Major Arcana VII
The Chariot is the seventh card of the Major Arcana: a crowned driver in armour, two sphinxes in front of him and no reins in his hands. It is the card of willpower, focus and moving forward by holding opposing forces together.
The Chariot tarot card (Major Arcana VII) stands for determination, self-discipline and victory through focus. Upright, it says you can move forward if you choose a direction and keep conflicting impulses in line; reversed, it points to scattered energy, a lack of direction or trying to force an outcome. In love it suggests momentum and commitment, at work a push toward a clear goal. In our yes-or-no list it answers Yes upright and No reversed. It is linked to Cancer.
Success comes from choosing where you are going and steering there with discipline, not from luck.
Pulled in two directions, pushing too hard, or moving fast without knowing where to.
Upright, The Chariot is one of the clearest Yes cards: momentum is on your side. Reversed, it answers No until you choose a direction.
Decide, commit and keep your opposing impulses working for you rather than against you.
Upright is controlled momentum; reversed is lost or misused control.
In the past it shows a push already made; in the future, a push still needed.
The card always asks what you are driving toward, and whether you chose it.
Upright, The Chariot is a card of victory earned through will. The charioteer has no reins: he steers by focus alone, keeping two sphinxes that pull in different directions moving as one. In a reading this often means a goal is within reach if you stay disciplined, make a decision and stop waiting for perfect conditions.
It can also describe travel, a move, or any situation where you have to take charge and go.
Reversed, the same forces are out of control. You may be pulled between two choices, pushing ahead without a plan, or trying to force people or events to go your way. Sometimes it describes giving up the driver's seat and letting others decide for you.
The advice of the reversed card is to stop, name where you actually want to go, and get your competing wishes back in line before moving again.
In love, The Chariot upright suggests momentum: a relationship moving to a new stage, a decision to commit, or going after someone with confidence. For a single person it says to be clear about what you want and pursue it.
Reversed, it can point to a power struggle, two people heading in different directions, or one person pushing harder than the other.
At work, The Chariot favours ambition, competition and goals you can drive toward: a promotion earned through effort, a project brought home, a bold move. With money, it supports disciplined saving and spending with a clear aim. Reversed, it warns of burnout, plans without direction or efforts spread too thin.
In the Rider–Waite–Smith card:
Determination, self-control and victory through focus. It shows someone holding opposing forces together and moving forward by will rather than by force or luck.
Scattered energy and lost direction: being pulled two ways, forcing an outcome, or letting others steer. It asks you to decide where you are going before you push on.
In our published list The Chariot answers Yes upright, because it is a card of momentum and success, and No reversed, until you regain a clear direction.
Upright, momentum and commitment: a relationship moving forward or a confident pursuit. Reversed, a power struggle or two people heading in different directions.
In the Golden Dawn system that the Rider–Waite–Smith deck follows, The Chariot is linked to Cancer and to the element of Water: protection, home and emotional resolve.
The draw is random, so any card can come up. One card costs 5 credits.
Last updated October 29, 2026
