The Chariot from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, Thoth Tarot deck and Tarot Illuminati by Eric C. Dunne
The Chariot is a beautiful card and one of my favourites when I see it come up in readings for myself.
It tells me that no matter how challenging something might seem, I have the power within me to overcome that challenge!
It won’t necessarily be easy and the road might even be bumpy, but with focus, will and determination I will triumph.
It’s important to realize that the obstacles you need to overcome are just as often within your own mind as they are any obvious external obstacles.
Sometimes, if you’re lucky enough to have one of those intuitive “aha” moments that comes unbidden, you’ll see the connection between your inner thoughts and outer experience.
The Chariot tarot card meaning can also be quite literal at times! Depending upon the cards surrounding it, it could even mean a trip or journey, usually by car or train.
Car or train is a particular meaning to me because The Chariot travels by land. I’ve assigned air travel to other cards such as 8 of Wands, and boats would be 6 of Swords. But again, it depends upon surrounding cards, the question AND any intuitive or psychic impressions that may come in.
Affirmation: I love this very descriptive and accurate title from the Tarot Illuminati guidebook by Kim Huggens. She calls The Chariot tarot card “the soul extended in action.”
Some Keywords for The Chariot Tarot Card
keywords: triumph over challenges and obstacles, drive, determination, focus, will, can literally mean travel or a car, staying calm in the midst of movement
shadow keywords if reversed or surrounded by negative cards: inconsistent focus and direction, being controlled by circumstances, staying stuck in comfort zone, loss of control, being overly passive
The Chariot: Focus and Determination
In order to have focus and overcome difficulties, we can’t go too fast or we might tip our chariot over or run out of steam. As in the affirmation above, The Chariot is symbolic of our soul.
If we go too slowly however, we won’t be able to harness the full power of our dynamic will. Dynamic will is symbolized by the creatures pulling your chariot.
In both cases, it’s fear that’s holding us back. In the first instance, fear of not getting what we want makes us to go too fast.
In the second approach, it’s fear of making mistakes that keeps us overly cautious.
So how do we adjust for the correct speed? When we need to maintain control and focus, having clear goals can help. Defined goals means writing them down. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Connect your goals to your values. What’s important to you in life? Don’t overthink this, but do give it some reflection if you haven’t already done so.
Tarot Yoga
In my opinion and experience, Tarot is a yoga. Not “hatha” yoga like you see in yoga studios, but yoga as in raja, karma or jnana yogas. Yoga is a sanskrit word that translates as “union” or “yoke.”
The yogi harnesses the power of the Universal through yoga (meditation and other practices).
In other parts of the world, similar systems have existed. Systems such as magic or mysticism have been in the western part of the world, but much was lost with the inquisitions and superstitions of the middle ages.
If you’re open to the idea that Tarot is yoga, The Chariot can be meditated on to connect with your powers of manifesting.
We’ll get into some details about that later. But first, we need to lay some groundwork.
Note: Everyone knows that tarot can be used for divination. But what is divination other than connecting with more universal forces that resonate beyond your own habitual thought patterns?
The Chariot Tarot Card & Ego
Life is interesting in that our egoic minds are programmed to be dualistic. To function well in our environments, we need to know the difference between hot and cold, open and shut, loud and soft, etc.
We need these polarities in order to make sense of things in the time-space continuum where we experience our lives.
When you were 2 years old, your mind was much more undifferentiated. In fact, if you looked at yourself in a mirror, you wouldn’t realize that the face you saw was your own.
This goes back to the idea of the Garden of Eden in The Lovers tarot card meaning. How so?
We go from a state of undifferentiated bliss (The Garden) to one of intense struggle (ego and conditioned self) to a freedom that both transcends and includes the previous two stages.
This freedom is only possible when identification with the conditioned self is seen through and let go of.
The thing is, we need to have clear boundaries and a strong sense of ego in order to take the next step and go beyond it.
On a deep level, this is the meaning of The Chariot.
Having the drive and determination to travel through the conditioned self to freedom FROM the conditioned self - but still having the knowledge and memory of the conditioned self.
Note: the strong sense of ego and clear boundaries are symbolized by the golden armour of the charioteer in the RWS deck.
However, gold is also a softer metal. You don’t want to be too hard and rigid!
How To Adjust For The Correct Speed of The Chariot?
I’m going to answer that a bit later. This is where symbols come in. The kind of subject matter we’re discussing is ultimately beyond where thought can go.
It’s helpful to have intellectual understanding as that’s part of the ego development stage and building a healthy sense of self; but we need symbols to bridge our human mind with Divine Mind.
Note: the paradox (another deeper meaning of The Chariot tarot card as you’ll see) here is that a healthy ego can only exist when there’s a connection with Awareness or Presence.
In other words, the microcosm (individual ego) and the macrocosm ( the Universal).
“The best things can’t be told.” - Heinrich Zimmer
Legendary scholar on Indian art and mythology, Heinrich Zimmer believed that symbols weren’t just dead concepts. They are living forces that are on a deeper level and they express powerful truths about life and Spiritual Realities.
This is the power of Tarot!
Sure, in a tarot reading for a client, we don’t need to get caught up in every symbol or detail in order to deliver the messages.
In fact, that can slow us down.
It’s different when a symbol or detail in the card’s imagery jumps out at us and really grabs our attention! There’s a message there.
But here, we’re discussing some of the deeper possibilities in Tarot. A way to take us deeper into mind and the latent powers that are still sleeping there. Tarot yoga as I suggested.
Look at the 3 versions of The Chariot tarot card below and then you can skip down to read more.
The Chariot card from RWS tarot deck, Thoth tarot deck, Tarot Illuminati by Eric C. Dunne
1. The first symbol I want to point out is that The Chariot itself is a symbol for our soul crossing the “sea of conditioned existence.”
It’s also a symbol for our soul moving about appropriately in the world we know using dynamic will and focused intent.
Utimately, these 2 worlds of Spirit and seeming 3D material world are one and the same. This is so important to realize, at least intellectually.
If you don’t accept that right now, that’s ok too. In fact, as I’m sure you know, you don’t want to accept things just because others have said so. Just be open to it as a possibility for now.
Here’s a way to think of it. It’s like a tapered candle. The base of the candle is thicker. This is the material world vibrations. The higher up the candle you go, the thinner it gets and the higher the vibrations.
The very tip, coincidentally where the flame is, is God. If you know me, you know that I always make sure to point out that God is a word and a concept that can mean different things to different people.
This goes back to the truth that the Totality of Life cannot be put into words and is the reason why we’re looking at the symbols.
2. The second symbol I want to point out is the stillness. The Chariot in both the RWS and Thoth tarot decks are not moving!
This is pointing out that our essential nature is peace and stillness. Awake and aware, but perfectly still.
Notice that in the Thoth version there is a chakra or wheel that is spinning. This is cool because it symbolizes movement and stillness as being polarities that are connected.
In order to triumph over problems, you need to start by finding stillness within. Only then will right action more readily flow outward.
In the The Chariot card from the Tarot Illuminati, there appears to be lots of movement, but the charioteer is still, calm and confident.
It’s interesting to note that in the RWS and Thoth Chariot cards, the charioteer is not holding the reins. He’s directing his chariot by will and focus alone.
3. I learned about this from Hajo Banzhaf in his excellent book, Tarot and the Journey of the Hero. He shows how in the RWS version of The Chariot, the two sphinxes are like the non-dual symbol of the Tao.
They each have the other contained within. The white sphinx has black stripes and the black sphinx has white stripes.
As one of my favourite spiritual teachers, Lama Govinda says, Life happens between the poles. I like to take his explanation and say it’s like how a battery works.
4. The charioteer from the RWS deck has a star where his crown chakra would be and a square in the middle of his chest. There’s also a canopy of stars above him.
Rachel Pollack points out in The New Tarot Handbook that when the 21 cards of the major arcana are laid out in 3 rows of 7 cards, you’ll get The Chariot, Temperance and The World lined up in a column. See pics below.
The charioteer in The Chariot card has a square on his chest, the angel in Temperance has a square with a triangle within it symbolizing the divine within the earthly, and the dancer in The World card is dancing inside of an egg shaped wreath.
Some other symbols present in The Chariot (RWS version) are the wand from The Magician, the crescent moons reminding us of The High Priestess, The canopy with the star connects to The Empress, and the concrete block is similar to what we see in The Emperor.
The charioteer is also above 2 other characters (the 2 sphinxes) in a triangular shape just like in The Lovers and The Hierophant tarot cards.
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Answer To Adjusting The Correct Speed of The Chariot in Tarot
These symbols show how we must align our personal will with Divine Will in order to make any real progress both in the world and in our spiritual growth.
Actually, all of the above symbols imply that our personal will must be aligned with Divine Will in order to overcome obstacles.
In other words, we need to use our personal will but stay connected to awareness in the present moment in order to allow for progress.
It’s not about forcing progress or holding ourselves back out of fear.
When we trust and have faith in our Higher Power (or whatever word you want to use for Universal Intelligence) we receive intuitive guidance and spontaneous insights that helps us move forward.
It’s a synthesis of the polarities of our personal drive and the Totality of Life.
In other words, going for it by taking determined action and allowing for the outcome to be what it will be.
This isn’t set it and forget it! Just like riding a bike or driving a car, we need to continually adjust as we go.
“When the consciousness is kept on God, you will have no fears; every obstacle will then be overcome by courage and faith.” - Swami Vivekananda
Addiction To Outcomes
If you’re addicted to a particular outcome, it probably won’t happen because too much energy is being drained and wasted by holding on so tightly.
And even if somehow it did manifest, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your success. That’s because your senses would be dulled just as if they were a knife that you used to try to hack down a tree.
We need to have desire. It’s inherent in our makeup. It’s the element of fire and it’s in our souls. But we also need to have some distance from our desire or else we get burned!
How do you know you’re addicted to the outcome?
This takes rigorous self honesty, but the answer is simple.
If you believe that you cannot possibly be happy unless you get that specific outcome (a lover, a job, a house, car, fame, fortune, whatever), you’re addicted.
The Chariot Tarot Card To The Rescue
The Chariot shows us how to get free, remember?
Not only does it show us how to get free, but it shows us how to achieve our worthy goals and ambitions.
There can be many reasons why a specific outcome is eluding you.
It could be something you have control over. Maybe you need to tap into more focused will and determination with your chariot.
But if you’re addicted to the outcome, you need to really look at why you’re suffering by not having what you need to live effectively and express more fully.
Have compassion as you look at how you may have been using your mind; or, has your mind been using you?
Sometimes we need to go through trials in order to grow. It’s alchemy. Kind of like how a crystal is formed deep within the bowels of the earth.
To me, this is another reason why The Chariot tarot card in the RWS has a crown and in the Thoth tarot deck has golden armour.
As long as you stay connected to your Higher Self, you will be free from being addicted to the outcome.
Next time you notice you’re holding on to something really tightly in mind, notice that there’s an unconscious fear that if you relax your grip, you won’t be able to have what you want.
If you observe this tendency with clear awareness, not judging it, just looking at it head on, you’ll begin to see this is not true.
You’ll begin to have more trust that maybe your Higher Self knows what’s best for you more than you do.
The Chariot card can also arrive in a tarot reading when you’re being put on notice that challenges are coming; but you have the drive and determination to lead you to victory!
In order to do so, you may be required to expand beyond your normal comfort zone.
The best way to do this according to modern psychology and coaching methods, is to take one small step beyond your comfort zone.
The Chariot is the ultimate symbol of being in flow and in the zone.
Develop the discipline to act on it for 21 days in a row. Enough time to give it a chance to take hold and build momentum. Make sure it’s small! If it’s too big, you may not stick with it and you’ll feel discouraged.
Once you master this small step beyond your usual comfort zone, add a bit more weight so to speak. Make a commitment to mastering this new level for a few weeks and then if you want, you can add more.
This is how you build your confidence.
When you have confidence, you have more energy and determination available to take action.
In other words, you have more energy and growing skill to drive your chariot to where you want it to go!
Summary For Tarot’s The Chariot
- The Chariot is a time you need to use determination, focus and will to overcome obstacles
- This may be a time when challenges are present and you need to go beyond your usual comfort zone
- The challenges are often not only external, but in your own mind
- The Chariot gives a very clear lesson that in order to overcome, you need to let go of the outcome
- the key to your success is “yoga” or “magic.” Connecting with the Divine in order to drive forward. If you feel like this is beyond your current experience, do your best to have faith and believe until you know the Divine is present in your life.
Note: The Divine is a word I’m using here to point at That which cannot be put into words. “The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao.” Thanks for reading and leave me a comment below to let me know your thoughts!
I also created a YouTube video on The Chariot tarot card that you might enjoy. It's not exactly the same as this article, so check it out.