growth, toward the next chapter.

Images in this series, including “X WHEEL OF FORTUNE,” are AI‑generated. They are used here as creative visual interpretations to accompany the written narrative. The intent is to blend modern technology with African symbolism, offering readers a fresh lens on the tarot archetypes.