The Lovers taught The Fool to choose. The Chariot now teaches him to move forward with that choice — to harness the opposing forces within and around him and direct them toward a single destination. Victory requires will. And will requires direction.
When I lay The Chariot I feel the tension in it — the two sphinxes pulling in different directions, the charioteer holding them both steady through sheer force of concentrated will. This is not a card of easy progress. It is a card of victory that has been fought for.
The Chariot represents your life choices. Will you choose wisely and follow the right course? It is drawn by two sphinxes — one black, one white — indicating a choice needs to be made. Material matters now stabilise. Focus on how you want the story to end.
The Chariot Upright
- Victory
- Determination
- Willpower
- Control
- Direction
- Triumph
- Loss of control
- Aggression without direction
- Scattered energy
- Defeat
- Powerlessness
The Charioteer does not hold his sphinxes with reins. He holds them with will alone — with the concentrated intention of someone who knows exactly where they are going and will not allow the opposing forces of circumstance, doubt or distraction to deviate the course.
The Golden Dawn title is Lord of the Triumph of Light — and triumph, this card teaches, is not given. It is taken through the sustained application of directed will. Cancer rules this card, which might seem unexpected for such an assertive energy. But Cancer's strength is exactly this: the capacity to protect what it loves with ferocious determination.
When The Chariot appears it signals a period of movement after a period of decision — the forward momentum that follows genuine commitment. Move. Do not allow the opposing forces to slow you. You know the direction.
The Chariot Reversed
Reversed, The Chariot suggests that opposing forces are pulling in directions that cannot be resolved — that the will is scattered, the direction is unclear, or aggression is being applied without the wisdom to direct it effectively. There may be a loss of control, or the illusion of control that is actually rigidity.
The Chariot in Love
In love The Chariot speaks to pursuing what you want with determination and confidence — not waiting for love to arrive, but moving toward it with clear intention. In existing relationships it can indicate a period of renewed forward momentum after a period of stagnation.
The Chariot in Career
In career The Chariot is one of the most powerful cards for professional momentum — a period of rapid, directed progress, competitive success or the breakthrough of a project that has been building for some time. Hold the course. The destination is within reach.
If The Chariot has come up and you are being asked to move forward through tension rather than around it, a real reading can help you see what you are actually steering toward, and what part of you is pulling against the reins.
The Chariot is a decisive yes — victory through directed will and the determination not to be slowed by opposing forces.
What Is The Chariot Saying to You?
The Major Arcana speaks to the deeper forces at work in a life. A reading with one of our readers explores what The Chariot is pointing toward in your specific situation right now.
Readings from £30 for 20 minutes. 18+ only. For entertainment purposes. Bill payer's permission required. T&Cs apply. SP: InverOak. Customer services: 0330 201 9600.