The Chariot in brief
In the Rider-Waite tradition, The Chariot stands for willpower, determination and control, the drive that carries a person past obstacles toward a goal. Modern readers often take it as encouragement to act with focus and confidence, while the reversed card points to a loss of direction, scattered effort or force that has turned into aggression.
The charioteer is above all things triumph in the mind. The card is linked to The Lovers before it: decisions made there in line with one’s values are now being put into action.
The card’s picture
The charioteer is an erect and princely figure carrying a drawn sword. On his shoulders are the Urim and Thummim, and he represents conquest on all planes, in the mind, in science, in progress and in trials of initiation. Two sphinxes draw his chariot, a variation Waite accepted from Eliphas Levi. In older packs, the car was once drawn by white horses, and the card is really the King in his triumph.
The charioteer’s conquests are outward, not within himself, and if he stood before The High Priestess he could not open her scroll.
Modern guides describe the scene in more detail. The crescent moons on his armor represent what is coming into being, the square on his tunic represents strength of will, and the laurel and star crown represent victory. He holds no reins and steers by will alone, while the black and white sphinxes pull in opposite directions. The starry canopy above him represents a celestial influence, and the two sphinxes represent opposing forces he must learn to control.
Upright meaning
The divinatory meanings of the upright Chariot are succor and providence, and also war, triumph, presumption, vengeance and trouble.
The upright card represents overcoming challenges and gaining victory through control, with strength and willpower as the keys. The upright card also calls for keeping focus, confidence and determination through a process full of turns and detours, and pursuing a plan in a structured, ordered way. Competition may bring out an aggressive side, which is useful for taking charge but in need of reining in.
The Chariot is a card of willpower, determination and strength, and offers encouragement to stay on course when pulled in opposite directions. The Chariot also represents a call to be bold and courageous, to state desires and set boundaries, and in a literal sense represents travel, especially a road trip.
Reversed meaning
The reversed Chariot represents riot, quarrel, dispute, litigation and defeat.
The reversed card represents either a lack of focus, motivation or direction, or an obsession with goals that needs reining in. The reversed card also serves as a reminder that not everything can be controlled, and represents a sense of being pulled about by opposing forces.
The reversed Chariot is a sign to back off or change direction when a push is going nowhere, and to ask what lesson the difficulty holds. The reversed Chariot also represents a time for inner work on discipline and commitment before acting, and serves as a prompt to loosen the grip when trying to control every detail.
The Chariot in love
In love, the upright Chariot represents a time to take the wheel, get clear on what is wanted and act on it with confidence and courage. The card also represents a need to balance two urges, such as work and a relationship, so that neither suffers.
Reversed, the card represents an overwhelming drive to find love that crowds out other goals, and serves as a reminder that patience matters too. The reversed card also represents life out of balance, which can sit at the root of disagreements with a partner.
The Chariot in career
For work, the upright Chariot represents strong ambition and motivation, with a clear sense of the destination and the discipline to reach it. The upright Chariot also favors going after a new role or a more senior position, and offers advice to stay clear of office politics.
Reversed, the card represents either too little ambition and drive or too much, and asks how forceful a person is being in pursuit of goals. The reversed card is a prompt to find a balanced middle ground between passivity and aggression.
The Chariot and money
The upright Chariot in money questions represents motivation, focus and determination to deal with obstacles that have stood in the way of stability.
Reversed, the card represents rushing into purchases without thinking them through, or, the other way, hesitating and wavering over decisions.
The Chariot as feelings
As feelings, the upright Chariot represents drive and commitment: someone sees the potential in a connection and is ready to take charge of the challenges. The upright Chariot also represents one’s own surge of confidence and motivation.
Reversed, the Chariot represents confusion and a lack of direction, with feelings that make it hard to commit or speak clearly. The reversed card also represents one’s own loss of control or purpose, and serves as a prompt to step back and reassess what truly drives a person.
Questions to reflect on
- What goal is worth steady, focused effort right now?
- Which two forces in life are pulling in different directions?
- Is the push forward still working, or is it time to change course?
- Where would loosening control help more than tightening it?