From Prairie
The Chariot is the last card in the first septenary. The laurel & star crown indicate the highest attainment of man in spiritual evolution. The number 7 is the sacred number, also indicating spiritual attainment. The fool has learned to know himself and to share himself with another. He is now in full control of himself, his Chariot.
The canopy of 6-pointed stars represent the celestial inflluences at work in this card. The crescent moons on the man's shoulders are outward facing to refer to the formative world. The symbols on his tunic are alchemical symbols, representing the spiritual transformation of man. The square is earth, a sign of strength of will. On the chariot, itself, are wings representing inspiration & the Hindu sign of the union of positive & negative. The black & white sphinxes have the same meaning. The pillars of the High Priestess have recreated themselves in the sphinxes.
You'll notice the Charioteer holds no reins, just the wand from the Magician card. He controls through strength of will in the same way the Magician does. The city is behind him, indicating he has turned his back on civilization & materialism, to seek spiritual matters.
The Fool, having mastered his self, and learned to share himself with others, is now ready to face the world, and learn from his environment.
EXERCISE:
Where are you going right now? Is there a situation in your life that you are not sure where it is headed? This exercise will help determine the answers to these questions.
Pick the Chariot out of the deck and lay it on the table. Take a minute to study the symbols on the card. Ask the Chariot to help you answer these questions.
Shuffle the deck in your usual manner. Cut the deck, then lay out 7 cards in a horseshoe shape, with the Chariot in the middle of the horseshoe. The open end of the horseshoe should be upwards, so the spread looks like a cup holding the Chariot inside.
Card 1 (upper left corner): This card tells you the beginning of your path. Sometimes, this card will surprise you. What we may think of as the beginning of our path may just a step on the way, and the actual beginning may be much farther back.
Card 2 (just to the left of the Chariot): This card tells you who or what in the past has helped you on your journey thus far. Again, this card may surprise you. You may have received help from some unexpected places!
Card 3 (lower left corner): This card shows you some of the hidden influences that are at work "behind the scenes". This card may show you someone or some situation right now that is hindering your progress. Examine this card carefully.
Card 4 (at the bottom of the horseshoe): This card shows you where you are right now in your journey. Is this where you thought you were?
Card 5 (lower right corner): This card shows you the influences that are working right now to help you. Again, examine this card carefully. Is this the situation you expected to see in this position?
Card 6 (to the right of the Chariot): This card shows you who or what will further help you or hinder you on your journey at some point in the future.
Card 7 (upper right corner): This card is the final outcome. It shows you the end of the journey. This answers the questions, "Where will I end up? What is the final destination of this journey?"
Now that you know a little bit about where you are going and how you are getting there, sit down and make a plan. Start with a goal and think of concrete steps to get you there. Where are you going to be next week? Next month? Next year? Keep this in your Tarot journal and refer back to it often.
From Lynell:
Chariot Exercise:
Where are you going right now? Is there a situation in your life that you are not sure where it is headed?
I guess the situation for me would be a creative project that I am working on. Sometimes I feel as if I'm floundering, looking for more direction. I make some progress, then get hung up.
For the reading, I used the Sacred Rose Tarot. In the deck, the Chariot is driven my a young man holding a golden rod which he points forward. His head is surrounded by stars and a white diamond shape. The sphinxes pulling the Chariot are active, restless to move on. They remind me of the sled dogs up here who are always so eager to start the mushing race.
Card 1: Beginning
2 of Pentacles: "A man and woman lean against each other for support. Each holds a pentacle, which has an unusual energy flow illustrated as a figure eight. This card signifies partnerships working with the proper energy flow of a support system. Change and new projects require harmonious energies. Mood swings may threaten the stability of the project."
Well, that sounds pretty apropos. The mood swings are probably mine. The couple is my husband and I. He is very supportive of my work. And the other partnerships could refer to my sister and the email groups that I belong to. They all keep me inspired and motivated.
Card 2: Past help
The Wheel of Fortune: "Before the watchful eyes of the sphinx, the Wheel of Fortune turns at the edge of the cosmos. The wheel represents agitation and interaction of time, space, and thought. ... The Wheel of Fortune is purple to signify power and intuition, green to suggest nature and fertility, blue for the intellect and the impossible, and pink to indicate emotions and sacrifice."
I think help in the past came when I was able to integrate the qualities mentioned above. At those times, life "flowed" freely. Being adaptable and open also helped. But much of my help probably came from good fortune and the blessings that the Universe bestowed upon me. For the times that I used those blessings and gifts wisely, I succeeded. If I fought the forces in my life (negative emotions, fear of possibilities, etc.), then I did not prosper.
Card 3: Hidden influences
The Lovers: "Beneath the angel Raphael, a young man embraces two feminine figures representing Eve and Lilith. ... The young man is solar nature. He must choose between two aspects of lunar nature. On his right side is the figure of virtue whose left hand reaches out to the cosmos, decisive and active, signifying a sense of purpose and the struggle for divine womanhood. By contrast, Lilith recoils from the cosmos. She rejects the possible union of two opposites which, in reality, is inherent in all people. ... However, as an independent woman, Lilith holds great strength of will. Thus the young man must choose between the two figures or seek to utilize a combination of the qualities inherent in both figures."
Hmm, sounds like some of the same thoughts I had about the Wheel, but with more emphasis on conscious choice and personal accountability. Lilith is an interesting character. Why does she recoil from the cosmos, from union? I believe she is afraid that she will lose her individuality, her sense of self. I think the way to "redeem" Lilith is to recognize her strength and powerful nature, to give expression to that force. But it needs to be balanced with Eve's connection to the whole of life - the holistic approach. Wow, a pretty tough paradox to solve. I'm tempted to say that Lilith is the problem, but I think that the key is not to eliminate either one of the lunar energies, but to combine them in a focused, but holistic way. Not easy.
Card 4: Now
3 of Wands: "A man stands majestically before us. He holds three wands, two in his right hand and one in his left. A halo of inspiration encompasses his head. The figure lays claim to his success. Endeavors are realized; undertakings are accomplished."
This tells me that I need to be aware of the opportunities I have right now. I am able to devote a lot of time to my project - something I have not been able to do for much of my life. I have a supportive husband and the resources to sustain my work. I am in a very strong position right now and should not lose sight of this.
Card 5: Current influences
Page of Cups: "The pages represent messages or messengers, the heralds of news. They can signify people or a state of mind or an identifying characteristic of an individual or situation. ... The energies that they represent concern the reason behind an event, and their duty is to announce or be an effective instrument of information. ... The Page of Cups ... signifies a meditative, loyal, spiritual and sensitive person who will be helpful. A reflective situation. News or knowledge of art or culture is brought."
I've drawn a lot of pages lately. This page, I believe, refers to the Tarot and to the reflection it adds to my life. I use the tarot as a tool for contemplation and inspiration for writing. It is central to the project that I am working on since I am also trying to design my own deck. As a messenger, it presents itself as an oracle - the "effective instrument of information." The tarot groups that I belong to are also part of these messages.
Card 6: Future help
The Fool: "The Fool's hat with its red and purple balls suggests the power that results from the combination of creative passion and spiritual development. The red shirt reveals his love of adventure and the purple britches indicate power inherent in movement. The Fool passes through the kabalistic Tree of Life and he is our guide into the eternal mysteries of the Major Arcana. ... Childlike enthusiasm. Great expectations. The cosmic journey despite earthly pitfalls and obstacles."
My guide on the journey ... being led by a fool? Isn't that like the blind leading the blind? I think this is implying that a sense of trust and optimism is needed for the work ahead. Enjoy the process and don't obsess on the end results.
Card 7: Final outcome
10 of Pentacles: "Out of the sky comes a radiant cornucopia. Ten pentacles are part of its bounty. This card signifies material completion, abundance, security, real estate, ancestry, inheritance and a good retirement."
Goodness, what more could a girl want! If this is the promised final outcome, I think I can deal with Lilith and the Sphinx. Now, if the Fool can just keep reminding me to be optimistic and not so serious!
Best Wishes,
Lynell
