The Chariot stands as a powerful Major Arcana card within the Tarot deck, symbolizing the relentless drive toward success and the mastery of one's own will. Often associated with control, determination, and victory, this card depicts a journey where the querent must harness inner strength to overcome obstacles. Whether facing challenges in personal life, career, or spiritual journey, The Chariot reminds that success is achievable through focused action and disciplined self-control. In readings, it can emerge as a beacon of hope and motivation. Its imagery and symbolism urge taking charge of life, steering it toward a desired destination. However, it also serves as a reminder that the path to success is not always straightforward; it requires both direction and the ability to balance opposing forces.
Symbolism and Imagery of The Chariot
The Chariot card typically features a warrior seated in a majestic chariot, often depicted as a powerful figure adorned in armor. The chariot is usually pulled by two sphinxes, one black and one white, symbolizing the duality of existence and the necessity to maintain control over conflicting forces. Above the head of the figure is a canopy of six-pointed stars, suggesting connection to the celestial world and the Divine will. In front of the vehicle sit a black and a white sphinx, representing duality, positive and negative, and at times, opposing forces. The sphinxes are pulling in opposite directions, but the charioteer uses willpower and sheer resolve to steer the chariot forward in the direction he wants.
Behind the chariot flows a wide river, symbolic of the need to be ‘in flow’ with the rhythm of life while also charging ahead toward goals and intentions. The figure wears armor that has specific alchemical symbols on it – the moons and a square. The moons represent what is awakening, and a square symbolizes the power of free will. The warrior holds a wand that embodies the strengths of his mind and will. The creatures in the card seem to be moving in opposite directions, but the warrior tends to guide them where he needs them.
The Chariot in Tarot Readings: Keywords and Core Meanings
The Chariot is a card of willpower, determination, and strength. It represents the evolution of spirituality and the strengths of will. As the first seven cards of the Major Arcana relate to intellectual areas, the Chariot card represents personal growth, self-learning, and advancement through changes in one’s mindset. The interpretation of the card portends successful overcoming challenges and speedy victory, representing a chance to exit a difficult situation without any losses.
When The Chariot appears in a Tarot reading, it is a sign of encouragement. It indicates that objectives have been set and there is now a channeling of inner power with fierce dedication to bring them to fruition. When discipline, commitment, and willpower are applied to achieve goals, success will follow. Now is not the time to be passive in the hope that things will work out in favor. Taking focused action and sticking to the course, no matter what challenges may come, is essential. There may be a pulling in opposite directions, with strength and conviction tested.
Key Attributes of The Chariot
- Keywords: Willpower, determination, strength, control, victory, direction, ambition, assertiveness.
- Archetype: The Warrior / The Victor.
- Planet: Moon (often associated with the Cancer Zodiac sign).
- Number: Seven.
Upright Meanings in Specific Contexts
The Chariot signifies taking control and moving forward with confidence. It suggests that aggression, a natural part of human nature, can be used to take charge of a situation, but it must be reined in so that it does not hinder the way forward.
Upright Love Meaning
In matters of love, the Chariot urges taking the wheel and having a clear understanding of what is being sought in love and romance. Once the destination is known, the Chariot tarot love meaning urges taking action. When control is taken of the love life, rewards are very likely to be seen. Confidence, courage, and drive will lead to success. However, as one moves toward goals, the Chariot tarot love meaning can also indicate the need to balance two urges, represented by the two horses in the card. They may pull in different directions, but steering a clear path ahead means reining each one in to stay on the right path.
Upright Career Meaning
In career readings, the Chariot indicates strong ambitions, motivation, and control at work. It suggests that the individual has discovered how to make decisions in alignment with values and is now taking action on those decisions. Success is achieved by applying discipline and willpower.
Upright Finances Meaning
Regarding finances, the Chariot points to a determination to reach financial goals. It encourages taking focused action rather than waiting for circumstances to improve passively.
Alternative Interpretations and Deeper Nuances
Different interpretations of The Chariot exist, reflecting the complexity of the card's symbolism. In some modern deck variations, the Charioteer is depicted not as a noble warlord, but as a carnival barker or showman. This version suggests a questioning of whether what is being seen is a performance of success rather than the real thing. It asks to question if one is following a parade or going through the motions of a brand of success that is mistaken for the real thing.
Despite these variations, the core tension remains significant. The Chariot represents the quest for truth and the illusion, the movement and the standing still, the battle and the assumed victory, the showmanship and the deep ritual. These contradictions reflect the nature of human endeavors and spiritual journeys. In decks like This Might Hurt Tarot and Twice Told Tarot, the Charioteers are depicted not as warriors, but as Magician-like figures with wands raised, chariots unmoving. They stand in a potent in-between where will meets theatre, and ritual meets performance.
Most Chariot cards feature a main figure – the charioteer – commonly understood as a representation of the ego or self, driving forward and creating the life we desire. Carl Jung argued that "the self uses the individual psyche as a means of conveyance. Man is propelled, as it were, along the road to individuation." This reflects the journey of the Chariot.
The Everyday Vehicle: Mastery in Daily Life
The Chariot captures the theme of effortless mastery. This is seen in images such as a skateboarding Charioteer, which captures the core theme: effortless mastery. Skateboarding looks cool and chill, but it takes years of practice (and injury and humiliation) to get good at it. Having oneself under control means one can appear tranquil even though the body and mind are operating at their peak. This is the Chariot in a nutshell: calm on the outside, pure, focused power underneath. There is also something joyful about this image; the Chariot is a very confident card, and there is real joy in confidence.
Think about what it must have been like being a chariot driver. One steps into a cart drawn by two horses at breakneck speed into the heart of a battle with arrows flying, coming up alongside someone to try to defeat them while driving the vehicle. This requires immense control and confidence.
The Spiral of Learning
The journey of the Chariot is not always a straight line. Instead, it loops and spirals, returning again and again to lessons thought to have been already learned. It is the Chariot reimagined not as a triumphant charge, but as a long, lived-in pilgrimage. As the song goes: "the circle in a spiral, the wheel within the wheel, never ending or beginning on an ever-spinning reel." Movement, even when it feels slow or repetitive, still carries us forward.
Conclusion
The Chariot in Tarot is a profound symbol of willpower, control, and the journey toward victory. It reminds the querent that success requires discipline, determination, and the ability to balance opposing forces. Whether interpreted through the traditional lens of the warrior or the modern lens of the performer, the card emphasizes the importance of taking charge of one's destiny. By harnessing inner strength and maintaining focus, individuals can navigate challenges and achieve their goals, turning the chariot of life in the desired direction.