Tarot Cards Meanings - Major Arcana - The Chariot - meaning in detail
The Chariot (Le Chariot) - tarot card meaning in detail
The Child of the Powers of the Waters; The Lord of the Triumph of Light
Card Number: 7
Key Number: 18
Rulership: Cancer
Hebrew Letter: Cheth
Translation: Fenced or Enclosed Field
Numerical Value: 12
Astrological Associations: Sagittarius
Full Meaning
The Chariot is a card about overcoming conflicts and moving forward in a positive direction. These conflicts could be internal or external. Internally it is a case of ridding yourself from your demons if you have any. Externally it is a case of managing any conflicting circumstances, people or events and turning everything to your advantage. The chariot is there to help speed you onwards and upwards and this is a good card to have in your spread. It can be symbolic of drive, motivation, determination and is linked to providing the tools necessary for you to win.
In a practical sense it sometimes foretells of a journey by car. However it must be stressed that although the victory may have already been won or is about to be won; this is only the start of the journey and you will need to conserve your energy for what may lie ahead. However the Chariot is generally a good omen and you must put all of your efforts into making your dreams come true.
Traditional Symbolism
The sun shines in the zenith, and beneath is a great winged figure with arms extended, pouring down influences. In the foreground are two human figures, male and female, unveiled before each other, as if Adam and Eve when they first occupied the paradise of the earthly body. Behind the man is the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is behind the woman; the serpent is twining round it. The figures suggest youth, virginity, innocence and love before it is contaminated by gross material desire. This is in all simplicity the card of human love, here exhibited as part of the way, the truth and the life. It replaces, by recourse to first principles, the old card of marriage, which I have described previously, and the later follies which depicted man between vice and virtue. In a very high sense, the card is a mystery of the Covenant and Sabbath.
The suggestion in respect of the woman is that she signifies that attraction towards the sensitive life which carries within it the idea of the Fall of Man, but she is rather the working of a Secret Law of Providence than a willing and conscious temptress. It is through her imputed lapse that man shall arise ultimately, and only by her can he complete himself. The card is therefore in its way another intimation concerning the great mystery of womanhood. The old meanings fall to pieces of necessity with the old pictures, but even as interpretations of the latter, some of them were of the order of commonplace and others were false in symbolism.
The Chariot Card illustration.
The Major Arcana suit.
