Image: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain/CC0)
TL;DR: According to The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), Waite writes that The Chariot means succor, providence, war, triumph, presumption, vengeance, trouble; reversed, it means riot, quarrel, dispute, litigation, defeat. In modern Tarot reading, the upright card is often understood as determination and victory through willpower, while the reversed card is losing direction and lack of control. Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: choose a clear goal, keep a steady daily rhythm, and avoid making big decisions when emotions are unsettled.
Where does The Chariot sit in the Major Arcana?
The Chariot carries the number 7 in the Major Arcana, standing after The Lovers (number 6) and before Strength (number 8). It is one of the 22 Major Arcana cards of the standard Tarot deck. This position places the Chariot in the middle stage of The Fool's journey, after the lessons of connection and choice have been lived through.
What does the Rider-Waite-Smith Chariot card depict?
The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was printed in 1909, with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith, based on the ideas of A. E. Waite. The description of the card in Waite's book The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) is as follows: a figure standing upright, regal in bearing, holding a drawn sword; on the shoulder of the conquering hero are Urim and Thummim. Two sphinxes draw his chariot. This is Waite's description in the 1911 book, not the description of any modern author.
What is the divinatory meaning of The Chariot according to Waite 1911?
Waite writes in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) that The Chariot is a symbol of succour and providence; it is also war, triumph, presumption, vengeance, and trouble. Reversed, Waite lists: riot, quarrel, dispute, litigation, defeat. Waite also states that he has led captivity captive, and that it is conquest on all planes: in the mind, in science, in progress, in certain trials of initiation. He is triumph in the mind over all things. Waite notes three further points: (a) the question of the sphinxes relates to a Mystery of Nature, not of the world of Grace, which the charioteer cannot answer; (b) his planes of conquest are outward or manifest, not within himself; (c) the liberation he brings may leave him himself in an unliberated state. These meanings of Waite's often differ from the meanings common today.
In present-day Tarot reading, what does The Chariot mean?
In present-day Tarot reading, The Chariot upright is usually understood as determination, victory through will. Reversed, the card is usually understood as losing direction, lack of control. Common keywords include determination, will, victory. This is the practical draw meaning used by Nhật Nguyệt, not the divinatory meaning Waite set out in his 1911 book.
In Nhật Nguyệt's understanding, what does The Chariot say?
In Nhật Nguyệt's understanding, The Chariot is the image of taking the reins of your own life through will and awareness. The card suggests harmonising opposing forces within yourself instead of letting them pull in two directions. This is Nhật Nguyệt's understanding, not Waite's words and not the standard divinatory meaning of any school.
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: at work, set one clear goal for this week and pour your effort into it rather than spreading yourself thin. In love, look again at whether you want to control or to walk alongside. On finances, avoid big decisions while your emotions are unsettled. On health, keeping a steady daily rhythm may help your mind feel more stable.
How are the symbols on The Chariot card understood?
According to Waite's description in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), on the shoulder of the conquering hero are Urim and Thummim, and two sphinxes draw the chariot. Waite states that he accepts Éliphas Lévi's variant in the detail of the two sphinxes drawing the chariot. He also states that the question of the sphinxes belongs to a Mystery of Nature, not to the world of Grace. Other details such as the eight-spoked wheel, the star-covered canopy, and the letter V symbol on the chariot are explanations commonly found in modern Tarot books, and are not part of Waite's 1911 description.
Quick reference table: the Chariot upright and reversed
| Aspect | Content |
|---|---|
| Deck | Major Arcana |
| Order number | 7 |
| Main keywords | determination, will, victory |
| Meaning upright | Determination, victory through will. |
| Meaning reversed | Losing direction, lack of control. |
How does The Chariot combine with other cards?
The combinations below are reference readings in the modern direction, not the divinatory meaning Waite set out in his 1911 book:
- The Chariot + The Fool: A bold new beginning, needing courage and determination to move forward.
- The Chariot + The Tower: A sudden change may break the plan, demanding quick adaptation.
- The Chariot + The World: An excellent completion of a cycle, achieving great success after much effort.
- The Chariot + Two of Wands: Planning strategy for the future, decisive in choosing a direction.
Can this card predict the future?
No. Tarot is a tool for reflection and orientation, not for predicting the future with certainty. The meanings above are only reference understandings, and should not be used to assert any specific outcome in life.
Overview article on the topic: Tarot Basics: The 78 Cards and the Meanings of the Major/Minor Arcana
