Chariot

Grizabella

I've been noticing that the sphinxes in front of the Chariot are not horses and are not running, they're lying down. And they're definitely women, with breasts that aren't the same size. I've looked and can't find a discussion of this. Anyone?
 

Fitz

Edited, was based on a different deck.
 

Grizabella

I use the Universal Waite deck, although I also have RWS I can refer to.
 

Fulgour

Origin of the Sphinxes on The Chariot

(Click on to view VII by Lévi.)

Although Eliphas Lévi published only one modern Tarot card,
the Chariot, his influence on designers of decks was significant.
His version of VII The Chariot included for the first time two
Egyptian-style sphinxes (one light and one dark) in lieu of the
traditional horses. Oswald Wirth and Pamela Colman Smith
included sphinxes in their decks, as have some other artists.

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PS: The Golden Dawn specifies "two horses harnessed together."
 

Grizabella

Thanks for the great links, Fulgour. I've spent a lot of time reading there.
 

Fulgour

Here is an example of why intuition is more
important than any single author's opinion.

Tarot readers gain confidence as their own
experience of a card moves past any book.

To know The Chariot is to become like him.


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7 Le Chariot ~ Oswald Wirth

http://www.azimutconcept.com/tarot/imgow/a07_m.gif

http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/tob/img/wiar07.jpg

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VII Le Chariot ~ Marseille
http://www.republika.pl/tareau/karty_jpg/rydan.jpg

VII The Chariot ~ Colman Smith
http://www.learntarot.com/bigjpgs/maj07.jpg
 

Mimers

The Sphinxes

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts about why the sphinxes seem to be playing with their tails. It gives me the feeling of procrastination.

As Umbrae stated earlier, the Chariot is about that moment just before an idea turns to action. Could the sphinxes represent the urge inside of us to put it off until another time?
 

celticnoodle

Mimers, I did not realize until your post that they are playing with their tails! It does gives the feeling of procrastination. Cannot believe I missed that detail after all this time.....
 

Rosanne

lol I think the sphinx are being prudent! Just keeping their tails out of the way of the wheels.~Rosanne