The Chariot Card in the Rider Waite Smith deck of Tarot Cards is rich in colour and symbolism. These are important because they can add extra depth and meaning to your readings.
Colours
Yellow is a prominent colour in this card, with the background being Yellow and also the wheels of the Chariot.
This the colour of the 3rd Chakra, which is the Solar Plexus, and which is our personal power source. It is colour that is about the self and how we relate to ourselves and to the world around us.
Symbols
The Sphynxs are contrasting and complementing black and white. They represent duality, positive and negative, male and female, extrovert and introvert, night and day. Both need to be present for the whole to function properly.
The sphynxs have no reins to control or direct them which means that the driver has to lead and control them with the power and force of his or her mind.
That means that he or she needs to be absolutely clear on the direction that he or she wishes to go in and to be totally in control because otherwise the sphynxs, or the opposing forces will go off in their own directions and the chariot will either not move at all or go round in circles.
There is the same theme that was seen in the Lovers and the Hierophant of one large figure presiding over two smaller ones. The driver of the Chariot is holding together the tow opposing forces represented by the sphynxs, in order to create and third and stronger power.
The symbol we see on front of the chariot that looks like a nut and bolt, is called a lingam and yoni, representing the Hindu figures of Shiva (masculine principle) and Parvati (feminine principle) united together into a single figure.
Many of the symbols we find in the Chariot card can also be seen in previous cards, and it could be said the driver of the Chariot has mastered all the elements indicate by those cards.
The wand is similar to the one we found in Magician for creating and manifesting. The driver is well aware of the power of that he or she can direct through the Wand, as it is needed, and so seems to be holding it quite lightly.
The stars of the crown remind us of the stars in the Empress card.
There is a veil behind him which reminds us of the veil between the conscious and the unconscious that we find in the High Priestess card. The veil is firmly fixed into the back of the Chariot, which would suggest that the driver is well aware of both the conscious and unconscious and the respective power of each. He or she has them in their right place, with neither having greater power than the other.
The faces on the shoulders of the figure are called "Urin and Thummim" and were the supposed shoulder plates of the High Priest in Jerusalem.
The Chariot card has many small details and each of them has an important purpose. Nothing is there by accident.
This is especially important if your eye suddenly falls on a detail in the card that you maybe have not noticed before or jumps out at you. That detail may have an important message for you.
Amanda Goldston
Tarot Author and Coach
© 2009 Amanda Goldston
Amanda Goldston is the author of Develop Your Intuition Through Tarot Book, a speaker and Tarot Coach. She has been reading Tarot cards for over 16 years and has helped 1000s of people to make the best choices for themselves.
She now teaches others to read the cards for themselves for fun, profit and personal growth. For details of Tarot books and courses from Amanda Goldston, please visit her website at:
http://www.LearnTarotOnline.com
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