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The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot-Key 7-The Chariot
The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot- Key 7-The Chariot is a followed the design of Eliphas Levi straight out of Levi's book, The Ritual of Transcendental Magic where Levi wrote:
A Cubic Chariot with four pillars and a azure and starry drapery. In his chariot a victor crowned with a circle adorned with three radiant pentagrams. Upon his breast are three superimposed squares, on his shoulders the URIN and the THUMMIN of the sovereign sacrificer, represented by the two crescents of the moon in Gedulah [Chesed] and Geburah; in his hand is a sceptre surrounded by a globe, square and triangle, his attitude is proud and tranquil. A double sphinx or two sphinxes, joined at the haunches, are harnessed to the Chariot; they are pulling in opposite directions, but are looking the same way. They are respectively black and white. On the square which forms the fore part of the chariot is the Indian lingum surrounded by the flying sphere of the Egyptians.
Other than the Egyptian winged Monadic sphere and Indian lingam, the 5th Sephirot Geburah is also symbolized with a Pentagram, or five-pointed star, which has the Four Elements crowned by the Spirit. Thus, making 5 the number of Geburah on the Tree of Life. Geburah is a Red Force and is symbolized on the RWS card as the red glyph of lingam and yoni, meaning that the force of Geburah (Severity) is the motive force of the Chariot. The Dark and Light sphinx are also represented on this card. The Dark Sphinx represents the "secret shadow side of the soul" (subconscious) and the Light sphinx represents the awake Conscious side of the Soul.
The Charioteer is the only figure in the Tarot Deck that can move between planes/dimensions and/or states of consciousness, effortlessly. This is the reason that horses, or sphinx are not pulling the Chariot. Rather, the chariot is drawn by the Will of the Crown (Kether-"I Will Be",) shown on the head of the Charioteer. The Crown represents the "All Father" whom alone the Charioteer is answerable to.
In Western Hermetic Qabalah, the Charioteer is identified as the "Holy Guardian Angel" of the Soul/Son. The Soul/Son is the emerging Psyche/Self-consciousness and/or Solar self-consciousness. Because of this Guardian of Psyche, we are never alone while also giving us inner protection and guidance which may lead us out of the illusions of our own sensual perceptions. The Golden Light of this one also dispels the mind virus that is the "false ego" and/or the "devil within".
Holy Guardian Angel
The Fairy Tarot- Key 7-The Chariot.
The Fairy Tarot- Key 7-The Chariot represents a swift by fanciful journey. Our Charioteer is shown holding the reigns of a pair of dragonflies. Being noted for their quick ability to change direction these dragonflies represent the mind's ability to go any direction. Hence, the fact that this charioteer has them under control and headed in the right direction is a testament to her will.
*The Theosophical Forum – May 1945
THE SYMBOL OF THE WINGED GLOBE — G. de Purucker
"The symbol of the winged globe, the globe carried through time and space on the wings of spiritual force or of the spirit, is one of the most beautiful of ancient Egyptian symbols, because it combines both religion and philosophy. The globe is just one form of representing the golden germ, Hiranyagarbha in Sanskrit, which in its movements through time and space is carried by the wings of the spirit on its evolutionary journey. This is the keynote of one of the thoughts of the winged globe.
Another thought about it, or aspect of it, is that the winged globe is the monad, which is in a sense practically the same as the cosmic germ or hiranyagarbha, and the wings there signify the same thing, conscious mind moving through space and time in the form of the monad and expressing its power in the movement of the wings, consciousness moving in the evolutionary journey upwards and upwards forever."
The wings of the dragonflies can easily represent the Monad on its evolutionary journey.
Meditation upon either card will get us in contact with the Divine Creative and safe travel through the "Astral Planes" of the Universal Collective Unconsciousness. In this mode of enclosure, as shown by the Chariot's enclosing walls, is called the "Merkabah"-meaning "Throne of God". This can be called a relationship between the emergence Self (Son/Sun) united with the Divine Creative, which protects the Psyche from the many illusions stored in the subconscious.
When the Chariot card is thrown during a reading, the querent is reminded:
- To devote themselves to the combination of activity and quietude so that they may have the drive to attain goals.
- It is a time of clearing out the past, moving beyond and beginning with new energy while taking responsibility for one's present condition.
- There is a need for victory here, by combining the images or content of the unconscious with the consciousness for the purpose of achievement.
- The Chariot also signifies that the querent has begun controlling a situation by the force of their personality.... a focus of Will.
- The goal will need fighting for, but you have been granted the energy to win it!
- War.
- Triumph.
- Presumption.
If reversed, it implies:
- Lust for destruction.
- Ruthlessness.
- Violence in maintaining traditional ideas.
- Riot.
- Litigation.
- Defeat.
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