The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning Willpower and Control

The Chariot in an Upright Position

In Tarot Reading, The Chariot represents the need for willpower, determination, and self-discipline to continue progressing on life’s journey. While past successes may have led to moments of celebration, the querent is reminded that victory is not the final destination—there are still challenges ahead.

Recognizing both constructive and destructive forces is essential in order to avoid setbacks and maintain momentum. This Tarot Card Meaning suggests that navigating life’s obstacles requires control, focus, and the ability to adapt.

The Chariot’s symbolism in Tarot Cards highlights the balance between opposing energies. The hero depicted in this card has learned to harness his talents and is now tasked with using them to create something tangible in the real world. Being the master of one’s own destiny allows the querent to explore new opportunities while maintaining control over personal direction.

However, in Tarot Cards Prediction, this card may also indicate conflict between individuals in the querent’s life. They may find themselves caught in the middle of a dispute or pressured to take sides. The message here is to stay focused on the path ahead and avoid unnecessary drama, as getting too involved in external struggles could derail progress and lead to unnecessary complications.

The Chariot in Tarot Reading and Life Decisions

The presence of The Chariot in a Tarot Reading can also indicate internal conflict. The querent may be experiencing opposing emotions or indecisiveness about a particular situation, much like the chariot’s horses pulling in different directions. Finding balance and clarity is key to moving forward with confidence.

On a more literal level, this Tarot Card Meaning can relate to vehicles and travel. The querent may be considering purchasing a car, upgrading their current vehicle, or handling necessary repairs. The Chariot’s association with movement also suggests career transitions, job changes, or opportunities that involve travel.

In Tarot Cards Prediction, this card serves as a powerful reminder to harness both light and dark energies in order to achieve success. Just as planning a road trip requires carefully considering different routes, the querent is encouraged to evaluate all possible choices and make decisions based on strategy and practicality. With the right mindset, victory is within reach—but only if they remain focused, adaptable, and in control of their own destiny.

The Chariot in a Reversed Position

When the querent encounters the chariot in a reversed position, they will see that the chariot is overturned and the warrior has fallen on his head. This shows that the two opposing forces he has harnessed have collided with something or struggled against each other and upset his cart. This also means that the contents he is carrying with him: his talents, energy, achievements, and so forth have been spilled out and onto the road.

He may be wasting his talents or have a false sense of success. Whatever the case, there is an indication that the querent may not have been honest with themselves about their progress on a specific matter. He may be spread to thin and unable to direct his energy towards one task at a time. The querent may also find that when The Chariot is reversed in a spread,  there may be an unwarranted reward coming his way, something that hasn’t really been earned.

There may also be some sensationalized accolades that are blown out of proportion more for the photo-op, figurative and literal, than the querent’s deserving behaviour or heroic actions.

There could be drama headed his way in the form of a scandal of sorts, or the querent may find that this is true from someone in their inner circles. There is a definite collapse of will power here, showing that addiction issues and other problems that are helped by will power are coming back into full swing, there may be relapse, but the cards around this will need to be evaluated for their meanings in order to determine that.

The Chariot also shows indecisiveness and uncontrollable emotions regarding choices. This is very much like the horses, or sphinxes, pulling the cart and having a power struggle. The querent has choices but is unable to determine if he should go with what he wants or what is right, making a reversed Chariot all the more unnerving. Someone may be practising hedonism, and living in excess where it will develop into destructive behaviour and overturned opportunities that very much resemble the upside down cart in the reversed depiction.

Symbolism and History of the Chariot

The card of the Chariot shows a warrior in full dress piloting a chariot. He is positioned behind two sphinxes of opposing colours. The dark principle represented by the black sphinx is suitably placed in the left corner while the white and pure sphinx lays to the right on the ‘good side’. The figure in the chariot can be likened to a Roman Warrior sent on a conquest. Some tarot decks do not use the imagery of the sphinx but instead use two horses to signify opposing forces at play. The warrior in the chariot is highly decorated, which denotes an honourable individual who has experienced achievement or success on his journey.

The Chariot is numbered as Card 7 in the Major Arcana and embodies the Fool’s battle with himself after his work has been done and he has mastered all of the other elements and obstacles in his path.

He wears his accomplishments on his sleeve as he arrives in the next town in full dress. Prideful and his own man, the fool can now choose which fork in the road to take. His only block would be if unseen opposing forces pulled him off track and upset his chariot. The past struggles of his journey are behind him and the road is seemingly clear ahead, so he is full of bravado and may appear a little cocky in his flamboyant dress, but this warrior is capable of many great things with his connection to his higher self and the divine to guide him and help him to choose what is right.