The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning
In all tarot decks I own this is a card is about movement. My card above indicates movement on the chariot pulled by the two horses. It is about what is coming next and action in your life. When this appears in my readings it means that now is an excellent time in your life to consider what you can do to cut back.
Rather than thinking of your journey as one vacation, the chariot usually indicates something a tad more active, a journey of the spiritual sense or even one for work and finance. Whatever struggle you are going through in your life right now, do not worry that it is going to be all for nothing. The Chariot assures you that you are definitely going places!
This is a card of exploration and expansion that guides you on a journey that you are about to take or one that you may possibly be started on already. It is not an easy ride as a chariot is not a modern vehicle of comfort. It is a time to think about getting back to the basics, lessening your load, and simplifying your life before you engage on the road ahead.
The Chariot has symbolism present is often interpreted as balancing out opposite forces. There is much duality in the colors of the card which state that you need to make sure that you are rationing out your efforts at this time. Pulling ahead too quickly will fatigue you and you will become too tired to complete your task. Approaching your challenges with a slow or delayed speed will cause you to not reach your intended destination.
Also depicted in the card is the rider on top of an enclosed carriage. We can only view the top half of the rider, and he is ready for battle. He is prepared for challenges that lie ahead. The colors are rich in symbolism reflecting thought and emotion. While this is a card of action, often that action is an internal struggle. It is either a battle of wills or a personal dragon that must be slayed. Whatever it is that you are facing right now, the Chariot says, “Don’t stop. Don’t give up.”
As you persevere and move forward on your path you will engage in many obstacles. These hurdles that you encounter are ones that you will learn from. You are about to receive a life lesson of sorts and while you may feel that you are going through a rough patch understand that it is through experience that we all learn.
The Chariot in Love
Often a card that comes up after a relationship has ended or during an exceptionally difficult time, the Chariot reminds you that this too shall pass. Things are being set in motion regarding matters of the heart and what you feel right now is only a temporary hurdle. You need to strengthen your resolve and protect your emotions. You are likely to find that you either want to run from your relationship or that you already feel alone.
The Chariot as Love Reconciliation
Love is a journey towards our destiny. Pause because I want to say this, this card promises reconciliation in its chariot - a cycle of love and redemption. Those wheels of fire lead us forward in learning that understanding leads to reconciliation with one another. The other individual is saying, "I see you and I understand." It is a never ending journey of becoming more awake and purposeful in this never ending chorus of love and conflict. We must run to our future together with open hearts for the world to stand in oneness and harmony.
The Chariot As Feelings
For some people it means a struggle between the mind and some shadow side of life. A cancer card, the Chariot means "moving on" The two horses also are pulling in two directions which also means indecision. But one person is still undecided. But there's one thing - the reins are in one person's hand. This card may mean moving on and working on someone else. I fear it is a bad card for love.
The Chariot in Health
In Health the Chariot says that you have a long road ahead of you. Often it can represent health issues of the feet and issues with diabetes or digestion. Overall health shows that you are strong enough for a journey ahead and while there can be standard health issues associated with the card, rarely is it a sign of a deeper concern. The Chariot is an omen of vitality and youth.
The Chariot in Work, Money, Business, Career, and Wealth
In the way of work, most often the Chariot is seen when one is seeking a change in a job either due to unemployment or stagnation of a current career. It signifies that it is a great time to explore options of expansion and promotion. You also may find when this card is present that work will require unexpected travel that will also come with prestige and increased revenue. Strictly financially speaking, the Chariot says you need to hold on to your money and it is a time of saving. While the work front may be offering more opportunities, do not forget that this is a card talking about a journey beginning. There are likely unexpected expenses coming your way that you need to be prepared for.
The Chariot As A person
As a person the Chariot to me, always represents the qualities of great power, independence and will power at its very best. This card as a person shows us we are going to evolve, learn how to use spiritual energy, how our choices can build momentum - how to twist into a path of strength, determination and finally progress. The Chariot is more than a card: It's a person! it's a reminder of strength and happiness found in just following your own path.
The Chariot In the Past Position
To draw this card in the past means that a period of crazy is over. It often means in my readings stress is coming to an end. That got you where you are now. The past Chariot is basically proof that things have stopped being so demanding. Just proof you never gave up when it got tough.
The Chariot In The Present Position
You've done the hard bit already. So that is what that card is telling you. That got you where you are now, something in your past, whether it was a decision or a push, that was it. You may not even realize how far you came because you were moving too quickly recently. In my view, the past Chariot is basically proof. Just proof you never gave up when it got tough. And hey - whatever it is that you have to face right now, you already proved you are able to handle it. You have done it before, you just forgot. Things right now may seem sped up and that is my honest reading of the present chariot position.
The Chariot In The Future Position
Drawing this card for the future in my readings mean real action and movement. The Chariot in the future position always means it is time. It could be a trip, a new chapter, a situation which picks you up and takes you somewhere you have not been before. Not that you have to have everything worked out yet. The card isn't telling you to stop everything . For me, it means that your foundation is laid - even if it does not feel like it now. Get ready to move!
The Chariot As Friendship Or Family
It's a good sign when the Chariot shows up in a family or friendship reading. That means whatever this group has gone through together maybe even arguments, rough patches, messy moments but in my view... nothing has broken the bond. You move together, not necessarily at the same speed, not necessarily in complete agreement (as we all have family conflict at some stage), but you're going in the same direction and no one gets left behind. That is more rare than people think.
The Chariot Yes or No
The Chariot “Yes or No” in my view is a “maybe” this is because it’s sitting between two opposites. The Chariot is about movement and determination but it also has that pulling of two forces. So, in my readings I try to read both situations or outcomes for the client. There is still something to decide or act on before the answer is clear. If you have a question or two to weigh in on, this card is telling you to pick a lanes.
![The Chariot Reversed]()
The Chariot in the Reversed Position
The Chariot in the reversed position is showing that what you are doing in your life right is as about as effective as trying to make a horse run backwards. You need to take a look at your life and see in what ways you are trying to move mountains when you should be going around them and what aspects of your life are pulling you down. The movement of the Chariot card is still present but if you are fighting against it you are likely to find that resistance is futile. Life will continue to move forward with or without you.
Love and Romance - The Chariot Reversed
Love and romance readings that draw the reversed Chariot can often feel like a carriage being pulled in two different directions: the ghosting, swiping left on Tinder, or becoming blocked by darkness. The Chariot reversed is a reminder that with love and romance we sometimes need for this to just be paused; just as the horses pulling the reins in my card, we at times turn away from our destination.
Family and Home - The Chariot Reversed
When the Chariot is reversed it can represent a lack of direction when it comes to family and home, which can be a difficult situation to face. Knowing what is important and understanding one's worth are keys to sorting out any conflict. A sense of security and belonging can help guide us while providing a foundation of strength, courage, and understanding.
Work and Finances - The Chariot Reversed
The Chariot Reversed is a warning about taking care of work. When I draw the Chariot reversed for such readings, it can mean ambition has taken us too far down the wrong path, normally away from values. I also think it encourages you to think about where things are heading. Are you going in the right direction? If not, make any necessary adjustments now before it’s too late.
Health and Wellness - The Chariot Reversed
The chariot reversed is a reminder of how essential it is to nurture our physical and emotional wellbeing. It encourages us to slow down and take the time to really listen to yourself. The reversed Chariot's is saying please, just slow down, examine what's really getting you down. This is practical and not dramatic.
Personal Spirituality - The Chariot Reversed
I think that if the Chariot reversed is in a spread then for you personally in terms of your spiritual life it is all about a growing spiritual awareness. It represents that first step, the key journey - the courage, the determination and the commitment required to achieve anything worthwhile. A moral compass allows us to proceed with courage.
In personal spirituality one is reminded of one's own inner voice reminding us of our purpose so that whatever life throws our way we are able to face each difficult problem head on.
In my view, the Chariot is a powerful card, and it can represent many things in a reading. Love, reconciliation, friendship, family - all of these are represented by the cats looking at the chariot in my tarot cards. Chariots can also represent strife or conflict, but I must admit that they can also be positive. The Chariot may represent some problems in one's life when reversed.