The Chariot... a small peeve.

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

FourLeafClover	05 Jan 2004
Is it just me, or is the Chariot usually pictured attatched to things which appear to be WAY too small to actually pull it? I don't know why this annoys me, but it really does. It's a card of progress, of controlling opposites, but in RWS it appears to be stuck, and the forces that ought to be pulling it don't look up to the task in the first place. I DO like the fact that it's hitched to sphinxes. They seem to represent riddles to solve, as if the struggle for control will be mainly intellectual. But why such small wimpy sphinxes? It doesn't make sense to me.

Little Baron	05 Jan 2004
You are right; the chariot does look pretty stationary. I don't feel much progression or movement in this depiction. I just compared it with the one from the Cosmic Tribe. The butterflies that are pulling that chariot are even smaller than the sphinx's on the RWS but they are bombing it towards me.

paradoxx	05 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by FourLeafClover But why such small wimpy sphinxes? It doesn't make sense to me. I bet only the sphinx knows the answer to that riddle, is it the white sphinx or the black, now thats a riddle to solve.

WalesWoman	07 Jan 2004
I've been thinking about this since I first read the post and just had an idea, maybe the sphinxes are small because the driver is more concerned about being in the driver's seat and feeling in charge, that it's his mental willpower rather than physical power of the sphinx that moves the chariot and keeps it on course. He has no reins to control the sphinxes, so his mental will is what keeps everything balanced and focused in the direction he wants to go. But how fast can he go when they are lying down? It doesn't look like he can go anywhere like that. So maybe it means this person needs to "lighten up" a bit and not be so stubborn, in other threads the chariot has been talked about looking so solid, like it's a stone and the driver has become part of it, his legs cut off so to speak and still can't go anywhere unless he can convince the sphinxes to get off their tails and pull this thing together. I think all I did was get myself baffled now.

skytwig	07 Jan 2004
Excellent observation, 4leafclover..... Quote: from Mastering the Tarot by Eden Gray A prince rides in a chariot under a starry canopy, carrying the wand of authority and will, with which he must control the sphinxes. The white sphinx is a symbol of mercy, the positive life principle; the black one, a symbol of stern justice and the negative life principle. The prince must maintain a balance between them or they will pull in opposite ways and tear him asunder. :eek: The starry canopy indicates that he is under celestial influences that will affect his victory. The front of the chariot bears a Hindu sign of the union of the male and the female, over it are the wings of spirit. The key signifies victory for one who has conquered and held control of the unruly forces of the emotions and the mind. Seven is the number of work perfected, and the charioteer has accomplished that.

Moongold	07 Jan 2004
There are a lot of objects in RWS images that are not in perspective, It seems characteristic of Pixie Colman Smith's drawings. There may or may not be intended meanings to such distortions:). But we can give whatever meaning we want to the image. Moongold

FourLeafClover	07 Jan 2004
Waleswoman, that makes a good deal of sense. I like the idea of the Chariot being something that we have to make an effort to get moving. After all, sudden leaps of progress rarely happen out of the blue! And perhaps if those smug-faced little sphinxes aren't up to the job, it's up to us to pack them back to Egpty and get some big ol' cart horses to pull our chariot. Make sure they're black and white, though... wouldn't want to get pulled in the wrong direction!

Tarotmyst	07 Jan 2004
Looking at the card, and thinking about how determined I can be when I put my mind and soul into something, I just get the impression that if those sphinxes stood up and the charioteer really demanded they move they would move. He has no reigns or other means of physically controlling his vehicle, but his inner control and understanding of himself means that he can achieve whatever he puts his mind to, despite anything that seems to go against him or hold him back.

ros	07 Jan 2004
In some of my notes Sphinx- mysterious strength which is available to us particularly in time of trouble - power, wisdom as well as dignity I think mysterious strength could sum it up for me. Hope this helps.

ros	08 Jan 2004
I also just found this when I wasn't looking & I went OMG . White sphinx means mercy & Black sphinx means severity

ros	12 Jan 2004
Skytwig Sorry I just went over this thread again & you have mentioned about the black & white shinxes in your one reply.

TemperanceAngel	12 Jan 2004
I noticed when studying the Chariot last year, how much it was like the Magician: except that both arms are lowered and the wand has become a staff. It made me think that the Magician is focusing on manifesting and the Chariot has manifested, so what is the next step? It has come into consciousness, so maybe the Chariot is getting ready to move, but not yet ready. First Strentgh must be found and this will teach patience and wisdom, The Hermit, understanding ones path, as such, and maybe then the movement comes with the change of the WOF?? Oooopppsss, a lil' rant :D XTAX

The The Chariot... a small peeve. thread was originally posted on 05 Jan 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.