WILL
SELF-ASSERTION
HARD CONTROL
Picture Julius Caesar riding his chariot triumphantly into Rome. He has defeated his enemies and conquered vast, new lands. This is the spirit of the Chariot. Card 7 represents victories that are possible through willpower and self-mastery.
A military image is appropriate for the Chariot because this card stands for the strengths associated with combat—discipline, grit, determination, and assertiveness.
The Chariot represents the positive aspects of the ego. A healthy ego is strong and self-assured. It knows what it wants and how to get it.
We can get annoyed at someone whose ego is too healthy, but we often turn to that person to lead us through difficult moments. We know he or she won’t be wishy-washy.
In readings, the Chariot often appears when hard control is or could be in evidence. At its best, hard control is not brutal, but firm and direct. A strong will and great confidence back it up. The Chariot can mean self-control or control of the environment. This card also represents victory. There are many types of wins; the Chariot’s is of the win-lose type. Your success comes from beating the competition to become number one. Such moments are glorious in the right circumstances.
achieving victory
- reaching your goal
- winning
- being successful
- dominating
- coming out on top
- beating the competition
using your will
- being determined to succeed
- focusing your intent
- rising above temptation
- letting nothing distract you
- sustaining an effort
- concentrating your energies
- fixing on a goal
asserting yourself
- being ego-focused
- establishing an identify
- knowing who you are
- feeling self-confident
- having faith in yourself
- looking out for your interests
achieving hard control
- mastering emotions
- curbing impulses
- maintaining discipline
- holding in anger
- getting your way
- assuming the reins of power
- showing authority
Some possibilities
- Strength – soft control
- Hanged Man – accepting God’s will, putting others first
- Tower – defeat, humbling experience
- Eight of Swords – confusion, self-doubt
- Ten of Swords – powerless, in the pits, putting others first
Some possibilities
- Magician – using your will, concentrating
- Two of Wands – being in authority, dominating
- Six of Wands – triumph, self-confidence
- Four of Pentacles – control
- Nine of Pentacles – self-control, discipline
There are no separate explanations for reversed cards. The meaning of a reversed card depends on what the card would mean if upright. A reversed card shows that a card’s energy is present but at a lower level. For some reason, the energy cannot be expressed freely, normally, or completely. It may be:
- still in its early stages
- losing force and power
- blocked or restricted
- incomplete
- inappropriate
- being denied
- only present in appearance
See Lesson 17 for more information on reversed cards.