How to Recognise Transformation in Your Readings

Everything is changing at the moment. The view from my window that was green so recently, is already shifting to reds and golds. The sun casts longer shadows earlier in the evening. And woolly jumpers are appearing in shop windows instead of beachwear. I already feel nostalgic for the summer that’s gone.

As the seasons shift around us, it’s a reminder that change is one of life’s only constants. Not just inevitably in careers and relationships, but in quieter moments of growth, reflection and realignment. Tarot mirrors these moments of transition – certain cards acting like signposts that signal, ‘A turning point is here.’

The tarot has several cards that indicate life is about to reach an unexpected fork in the road. Whether it’s the Wheel of Fortune forever turning, Death inviting easeful release or the Tower shaking everything to its foundations, these cards remind us that endings can also be beginnings. Learning to recognize them and what they represent helps us approach change not with dread, but with clarity and grace.

So, if they all signify change, why have so many different ones? The reason is because each card signifies a different quality in the type of change it brings:

The Wheel of Fortune – the inevitable cycles of life

The gentlest of the change cards, the Wheel of Fortune is change in motion. The Wheel reminds us that all life is cyclical – what goes up will eventually come down, and what’s down now will rise up again. Life always goes on – opportunities appear, situations evolve, luck turns. The key message is to be patient, stay flexible and keep an open heart, trusting that movement itself is part of the process.

Journal prompt: When have you experienced the Wheel of Fortune in your life? How did you adapt then?

Death – Release, Renewal, and the Space Between

Despite its dramatic name, Death rarely signals literal endings. It’s about release – the shedding of an old skin to make room for something new to grow. Looking out the window, I can see the trees beginning to shed their leaves – letting go of this year’s growth so that Spring can bring renewal next year.

This card may appear when you’re being asked to let go of things you already half-know you’ve outgrown – roles, beliefs or attachments that you are naturally and inevitably evolving out of. It can feel like a goodbye, but wisdom lies in welcoming in the fresh energy waiting just beyond.

Journal prompt: What are you ready to release so that something new can take root?

The Tower – from Breakdown to Breakthrough

Definitely the least gentle of the change cards, the change that the Tower brings is sudden, disruptive and impossible to ignore. You could almost say that this is the card you get when you ignore the previous two! Structures that once felt secure may crumble under its lightning strike, revealing truths we’ve been avoiding or changes we can no longer postpone. While it can be unsettling, the Tower ultimately liberates us from illusions and shaky foundations. What falls apart under this card was never meant to hold forever in the first place.

Journal prompt: Have you had a Tower moment in your life? What was the liberation it brought – not just the loss?

These Major Arcana cards are probably the most well-known signifiers of change, representing major life events. The Minor Arcana cards have their own indications of change, though – the more subtle variations and vicissitudes of daily shifts and adjustments.

The Tens – Completion and a New Chapter

In the Minor Arcana, the Tens represent the closing chapters of each suit’s journey – bringing a cycle to completion and opening the way for a new chapter to begin. Tens may feel less dramatic than the Tower or Death, but they’re no less meaningful:

• Ten of Wands: the goal’s achieved – time to put the burden down and move on to something fresh.
• Ten of Swords: a final ending – possibly even, ‘Thank goodness that’s over!’ and the promise of dawn after darkness.
• Ten of Cups: emotional fulfilment that hints at, ‘Now, what’s next?’
• Ten of Pentacles: legacy and inheritance are secured – time to anticipate succession.

Journal prompt: Pull the four Tens and reflect on where in your life you’re feeling completion, endings or a readiness for something new.

Other Change-Makers to Notice

While the Wheel, Death and the Tower are the boldest change cards, a few others can whisper about transitions:

• The Fool: a new chapter opening – step into the unknown with curiosity.
• Judgement: a wake-up call to recognise your next chapter is waiting.
• Eight of Cups: the conscious choice to walk away and start again.
• Aces: fresh sparks of new beginnings are being offered – if you choose to seize the opportunity.
• The Pages: fresh, new pathways opening up for you – approach them with an open mind.

Closing Thoughts

Change is rarely comfortable, but it’s always fertile ground for growth. When the Wheel turns, when Death clears a space, when the Tower crumbles, or when the Tens bring a cycle to completion, the tarot isn’t warning us of disaster – it’s offering an invitation. Life is movement, these cards remind us that we are resilient, resourceful and ready for whatever comes next.

So the next time they show up in your reading, pause and ask yourself: What chapter is closing? Andeven more importantly, What new story am I ready to begin?