The Chariot
Card VII of the Major Arcana
The Chariot is the card of willpower, drive and victory through control. It shows an armored figure in a chariot under a starry canopy, drawn by a black sphinx and a white one, with a walled city behind. In a reading it points to determination, steering opposing forces in one direction and moving ahead.
Upright
determination, drive, control, victory, momentum
The Chariot is the card of the one who has stopped waiting. The figure holds no reins. The two sphinxes, one dark and one light, pull the chariot only because his will is clear. The stars overhead and the walled city behind suggest a path that has meaning. Upright, the card suggests progress through focus: hold your competing wants together and drive toward one aim.
Reversed
loss of direction, aggression, stalling, forced control
Reversed, the sphinxes pull apart. The card can point to losing direction, pushing too hard, or a drive that has turned into aggression or burnout. It can also mean being stuck because you cannot decide between two ways. It asks what you are really steering toward, and at what cost.
Yes or no
Yes.
Yes, if you keep your focus and do the work. The Chariot favors action and a clear aim. Reversed, it leans toward not yet, until your aims stop pulling in two directions.
The Chariot in love
In love, The Chariot suggests a pursuit with purpose, or a couple moving ahead together toward a shared goal. Passion is paired with discipline. Reversed, it can point to a power struggle, or to two people pulling in different directions.
The Chariot at work
At work, The Chariot points to ambition, a push toward a goal and success earned by effort: a big launch, a move, a competition. Keep your focus. Reversed, it can mean overreach, or a loss of direction.
The Chariot as advice
As advice, The Chariot says: pick a direction and go. Bring your mixed feelings into line, and commit. Stay disciplined and move with confidence, but keep an eye on the road.
The Chariot as someone's feelings
As someone's feelings, The Chariot suggests they feel driven and determined about you or about what they want. They may be moving fast. Reversed, they may be conflicted, or pushing ahead without listening.
Questions about The Chariot
Is The Chariot a yes or no card?
Yes. It favors focused action and success through effort. Reversed, it reads as not yet, until your direction is clear.
What does The Chariot mean in love?
A relationship with drive and shared direction, or a determined pursuit. It asks for focus, not force.
What does The Chariot reversed mean?
Lost direction, aggression or being stuck between two ways. It asks what you are steering toward and whether the cost is worth it.
What do the two sphinxes on The Chariot mean?
The black and white sphinxes stand for opposing pulls, such as desire and duty. The charioteer holds them together by will alone.
Updated October 1, 2026. Published by Preffo ApS.
