"Having passed through the crossroads of love and choice, The Fool now stands before the gates of a brilliant city."
There, a young warrior rides a massive stone chariot. He wears a laurel wreath and armor adorned with crescent moons on his shoulders. He holds nothing in his hands, yet he guides the chariot with only his powerful willpower.
The chariot is pulled by a pair of sphinxes, one black and one white. The two sphinxes face different directions, but the chariot moves straight ahead. Behind him are the city walls from which he departed, and in front, the city he is set to conquer.
This young warrior is The Chariot (Card 7). He is a conqueror who overcomes all obstacles with firm willpower to seize victory. The Birth of the Chariot: The Incarnation of Will and Control
If The Lovers card symbolized the dilemma of choice, The Chariot card symbolizes the power and will to put that choice into action. In The Fool's journey, The Chariot shows the moment when The Fool races toward his goal.
All the wisdom and experience he has learned from The Magician, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, and The Lovers now become the fuel that drives this chariot.
The driver of the chariot holds no reins in his hands. He harmoniously guides two opposing forces (the black and white sphinxes) towards his goal using only his inner will and control.
The Chariot card is a being that declares to you, "Rush toward your goal with unshakeable will. All obstacles are under your control." The Symbols in the Picture: The Language of Victory and Momentum
The Chariot card in the Rider-Waite deck is full of symbols that showcase his powerful will and victory.
Black and White Sphinxes: The two sphinxes pulling the chariot symbolize the dualities of this world, such as good/evil, success/failure, and inner desires/outer rules. Though the two sphinxes face different directions, the chariot's driver harmoniously controls these two forces and moves in the right direction.
Crescent Moon Shoulder Plates: The crescent moons on the chariot's shoulders symbolize feminine energy, emotions, and intuition. This shows that the chariot moves not only with masculine power (forward motion) but also with subtle emotional control.
Laurel Wreath: The laurel wreath worn by the chariot's driver symbolizes victory and success. It hints that his journey is already a guaranteed path to triumph.
City Walls: The city walls behind the chariot and the one in front symbolize the 'past space he has left' and the 'future space he will conquer.' This shows that he has left his past behind and is moving toward a new goal.
Stars on the Canopy: The stars on the chariot's canopy signify celestial protection and the promise of success. If You Encounter The Chariot in a Reading?
If The Chariot card appears in your Tarot reading, it means that you have powerful momentum and the potential for victory in your life.
Triumph and Success: It hints at a positive outcome for your question. Your powerful will is what will ultimately help you achieve your goal.
Control and Momentum: It means that powerful energy has entered your life. Now is not the time to hesitate. Move toward your goal with confidence.
Overcoming Obstacles: It tells you that the difficulties in front of you can be overcome with your will and control. If you manage your inner conflicts (the two sphinxes) well, you can achieve the desired result.
The Chariot tells you, "Do not be afraid, but move forward with control." His presence awakens the strong willpower and momentum that are latent within all of us. Now, if you encounter The Chariot card, borrow his courage and race toward your own victory.