The Chariot

Keywords & Phrases:
Diligence. Willpower. Honesty. Perseverance. Control over feelings and thoughts. Being pulled in two directions. Learning to stick to the right path. Being successful. Determination to win at all costs. Wanting victory. High adventure and taking risks. Being in the driver's seat. Mental and physical journeys. Travel. Victory. Triumph. Conquest. Displaying oneself. Progress. Clear purpose. Single-mindedness. Ambition. Mastery. Energy to fight for a goal. Great effort. Achievement. The drive for success. Sense of purpose. Victory resulting from personal effort. Victory over the instincts. Successfully controlling some situation through the force of your personality. Confidence, optimism, and faith in your own abilities. Reaching your goal.

Summary:
The Chariot reveals that strong motivation and self-will are the key to progress. This card is all about confidence, healthy ego, and self-belief. Either you will have the self-assurance and spirit to get what you want, or you will meet someone who represents this archetypal phase in your life. You have now reached a point where you can stand up for your own beliefs and make decisions based on what you want rather than what other people assume is right for you.

This card exemplifies the hero's journey and represents ambition, determination, and youthful energy. Its charioteer harnesses his power and talents and forges ahead, driven by a burning desire to succeed. The charioteer succeeds through a combination of self-discipline, bravado, and sheer willpower. This is the "go for it" card and its purpose is to inspire you to test what you have learned and to prove your abilities. Unlike the Fool, the individual who drives the Chariot knows the reason for his journey. Through purposeful action, you achieve your goals.

To control his chariot and the opposing forces of the black and white sphinxes that pull it, the charioteer needs to have self-assurance, self-control, and self-discipline. But although he may take responsibility for his chosen path and have the tenacity to stay that course, he also has a tendency to run roughshod over whoever or whatever gets in his way.

The Chariot suggests a need to stay centered and take control of competing forces to carry on. You are capable of a calm sense of command, provided you steer a middle course between conflicting thoughts. feelings, and wishes. At the same time you may feel unable to speed up the outcome, so the best course of action is to go with the flow of the forces you have set in motion. You may find yourself struggling to assert yourself because you need to resolve a set of conflicting interests. You will be able to stay on course after making a firm resolution. Your strategy should be to move forward with determination and a clear sense of purpose. You will conquer your difficulties and emerge victorious.

The Chariot is a complex dance of control. What makes it go? And who, really, is in charge?

Even after achieving success, our mind must not be distracted from the goal for which we fought.

I am Eos, the Greek goddess of the dawn. Climb into my chariot. I take you away from darkness and I illuminate the path. A dark night ends, a bright day begins.

Questions:
What inner struggle needs resolution? Are there past issues that I need to consider and resolve before charging ahead? What mask are you presenting to the world? What emotional reactions are you hiding? What contradictions and tensions are you struggling to maintain control over? Where have you experienced a recent victory or success in your life? What progress are you making in testing your abilities in the world?