Major Arcana 7 Tarot Chariot (Carriage, Charioteer)

Description: A man sits in a chariot. His head is crowned with a star. In his right hand he holds a scepter. The chariot is pulled by two sphinxes — a black one and a white one. Behind the chariot is a castle.

The main meanings of the card in the upright position:

1. Success, victory thanks to hard work;
2. Self-discipline, clear thinking;
3. Success in financial transactions;
4. A big step forward;
5. Perseverance, courage, desire for success;
6. Own picture of the world;
7. The beginning of a new relationship;
8. Novelty in relationships;
9. A clear goal;
10. One-sided thinking;
11. Mastery;
12. Balancing internal conflict;
13. Overcoming obstacles;
14. Transportation;
15. The situation will be resolved in your favor;
16. «Golden mean»;
17. A dash forward.

The main meanings of the card in the inverted position:

1. Incorrect use of energy and talent;
2. Lack of self-control, irresponsibility;
3. Health problems;
4. Unethical;
5. Rash actions;
6. Failure;
7. Resentment;
8. Severity;
9. Suspiciousness;
10. Self-destruction;
11. Accident.

The Chariot, also known as the Chariot or Charioteer.

The last card of the first seven, also called the Chariot of Hermes or Osiris in ancient times. The previous life, the previous segment of the journey are over, this card says; what next? The Chariot awaits, it is time to set off again.

The Charioteer is a strong, purposeful person. His chest is protected by armor; his hands, in hard gloves, tightly grip the reins. In some versions of the cards, his chariot is harnessed by four sacred creatures (a bull, a lion, an eagle, and an angel), in others — two sphinxes, one black and sad, the other joyful and bright. The canopy above the driver's head depicts the starry sky; the Chariot itself is decorated with images of stars and a Tantric symbol, a lingma, equipped with wings.

The Charioteer is a person who has gained the necessary experience. He embarks on the path of yoga, intending to take his rightful place in society — and he succeeds, for he has no shortage of willpower. He believes that feelings must now give way to reason. But he does not yet know that this section of the path will also one day be passed, and everything will be repeated from the beginning, albeit on a different level.

Other names for the arcana: The Chariot; Lord of the Triumph of Light; Child of the All-Powerful Waters.

SPIRITUAL EXPLANATION: The Chariot is a sign of movement, and so this Tarot hag may symbolically be related to the Merkabah (chariot) of Kabbalistic mysticism, which focuses on the mental journey of the soul from one heavenly palace to another.

TARO MEANING: This card symbolizes success or victory achieved through hard work or diligence. The Charioteer embodies self-discipline and clear thinking. He can assess a situation, make a key decision, and then move in a positive direction. If you have drawn this card from the deck, you are likely to be able to overcome ailments (ill health) and any obstacles that are currently hindering your progress, and you will also be successful in any financial transactions you undertake during the current period.

REVERSED MEANING: You are using your talents and energies incorrectly. Your life lacks balance and self-control. You are acting unethically or irresponsibly. You may have health problems.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT LESSON: True progress requires self-control, clear vision, and a willingness to act. Life is a challenge and an adventure. Balance your inner inspired wisdom with your worldly experiences, and your journey through life will be fruitful and rewarding.

WORK: Here the Chariot shows that we have managed to take a big step forward, perhaps even that very step towards independence that we have dreamed of for so long. It speaks of our desire for success, persistence and courage, readiness to act and take risks. Therefore, it can mean both a confident entry into a new field and the acceptance of larger tasks and higher responsibility. It opens the doors to success for us, but warns against abuse and overestimation of our own strengths.

CONSCIOUSNESS: A young, but already quite powerful self-awareness, liberation from the oppression of other people's opinions and ideas, the construction of our own picture of the world, worthy of us, as well as the readiness to boldly take on the solution of the most difficult problems. Often, this requires overcoming our internal contradictions, for example, the «split» between emotions and reason, will and desire, desire and reality.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: The card may also indicate the beginning of a new relationship, including an impulsive, thoughtless breakthrough from the «shackles» of a previous and not yet outlived circle of interests or relationships. But it may also mean a gust of «fresh wind» within the framework of a previous union, removing accumulated fatigue, routine, breathing new life into it.

Names in other languages: Caro, Le Chariot, The Chariot, Der Wagen.

Astrological correspondences: Aquarius and Uranus. Jupiter/Mars as judgment and Venus in Libra as a symbol of honesty, justice and balance.

Kabbalistic meaning of the Arcana: desire for victory, triumph.

Occult meaning of the Arcana: an arrow flying horizontally.

Physical meaning of the Arcana: property.

Places: monuments; train stations; airports; various types of transport; barracks and military units.

Upright

Keywords and phrases: A clear goal. Determination. Desire to continue what has been started. Initiative. Self-affirmation. Willpower. Control. Conquest. Success. Dominance. Concentration. Inner world. Triumphant progress. One-sided thinking. Ambition. Mastery. Courage. Skill. Energy needed to achieve the goal. Great effort. Achievements. The path to success. Self-control. Clarity of purpose. Journey. News. Victory. Victory through one’s own efforts. Honors. Recognition. Control over conflicting forces. Inner struggle. Self-discipline. Conflict of interests. The ability to always remain on top. The desire to maintain a “golden mean.” Balancing conflicting emotions. Overcoming obstacles. Moving forward with struggle and conflict. Reaching the top. Iron will. Going with the flow. Travel. Communication. Vehicles. A new car. I am the master of my destiny, I am the captain of my soul.

Situation and advice: The Chariot indicates the need to remain focused in any situation and control opposing forces in order to continue moving forward. You are able to take orders calmly, this helps you maintain a “golden mean” between incompatible thoughts, feelings and desires. At the same time, you feel that you are not able to speed up the result, so now the best course of action is to go with the flow. Perhaps you are currently struggling for self-affirmation and need to understand why your thoughts, emotions and desires are in conflict with each other. You will be able to stay on track if your decision is firm. Your strategy should be determined forward movement and a clearly defined goal. You will overcome all difficulties and emerge victorious from the current situation. In general, no matter what situation you asked about, it will be resolved in your favor. Your willpower and a clearly defined goal will help you rise to the occasion. The Chariot can mean traveling, buying a car or using a new mode of transport for you.

People: Military. Messengers. Professional drivers. Motorists. Travelers. Jockeys. People associated with transport. Winners. People who are at peace with themselves.

Reversed

Key words and phrases: Rash actions. Consuming emotions. Failure. Unsatisfied ambition. Choosing the wrong goal. Unbalanced. Dishonesty. Failure to choose a direction. Misallocation and use of one's energies. Complete disruption to plans. Poor concentration. Moving too fast. Restlessness. Obstacles. Struggle. Conflict. Pressure. Futility. Self-indulgence. Inattention to others. Resentment. Unnecessary use of force. Dominant attitude. End of relationship. Danger. Suspicion. Restlessness. Frequent mood swings. Severity. Repression. Character flaws caused by inability to reconcile conflicting emotions. Travel or transportation problems. Delayed or cancelled trip. Accident. Car trouble. Circumstances are stronger than us. Mind out of control. Self-destruction.

Situation and advice: You are currently in a bad mood, unfocused, and feel out of control over your destiny. Perhaps you have strayed from the path you had set for yourself some time ago. You need to resolve a situation in which incompatible forces are at play. You feel torn because you need to find a “golden mean.” Perhaps you have started too many projects at once and are now unable to resolve all the differences in time. The Chariot in an inverted position can literally mean problems related to travel or transportation. Perhaps your car needs repair.

People: Participants in a conflict. Unbalanced people. Careless drivers. Inveterate motorists. Impulsive people. People addicted to bad habits (alcohol, drugs, smoking, gluttony).

The inner meaning of the Chariot (Carriage, Charioteer) card

some force is forcing you to leave what you have, to forget about the past — about home, about work, about comrades. You are overflowing with energy, and you are looking for a new field for its application. Set out on your journey, and let this stage of your journey become a discovery of a new world for you. But remember that the Carriage is moving fast, and the road is full of sharp turns! Let your mind rule you, but do not try to completely get rid of feelings and emotions: without them, your Cart may capsize.

When answering most questions, this card in the upright position means the end of one period of life and the beginning of the next, new one. In a purely practical sense, this could be a change of residence or work, just a trip or a journey.

Sometimes (rarely) the Cart can indicate some secret that is better not to delve into, even just a question that is not worth seeking an answer to, because the changes it causes can be catastrophic.

In the inverted position — «not the end yet», although the old period is ending, there is no need to rush things, it is better to wait.

Or: moving, travel are postponed.

Or: a person has nevertheless penetrated an unnecessary secret and will now pay.

It is time for a businessman to prepare for major changes in his business — such as a global fall in prices and demand, the liquidation of major manufacturers, or the transition to completely new technologies.

The Chariot invites you to use everything you have learned to overcome everyone and everything that stands in the way of achieving your goal. You must look within yourself and find strength there.

By reconciling the contradictions within yourself to the point that you can control them, you are able to defeat your real enemies.

As a war chariot destroys enemy forces, so the Tarot Chariot symbolizes victory over all who oppose you. There are no elements that are hostile to one another, they can be reconciled and made to work together. Here are forces that are hostile to one another by their nature: good and evil, positive and negative, truth and falsehood. In some cases, these may be factors within you, and you must make them work together, even if they do not agree. Just as often, these opposing forces represent people or events in your life that are preventing you from achieving your goal.

By drawing strength from the opposites within yourself, making them work together, you are able to recognize your true enemies and use their weaknesses and your strength against them. This is the victory that the Tarot Chariot symbolizes. All your enemies have been defeated, all your intentions have come true, nothing stands in the way of success. The Chariot level is another level where it is tempting to stay. After all, you have not only found peace with yourself, but you have overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your ultimate goal. In fact, what you have achieved is important enough to seem like the goal you are striving for, or at least the goal that was worth striving for. It is very difficult to convince yourself that if you continue searching, you can achieve even more.

Type of person in the upright position: soldier; leader; head of a company; employer; lucky person.

Type of person in the inverted position: a person who uses his position or gets a lot through «connection»; a person «walking over corpses»; a fraud; a bribe-taker; a coward.

Psychological meaning of the Chariot (Carriage, Charioteer) Arcana: you are overflowing with energy, desire for action, craving for something new. You have taken on some unfamiliar task. You need something fresh, extraordinary, and this is wonderful! So let this stage of your journey through life become the discovery of a new world for you. But remember that the Chariot is rushing fast, and the road is full of sharp turns and deep potholes. Trust your wisdom to rule the Chariot, but leave room for feelings in it, for without them it will not be able to maintain Balance and will turn over. Use the chance that life gives you and do not reject anything just because it seems unfamiliar and unusual to you — after all, right now you can achieve success in all aspects, including material ones.

The Chariot signifies your significant leap forward. It shows that you have broken away from the circle of your previous interests and taken a new path. This is driven by the desire for freedom, ambition, the search for a lost paradise, or simply the thirst for self-realization. The Chariot is the only card in the Tarot deck that connects such an impulse with a feeling of joy and self-confidence.

In all other cases, parting with the old is associated with fear and heaviness in the soul. But here — courage, curiosity — a person rushes forward, seeking to apply his strength and not being afraid to take risks. The card symbolizes strength and dexterity (control of the Chariot), but also inexperience (a journey to unknown lands). Therefore, it should be perceived as a warning — do not overestimate your strength, do not be too self-confident and do not allow yourself to be «dizzy from success.» It is best to realize in time how much you still have to learn.

Sources:

1. N. Drewry «Tarot. A Step-by-Step Guide to Studying»
2. E. Kolesov «The ABCs of Tarot»
3. A. Khshanovska «The Magic of Tarot»
4. Author unknown «Basic Information for Reading Tarot Cards»
5. H. Banzhaf «The Tarot Self-Study Guide»
6. Anthony Lewis «Tarot Made Simple and Clear»

Did you like the article? Share it on social networks or give it a plus.

When copying information, please leave a link to the article and a few kind words in the comments =)