VII - The Chariot

Description:

The Charioteer sits in a gray cube, wearing a helmet covering his face.  The helmet is blue and purple at the top, with gold bars across the face, the face concealed in blackness.  He wears a gold shirt with brown short sleeves.  On the shirt at the center of his chest is a diamond shape, with a cross within.  Under the diamond shape are 2 snakes, their heads meeting in the center.  Under the snakes is a circle with the letters “V.T”.  The Charioteer’s hands are open and raised forward, as if manipulating unseen forces. 

Above the Charioteer’s head are 1 black star and 3 white stars vertically arranged on a light blue column, each star slightly larger than the one below it.  Both to the right and left of these stars are golden globes that rest on a purple crescent. 

To the Chariot’s right is a dark column, and to the left is a light column.  At the tops and bottoms of each column are wheels with 8 spokes.  At the midpoint of both columns is the astrological symbol for Cancer.  At the top of both columns are purple and blue wavy vertical lines.  The columns rest on a brown base. 

Sitting at the base of the Chariot’s cube are a dark sphinx on the right and a light sphinx on the left.  At the bottom center of the cube are 4 adjacent triangles, representing the alchemical symbols of earth, air, fire, and water. Within the water triangle is the Hebrew letter Cheth.  At the center of the four triangles is a diamond shape, and within the diamond is a spiraling circle. 

The background behind the Chariot is white at the top, turning to red starting at the chest level of the Charioteer.  The perimeter color on the sides and bottom of the card are dark green and brown.

Symbology:

The cube of the Chariot is the transformed table of the Magus.  The gold helmet and mask covering the head of the Charioteer suggests that one must move through darkness in order to experience the light.  The path of the Chariot on the Tree of Life between Binah and Geburah is reflected in the blue visor (Binah, the Eternal Mother) and the armored mask (Geburah, Severity and Destruction). 

The letters “V.T” on his chest stand for the Hebrew letter Tav, which is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet and also attributed to the last Key (XXI: The Universe).  Tav is the completion of all things, and the Chariot represent the beginning movement towards that end.

The Chariot represents achieved balance, indicated by the diamond and cross on his chest, by the four alchemical elements and diamond at the base of the Chariot, by the dark and light sphinxes before him, by the double Suns and Moons above him, and by the dark and light pillars beside him.  The Charioteer is in control, directing the Chariot with invisible reigns. 

The dark and light pillars represent the Pillar of Severity and Pillar of Mercy on the Tree of Life.  The wheels at the top and bottom of the pillars and the sign of Cancer in the middle of the pillars indicate balanced motion. 

Divinatory Meaning:
(from "Tarot of the Spirit" companion book, by Pamela Eakins) 

• Negative past influences may be affecting the present without due cause

• It is time to clear out, see clearly, begin with new energy, take responsibility for your present condition

• It is time to move beyond the past

• Seek deep meanings within yourself

• Standards of action must emerge from within yourself in order to guarantee lasting results

• Act on the basis of your own deep internal messages

• An important message is coming to you

• Pay attention to internal nudges

Personal Reflections:

The Chariot is the vehicle representing expression of the spirit through the manifestation of the body.  We are spirit made flesh, and the Chariot is the medium in which the individual personality can grow and express itself.  The Chariot moves through the direction and force of the Creative Will. 

The Hebrew letter attributed to the Chariot is Cheth, which means “field” or “fence”.  Fences define and enclose one’s field of focus, yet to grow one must break through the limiting fences and experience new fields of perception.  The Chariot represents the force of the personal will backed by attunement with the cosmic will to go though those fences, to travel to new fields of perception, activity, and growth.