“Veni, vidi, vici”
”I came, I saw, I conquered”
-Julius Caesar

Victory, discipline, determination, control, action, success,momentum, travel

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Overview

Swift movement racing toward victory

Swift movement, change, and action is The Chariot’s Domain. It is the pulling of opposing forces, in one constructive direction to create a conquering force. Channeling your Yin and Yang into a formidable force. An adversary would quiver at the power of your will once you commit your intentions to your unwavering actions, while they expect you to flinch.

Symbolism

A yellow sky meets kingdom walls, trees planted within a field leads to a chariot. Two sphinxes are seated at the front of this carriage, one is black and white and the other is white and black.  The Charioteer is in armor, decorated in hieroglyphs with a belt adorned with astrological signs. Pulling the reigns, he pulls the opposing forces into the same direction towards his goal. The stars gracing his crown is the faith in the universe to bring him to his victory, for the will is within

Meaning

Determination

Determination and swift movement come in the wake of The Chariot; stagnancy and boredom are its enemy. The power of the universe flows through your veins and drips off your brown like the sweat from anticipation on your skin. The full force of your will is behind this situation. Feel the victory in the air, just out of your reach.

Swift Victory

Winning big or about to, this card will show up. Before you are obstacles to be conquered, and they’ll be extinguished before the morning light. If you are overwhelmed by these obstacles, find the power in pressure. Push forward, failing here is unlikely. If there is something you’ve been thinking about doing, put all your power behind you and defeat won’t be an option

Travel, Vehicles, modes of Transportation

The Chariot can also indicate travel, or modes of transportation. A chariot is a lot like a vehicle, and thus has taken the persona of one. Depending on the cards around the chariot can indicate whether you’ll benefit, or not from travel.

Influence on the Suits

During a reading, pay attention to the majority of the cards that are present. Depending on the number of Tarot cards of each suite, the meaning of the card can take a different shape

With a lot of cups in a reading with The Chariot Your emotional situation is developing chaotically quick, but you have never been so dedicated or involved in anything before; you are excited and invested.

Wands with The Chariot indicates something on this material plane is something you are inspired to fight for. When your energies become low, look to this for your second wind.

With Pentacles surrounding The Chariot , things are moving quickly in your career, making leaps and bounds to where you desire to be materially. Victory is at hand.

If Swords dominate a reading with The Chariot you are urged to calm your thoughts and focus on one adversity at a time. This is not a big-picture job. Battles have to be won before you win the war.

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The Chariot Reversed

He who Conquers himself is the mightiest warrior 
– Confucius

loss of control, direction, or willpower. Overwhelmed, Stuck, pulled in too many directions, internal conflict, lack of focus, or external obstacles

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In the Reversed position, you can turn the meaning of The Chariot upside down and inside out, or it can be perceived as something else. Reversed cards can be read a few different ways. If you want to know the source of the concept of why this card is defined the way it is, check out the article “Reading Reversals” in Chapter 6 of this knowledge base.

If you simply want to know the reason and not the method of deciphering, here are some possible ways to read the card in reversed.

Blockages, obstacles and oppositions

There are a lot of obstacles and oppositions on the path you’re on. It’s causing a complete stalemate between you and the end-game. There maybe a lack of focus, or you are going after the wrong objective. Everything has gone to hell in a hand basket.

Your ‘victory’ is a constantly evolving, breathing monster at this point. With each new facet and feature being added to your big picture, the victory get’s farther away. Cut the goal up into smaller, easier to chew pieces. Don’t choke up when the going gets tough just because your idea of completion has too many pieces.

Trouble relocating

If you are eyeing a major move to grow new roots, the Chariot Reversed can indicate trouble relocating. This can be a miscalculation of funds, or choosing a new home without a thorough inspection of the foundation. Regardless, something will cause a hang up in you digging your toes into the hollow ground of a new place to call home.

Car Troubles

Just like The Chariot upright can indicate all forms of transportation, in the reversed it can indicate trouble with all forms of transportation. This could be as simple as a check engine light illuminating, to as severely as an accident that leaves you without your car for some time until you can find the funding for repairs.

Travel plans Abolished

A well planned trip could end up in calamity. From winter storms delaying your flight, to a complete cancellation— there could be something that makes your next trip completely abolished, or in the very least, unpleasant.

This could also be that certain parties involved in the travel plans are the cause for the cancellation. Whether you’re going to a family members house who you end up having a falling out with. The meaning of this card in reversed is ultimately that your travel will cancelled or you’ll be postponed prior to reaching your destination.

Chaotic war path

Your take no prisoner mentality is going to leave you lonely at the finish line. Consider if you’re trying to win at all cost and whether or not that cost is actually worth it. This is especially true if the Five of Swords is in the same reading.

Inconsistent energy / drive / ambition

One day you are absolutely driven to meet the end of the journey, and other days you are unmotivated to take another step. It’s better the seek advice from Temperance and move an inch at a time, than to take a foot just to lose a mile.

Imbalance in Shadow integration

The Sphinx’s in The Chariot Card end up on the top when you flip it over. This can be seen as the integration of your shadow and light, or your anima and animus. There is an imbalance in this integration, which could be illuminating or surfacing your toxic traits.

Choice that causes more chaos than peace

There a decision you are tempted to make which could send you into a tail spin. This is a cautionary card saying to think about the repercussions of the action you’re about take. Are you willing to pull yourself out of a death spiral? Or will you make the choice that allows you to avoid it all together

Take time, organize, balance, and align

Ultimately, the advice of the Chariot reversed is to slow down and take a deep breath. Organize yourself, your plans and your thoughts moving forward. While you can charge forward to victory, it maybe with too much haste leaving a pile of bodies in your wake. It’s better to strike hard, and accurately than it is to blow the face off your ambition with a bird shot.