Mary El Tarot - The Chariot

[Bat Chicken]

http://www.mary-el.com/07.html

So far I find this one really intriguing and a little left field. Not because it isn't rich in symbolism, but, because it seems to depart the most from tradition for me, so far.

It seems so much more primal than other Chariot cards and, of course, it lacks a chariot. The only features that echo traditional images is the cloak which echoes the Egyptian pharaoh's crown (the stripes), and the black and white in the wolves.

The first thing that comes to my mind is a wild dogsled (which is not present in the image) with a crew of wolves (one black one that echoes the black and white horses of Marseilles and others - the opposing forces).

This crew would be difficult to control, and yet wolves are naturally pack hunters and I get a sense the charioteer is family. The Charioteer wears her own wolf mane - she is the Alpha, the Will that reigns in her wilder nature/family. The pink lotus over her heart seems out of place and for some reason, I am thinking 'karma'.

The more time I spend with this card, the more I love it. I might spend some more time looking into wolves.

Thoughts?

[BrightEye]

Really like the wolves. And I thought the cloak was a chariot thing. The roundness makes sense because the Chariot in many decks is stationary. The wolves are not going anywhere either.

[Laura Borealis]

http://www.mary-el.com/07.html


Oh, law. I'm on a hospital network and this is blocked on the grounds of it receiving an art/culture rating. :laugh:

Marie talked a little about this card, and wolves, here: http://www.tarotforum.net/showpost.php?p=1245196&postcount=69

[Eyebright]

I like this card very much! The pink lotus flower over the heart (chakra) made me think about being lead/guided by your heart (follow your heart). Using your heart's desires as the guide for what direction to go in your life
The woman with her wolf mane made me think of her as alpha of the pack (do wolves have a matriarchal heirarchy?)
I like to think of the Chariot as having control over yourself/ your life and the direction you move in, exerting your will to move in the direction you want. This woman is in control of the pack, her animal side/nature. She has harnessed (sp?) this part of herself, and can use it to power herself forward.

I'm interested in why one of the 4 wolves is black, it's not very balanced...triumph of the light over the dark??

I still have lots to think about with this card!

[Requiella]

This card brings to mind this old Cherokee parable:


An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."