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The Chariot, Rider-Waite-Smith
Major arcana

The Chariot

The Chariot moves forward through concentration and held direction. It makes forces that pull apart live together to produce a single movement.

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What the card shows

The Chariot shows a driver standing, a staff in his hand, and two sphinxes harnessed, one black and one white. No rein links his hand to the two beasts.

Its light

A held direction gathers forces that pull apart. Driving without reins asks for constant attention, and that hold is what produces the movement.

Its shadow

Advance gets confused with display. Going fast says nothing about accuracy, and a tense driver wears out his team instead of steering it.

Keywords

directiondeterminationprogressmasteryambition

Notes on the symbolism

RWS. Arcana VII. The Chariot receives from Colman Smith a canopy sown with stars and a fortified city in the background, which the older deck ignored.

What this card invites you to do

Choose your course before you speed up. Look at the two forces pulling you, give them the same direction, then check that nothing comes loose.

A card does not decide for you.
It shows you where to look.

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