Tarot Cards: The Chariot

In this article, we will be focusing on the seventh card in the Major Arcana following the story of the fool. This card is known as The Chariot. This is a card that is often depicted with a man on a well armed chariot. He is then shown as being propelled forward by two animals. The animals are often differentiated by colors such as black and white to represent the balance and power that is created by bringing these two conflicting forces together. This card takes its inspiration from Ancient Rome when the chariot riders and their teams would race around the Circus Maximus for victory. The energy that this card carries is very powerful and dominant, just by looking at it you can almost feel the confidence and trust radiating off of this diverse team.

The Chariot, when upright, represents a time of incredible potential with the querent gaining the ability to master the self. This card serves as a call to make progress in tackling any difficult obstacles and situations with confidence. It's encouraging the querent to exercise their perseverance and discipline in order to bring together the different energies of the situation to better aid them in their journey. When this card is drawn out of the deck it is letting the querent know that they are in a time of transition or will soon be reaching this period. This card can also be appearing as a sign of reassurance to the querent, telling them that they have the inner strength and abilities to confront the situation and overcome it. The meaning of The Chariot will vary by querent and by their individual situations but the ultimate things to take away from this card is that it's time to take authority over a situation with confidence and swift movements. This card acts as a reminder of the strength we have inside us and that we need to remember that in order to face these situations head on. It also highlights the fact that we need to find balance in our lives internally and externally. To find an internal balance, the querent could work on healing their shadow self. If you would like to learn more about shadow work and how to begin healing the shadow you can visit our article about it here. To heal the self externally, it is advised that the querent finds balance between all aspects of their life such as a good work-life balance. The goal is to achieve a higher level of control over our impulses and emotions to propel us forward towards the victory and success that is in reach.

The Chariot, when reversed essentially, is the contrary of what being upright means. This means that the querent seems to have a lack of control. This can appear through one's impulsiveness or recklessness that ultimately shows that they are struggling with an imbalance or disharmony in their life. This could also show that the querent is facing inner conflicts and resistance from their subconscious. Due to this scattered and chaotic energy it is likely that the querent is facing setbacks at this time. This would be a good time for the querent to focus on finding the balance that they need in order to bring back the stability and confidence that is required to face a situation. Although, if the Chariot is drawn out of the deck reversed, it would be a good idea to proceed with caution, as you do not want to act hastily or recklessly.

In Astrology, The Chariot is connected with the astrological sign Cancer. Cancer is one of the three water signs and is notably known for being intuitive, nurturing, and emotional. These are all traits that we can clearly see within The Chariot. One of the recurring themes of this card is that you need to take authority over your emotions and impulses and bring them together with the other aspects of the self in order to take on obstacles and challenges. The sign Cancer is depicted as a crab, a being that has a protective shell similar to the armed and protected Chariot. Ultimately both Cancer and the Chariot look inwards towards the self to aid them in moving forward with help from their armed exteriors.