Learning the Tarot Cards: VII - The Chariot

 

The Major Arcana Deck: The Chariot

Number VII
Fate, soul development and perfection
Mystery, intuition, evaluation  
Safety, security, effort, and successful completion

Arcana
Major deck (signals cycle in life and represents key time)

Element
Water

Planet
Moon

Card Meaning
Control of direction - fate, path
Will power, drive
Self-protection, security

Key Symbols

Chariot (the personality which carries one through life - a human journey through life, the human body’s transitory nature as it is affected by mundane life forces)
Horses (life-force, the Cosmos, black and white - a symbol of opposing forces that the charioteer needs to learn to control. The task is to guide both horses in one direction, towards a destination - one that is marked by the cosmic forces that the charioteer represents). Unity, balance, and synthesis
Wheel/s (energy of circular motion in the Cosmos, rotation, movement, revolution, cycle/s of existence, cause and effect of continual rhythm)
Crescent Moons on armour (cyclic phases, divine light, mediation, reflection, imagination, instinct, and intuition)
Crown - royal leader (highest faculty in the human and highest attainment of man in the spiritual evolution, enlightened, purity of will)
Sun emblazoned on chest (denotes spiritual guidance – inspiration and navigation, blessing, and the grounding of actions in the material world) 
Wand/Sceptre (direction, intensity, purification, authority, triumph, and success)

Colours
White and Black – duality, positive and negative and, at times, opposing forces (white: purity of motive, virtue), (black: void/opposite/contradictory, i.e., conflict external and internal struggle of mind and emotion)
Deep Blue (balanced spiritual understanding, expansion, and success) 
Gold (the “cosmic mind,” universal union, understanding and intuitive abilities)
Green/Brown (nature accord, support, material plane, grounding energy) 
Orange - akin to the Sun (strength, courage, inspiration, success)

Affirmation: “I take the reins in my hands and move forward with clarity, poise, and confidence.

 "I stay resolute and trusting. I am connected and protected knowing I will reach my destination - I am going in the right direction.

The Chariot generally appears in a reading to encourage us to focus our attention. The engagement of will power is required to overcome the irregular forces of the mind and emotions. We are also reminded we need to muster up the confidence and energy to meet our goals to stay the course (we on the right path). To assume a position of control, to lead, not follow. Represented are direction, tenacity, focus, and instinct. Self-control (particularly when deciding on a new direction) and effort mark the ultimate success.