The Chariot
Major Arcana · VII
- determination
- willpower
- victory
- control
- lack of direction
- aggression
- scattered effort
- obstacles
In the picture
An armoured charioteer stands in a canopied chariot, holding a wand but no reins. Two sphinxes, one black and one white, sit in front of the chariot, with a walled city behind.
Upright meaning
The Chariot is forward motion won through will. It shows opposing forces (the black and white sphinxes) held together by focus rather than force. The card favours discipline, confidence and pushing on toward a clear goal; success comes from keeping control of yourself.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the chariot pulls in two directions at once. Plans stall, tempers flare, or you push so hard that things go off course. Take a moment to decide where you are actually going before trying to go faster.
About the Major Arcana
The 22 Major Arcana are the trump cards of the deck, numbered 0 to 21 from The Fool to The World. Read in order they tell the story of a journey, and in a reading they tend to point to big themes and turning points rather than day-to-day events.
