The Chariot (Major Arcana card 7) is a card about triumph
over adversity. It is the last frontier the young Fool must conquer in order to
ascend to the higher levels of mental, emotional and spiritual growth. The
Chariot is all about success on the earthly – or physical - plane.
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| The Chariot - Anna K Tarot |
Up until he hit the Lovers card, the Fool has had the
protection and guidance of spiritual and earthly teachers as he began his
journey through this life. He first met the Magician, and learned about
personal power. He then met the High Priestess and Empress, where he worked on
developing his intuition and creative skills. With the Emperor and Hierophant,
he learned about structure and order, and how to use his talents to affect
positive changes in his life and the world around him. It is safe to say, that
the Fool was pretty protected as he gained familiarity about the workings of
the earth.
That all changed when he encountered the experiences
identified through the Lovers card. It is at this juncture that he came in
contact with others who were at similar points in their journeys. He
experienced love, choices, challenges and disappointments. This is where he
began to internalize the far-reaching consequences of the decisions he has made.
To equate this to a “real-life” situation, this section of
the Fool’s journey would be similar to a very young adult, getting ready to
assert his or her independence in the world. The choices they have made in
their interactions with others and themselves have consequences – both good and
bad. Up until the Lovers card, they have had the structured guidance of the
preceding four major arcana. If they followed that advice – or if they didn’t
follow that advice – they are feeling the effects of this now.
This leads us to the Chariot. The Chariot represents the
efforts of that same young adult to make his or her way in this world. The
individual is using all his or her experiences and talents in order to move
toward a goal. There will be obstacles for sure. Some are self-imposed from
previous choices. Additional obstacles will come into play because of choices
yet-to-be-made by themselves and others.
The Chariot represents the determination of the spirit to
overcome these challenges and reach one’s goals. Depending on where the Chariot
shows up in a spread, its presence could herald a successful outcome. However,
regardless of where you find it, the Chariot does indicate successful forward
motion despite hardship.
The images on the card usually depict a lone charioteer
attempting to control two animals that are pulling in opposite directions. He
maintains a look of steely determination and does not remove his eyes from his
goal. This image symbolizes the constant pull of opposites within the spirit of
man. It can represent simpler concepts like youthful desires versus age-related
responsibilities. It can be more complex and suggest an inner struggle between
virtue and vice. Or it can represent deeper desires of dreams versus the
harshness of reality.
Regardless of the specific struggle the Chariot represents, the
true beauty of this card can be found in the underlying message about the
strength of the human spirit. When this card shows up in a spread, it is a
reminder about the importance of fighting the “Good Fight,” even in the face of
overwhelming adversity. Sometimes the lesson of the Chariot is really about the
triumph of the spirit to survive and thrive when enmeshed in an environment
that appears on the surface to only want to destroy it.
