The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning

When The Chariot appears in your tarot reading, it signals victory through willpower, focused determination, and the ability to balance opposing forces to achieve your goals.

The Chariot Keywords

Upright

Victory, willpower, determination, control, focused action

Skip to Upright meaning

Reversed

Lack of direction, losing control, scattered energy, inner conflict, stalled progress

Skip to Reversed meaning

The Chariot - Meaning and Symbolism

The card of victory, determination, and controlled forward movement.

The Chariot shows a figure standing tall in a chariot pulled by two sphinxes or horses, often black and white, symbolizing opposing forces. These may represent action and stillness, will and instinct, or conscious and unconscious drives. The charioteer directs the vehicle through sheer willpower, focus, and inner alignment. Behind him is a city, representing the familiar or past. He’s moving forward, away from what’s known, toward a new destination. His armor suggests protection and readiness for challenges. Often, stars or a canopy above his head indicate divine guidance.

This card appears when you're being asked to take the reins of your life by committing to a clear path and holding steady. It reminds you that mastery comes from aligning your will with your purpose. It often shows up after a period of doubt or internal tug-of-war. You're being invited to stop wavering and move. Momentum is on your side, but only if you stay focused.

Upright The Chariot Meaning

The Chariot upright represents focused movement and choosing your direction with intention. This card shows up when you’re ready to step out of indecision and into action, but the action isn’t chaotic or rushed. It’s strategic. You know where you're going, and you’re willing to do what it takes to get there, even if it requires effort or sacrifice. The opposing forces (often symbolized by two different-colored animals or sphinxes) suggest you’ve been pulled in different directions, desire vs. fear, instinct vs. logic, self-doubt vs. confidence. This card is about self-mastery. You might not be able to control the world around you, but you can control how you respond, what you pursue, and how committed you are to your own growth. It’s also a card of momentum, especially after a period of stagnation.

Upright keywords

Love Meaning

Committed love, Breaking blocks, Chosen partner, Love in action, Relationship focus

Career Meaning

Aligned success, Focused drive, Career win, Strategic move, Professional rise

Finances Meaning

Money momentum, Clear goals, Resource power, Wealth building, Financial clarity

Soul Searching Meaning

Inner victory, Self-mastery, Growth path, Focused truth, Conscious control

Manifestation Meaning

Desire in motion, Focused creation, Aligned will, Energy directed, Results achieved

Love (Upright)

In love, the Chariot upright represents this tension that often shows up as conflicting desires. Movement happens only when the inner forces are aligned. In your love life, things are no longer moving on autopilot. The Chariot indicates that a turning point has arrived, one where you must actively decide what direction you're taking and stick to it with full presence. If you're in a relationship, this means addressing avoidance or passivity and initiating forward movement. If you're dating, this card is a clear indicator that clarity of intent, your own and the other person’s, must take precedence over wishful thinking.

Career (Upright)

In a career reading, the upright Chariot symbolizes directed effort under pressure. The charioteer is armored and balanced, commanding movement without outside force, a reflection of inner discipline. You are in a phase where focused effort will yield clear, external results if and only if you apply steady, self-directed action. This is not a time to multitask or fragment your energy. If you’ve been pulled in too many directions, saying yes to everything, losing track of the big picture, The Chariot tells you to consolidate and eliminate distractions.

Finances (Upright)

The Chariot upright in finance represents disciplined movement toward a goal. This symbolizes the ability to direct income, savings, or investments with control and vision. Your financial life is asking for active leadership. You’re not in a crisis, but you are in a moment where your next decisions will either solidify or undermine your progress. This card signals that consistent, intentional steps are what will move you forward. You may need to make sacrifices or tighten boundaries, but the reward is gaining actual control over your financial reality.

Soul Searching (Upright)

The upright Chariot in soul searching represents internal mastery. The opposing sphinxes represent inner division, instinct versus intellect, trauma versus growth, ego versus essence. This is a time of real inner strengthening. You are moving from being emotionally reactive to becoming someone who responds with awareness and clarity. That might mean staying committed to a practice even when it feels inconvenient. The Chariot here tells you that your inner growth is showing up in how you act and how you return to center when things shake you. You are learning how to lead your own life from the inside out.

Manifestation (Upright)

The Chariot card upright in manifestation represents energy moving in one direction, without split focus or internal contradiction. The absence of reins signals that physical force is not the tool, clarity, emotion, and intention are. You’re in a high-potency moment where your actions and intentions are shaping results. Manifestation here is about ensuring that everything in you is moving in the same direction. If your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are aligned with the result you want, you will start to see progress. But if you’re visualizing one thing while acting on fear, the process will stall.

Affirmation

I have the willpower and determination to overcome any obstacle and achieve my goals.

Let's now explore The Chariot reversed meaning across these same life areas.

Reversed The Chariot Meaning

When The Chariot is reversed, the image of controlled forward motion is turned upside down. The once-upright figure of willpower and mastery now suggests misalignment, avoidance, or force without clarity. The armor becomes restrictive rather than protective. The Chariot reversed points to a situation where your energy is either scattered or being pushed in ways that don’t serve you. This could show up as burnout from over-efforting or chasing goals that aren’t aligned. You may be reacting instead of leading, responding to external pressure, distraction, or emotional chaos instead of acting from grounded choice.

This card doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’ve lost direction, or that you're trying to force progress from a fragmented place. The reversed Chariot asks you to pause and check: what are you actually moving toward? It’s time to step back, realign your actions with your deeper intent, and get honest about what needs to stop before you can move forward again.

Reversed keywords

Love Meaning

Emotional chaos, Conflicting needs, No clear direction, Control struggles, Unstable connection

Career Meaning

Misaligned ambition, Stalled progress, Workplace friction, Scattered goals, Overwhelm at work

Finances Meaning

Reactive spending, No money plan, Financial overwhelm, Disordered priorities, Loss of control

Soul Searching Meaning

Inner fragmentation, Emotional confusion, Avoiding the work, Lost sense of self, Unstable inner ground

Manifestation Meaning

Scattered vision, Unclear intention, Mixed signals, Energetic misfire, No traction

Love (Reversed)

Reversed, The Chariot in a love reading reveals emotional disorientation. The sphinxes pull in opposite directions, showing a loss of internal alignment in matters of the heart. Your love life feels unsettled because something within you lacks coherence. You may be switching between attachment and avoidance or trying to “make it work” with someone who doesn’t match your deeper values. The effort to steer love through control, fantasy, or fear is backfiring. Focus on identifying what you actually want. Until your heart, body, and boundaries are aligned, the path forward will remain tangled.

Career (Reversed)

The Chariot reversed in career shows ambition without grounding. Instead of strategic momentum, you’re spinning the wheels. Your career energy is stretched thin. You may be trying to do too much or pursuing goals that aren’t actually yours. When you move forward without anchoring into what matters most, the result is exhaustion and stagnation, not growth. This card urges you to pull back and reassess. What are you actually working toward? Where are your efforts going, and what results are they producing? If your work life feels chaotic or unfulfilling, the answer isn’t more hustle, it’s strategic realignment. Clear your plate, pick one direction, and reclaim your power by moving with purpose.

Finances (Reversed)

The reversed Chariot in finances indicates a lack of direction in how resources are handled. Instead of movement guided by structure, financial energy becomes fragmented, too many expenses, conflicting goals, impulsive decisions, or resistance to basic discipline. Your financial life feels like it’s running without a driver. You may be spending in ways that don’t match your priorities or avoiding simple financial decisions because of overwhelm or fear. Start by getting clear and asking yourself what you want your money to support and where it is leaking. Bring your money back under your leadership.

Soul Searching (Reversed)

When reversed in a soul searching reading, the Chariot represents spiritual drift. The lack of internal reins means conflicting beliefs or needs are moving in opposite directions. Your inner world feels chaotic because you're trying to do the work without grounding. You may be cycling through different practices or expecting quick results from a process that requires depth. The effort to force transformation, or bypass what’s uncomfortable, is what’s keeping you stuck. Now is the time to pause. Return to something simple and consistent. Clear out what isn’t working and recommit to showing up in one practice, one truth, one layer at a time.

Manifestation (Reversed)

The reversed Chariot in manifestation reflects a breakdown in focus. Manifestation energy is scattered, inconsistent, or blocked by conflicting intentions. Your manifestation practice isn’t working because your energy is split. You may be trying to call in multiple outcomes at once or relying on willpower without emotional coherence. Efforting harder will not resolve this, what’s needed is simplification. Choose one thing, anchor into why it matters. Remove distractions that dilute your focus. Manifestation is about where your energy goes consistently.

Affirmation

I focus my energy and align my actions with my true priorities to create lasting success.

Return to Minor Arcana Meanings

Astrology

Cancer

Cancer is ruled by the moon and governs the instinct to protect, nurture, and create emotional safety. In The Chariot, Cancer shows up as tenacity, the kind that digs in, sets boundaries, and defends what matters. The Chariot carries Cancer’s armor, a shell built not to disconnect, but to move through life without losing your sensitivity. The drive to succeed here is about securing a life that reflects your values. This card teaches that emotional conviction is a strength.

Element

Water

Water moves, adapts, and persists, not by force, but by presence. The Chariot draws on water’s ability to remain in motion, even when the path changes. It’s about sensing the terrain and holding emotional clarity as you move toward a goal. This is focused water, water with direction. Not chaotic emotion, but attuned feeling that guides decisions. The Chariot reminds you emotional intelligence is what lets you lead without losing yourself in the process.

Chakra

Solar Plexus

The Solar Plexus Chakra governs agency, the inner fire that says, “I choose, I act, I lead.” The Chariot activates this center by confronting you with a decision: will you lead your life or let it be led by habit, fear, or chaos? If your power has been outsourced, to partners, to past pain, to distractions, this card calls it back. It supports the Solar Plexus by strengthening direction and restoring the confidence to act decisively, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Crystal

Tiger’s Eye

Tiger’s Eye blends earth and fire, grounding and action, and sharpens your ability to stay focused through pressure. Aligned with The Chariot, it clears mental fog and strengthens your ability to respond to challenge without collapse. Use Tiger’s Eye when you need to stay centered during transitions or rebuild discipline after distraction.

Letter

Cheth (ח)

Cheth means “fence” or “enclosure,” a symbol of energetic containment. In The Chariot, this speaks to the armor we build to protect our direction. It reminds you that progress requires boundaries, not every distraction, demand, or emotion gets access to your focus. Cheth supports the idea that strength is about holding your center while doing so. The Chariot is a container for willpower. Cheth is what keeps it from leaking.

Numerology

7

Seven is the number of inner victory. It’s not the quick win, it’s the kind of success that costs you something and changes you in return. The Chariot as 7 signals that mastery here is about becoming someone who can hold it with integrity. This number marks the crossing from reaction to direction, from being at the mercy of life to becoming a participant in it. The growth is earned, and because of that, it lasts.

Astrology: Cancer

Cancer is ruled by the moon and governs the instinct to protect, nurture, and create emotional safety. In The Chariot, Cancer shows up as tenacity, the kind that digs in, sets boundaries, and defends what matters. The Chariot carries Cancer’s armor, a shell built not to disconnect, but to move through life without losing your sensitivity. The drive to succeed here is about securing a life that reflects your values. This card teaches that emotional conviction is a strength.

Element: Water

Water moves, adapts, and persists, not by force, but by presence. The Chariot draws on water’s ability to remain in motion, even when the path changes. It’s about sensing the terrain and holding emotional clarity as you move toward a goal. This is focused water, water with direction. Not chaotic emotion, but attuned feeling that guides decisions. The Chariot reminds you emotional intelligence is what lets you lead without losing yourself in the process.

Chakra: Solar Plexus

The Solar Plexus Chakra governs agency, the inner fire that says, “I choose, I act, I lead.” The Chariot activates this center by confronting you with a decision: will you lead your life or let it be led by habit, fear, or chaos? If your power has been outsourced, to partners, to past pain, to distractions, this card calls it back. It supports the Solar Plexus by strengthening direction and restoring the confidence to act decisively, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Crystal: Tiger’s Eye

Tiger’s Eye blends earth and fire, grounding and action, and sharpens your ability to stay focused through pressure. Aligned with The Chariot, it clears mental fog and strengthens your ability to respond to challenge without collapse. Use Tiger’s Eye when you need to stay centered during transitions or rebuild discipline after distraction.

Letter: Cheth (ח)

Cheth means “fence” or “enclosure,” a symbol of energetic containment. In The Chariot, this speaks to the armor we build to protect our direction. It reminds you that progress requires boundaries, not every distraction, demand, or emotion gets access to your focus. Cheth supports the idea that strength is about holding your center while doing so. The Chariot is a container for willpower. Cheth is what keeps it from leaking.

Numerology: 7

Seven is the number of inner victory. It’s not the quick win, it’s the kind of success that costs you something and changes you in return. The Chariot as 7 signals that mastery here is about becoming someone who can hold it with integrity. This number marks the crossing from reaction to direction, from being at the mercy of life to becoming a participant in it. The growth is earned, and because of that, it lasts.

Reflective Questions for this card

What obstacles am I facing that require sustained determination and strategic thinking rather than just hoping they'll resolve themselves?
Where in my life am I scattering my energy instead of focusing on what truly matters most?
How can I better balance my drive for achievement with emotional wisdom and spiritual alignment?

Let's dive into The Chariot meaning in the Tridevia Tarot Deck.

Tridevia Deck - The Chariot

Visual Description: In the Trivedia tarot deck, The Chariot is depicted as a powerful figure standing within an ornate, symmetrical chariot structure. Draped in intricate armor, he appears composed and intentional, not rushed. At the center of his chest lies a ten-petaled lotus, symbolizing the solar plexus chakra, and within it sits an upright triangle, a symbol of fire, action, and directed will. In his right hand, the charioteer holds a bow, and in his left, an arrow, not drawn, but held with clarity. Above his head is a canopy of seven eight-pointed stars, referencing celestial guidance and the numerological association with the number 7. Two sphinxes rest at the base of the card. Both are calm but alert. One wears a crescent moon on its headdress, symbolizing intuition, rhythm, and the unconscious. The other wears a star, symbolizing clarity, intention, and the mind.

Symbolism: The ten-petaled lotus at the heart center signals solar plexus activation: the power to choose your direction and act from will. The triangle inside the lotus reinforces your fire must be contained and aimed, not flaring out in all directions. The bow is presence, stance, and potential; the arrow is clarity and action. The moon and star on the sphinxes show the emotional and mental forces at play. The celestial canopy reflects divine order, timing, and guidance. You don’t need to have all the answers to begin. But you do need to trust your alignment.

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Tridevia Tarot Deck is designed with 156 crafted positive affirmations in our guidebook, uniquely aligned to both upright and reversed meanings of each card, to guide your readings but also help you manifest your dreams and awaken the divine within you.

Using The Chariot for Meditation

Step 1

Set the Card in Front of You

Place The Chariot card where you can see it clearly. Light a gold or red candle to honor the energy of determination and victorious achievement. Create sacred space by acknowledging your commitment to focused action and strategic thinking in pursuit of your goals.

Step 2

Visualize Your Inner Chariot

Close your eyes and imagine yourself as the charioteer, standing in your own ornate chariot. Feel the reins in your hands connecting you to the opposing forces in your life - your different desires, conflicting emotions, and various life circumstances. Practice directing these energies rather than being pulled by them, maintaining clear focus on your destination.

Step 3

Repeat a Grounding Affirmation

"I have the willpower and determination to overcome any obstacle and achieve my goals"

"I direct my energy with focus and wisdom toward my highest priorities"

"I am the master of my circumstances and the director of my own success"

Step 4

Breathe Into Your Solar Plexus Chakra

Place your hands on your upper abdomen and breathe deeply into your solar plexus chakra. With each exhale, release doubt and scattered energy. With each inhale, draw in confidence, determination, and clear focus. Feel your personal power strengthening and your resolve solidifying.

Step 5

Close with Gratitude

Thank The Chariot for its teaching about the power of focused determination and strategic action. Express gratitude for your own inner strength and your ability to direct your life toward meaningful goals. Blow out the candle, carrying the energy of victorious determination with you.

The Chariot Cheat sheet

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The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning

The Chariot Keywords

Upright

Reversed

The Chariot - Meaning and Symbolism

Upright The Chariot Meaning

Upright keywords

Love (Upright)

Career (Upright)

Finances (Upright)

Soul Searching (Upright)

Manifestation (Upright)

Affirmation

Reversed The Chariot Meaning

Reversed keywords

Love (Reversed)

Career (Reversed)

Finances (Reversed)

Soul Searching (Reversed)

Manifestation (Reversed)

Affirmation

Reflective Questions for this card

Tridevia Deck - The Chariot

Using The Chariot for Meditation

Set the Card in Front of You

Visualize Your Inner Chariot

Repeat a Grounding Affirmation

Breathe Into Your Solar Plexus Chakra

Close with Gratitude

The Chariot Cheat sheet

Sign up for 7 FREE Tarot Classes

What makes our platform your BEST choice for tarot knowledge?

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