The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed and Love
Nov 10, 2026 · The Editors
The Chariot tarot card meaning: the charioteer, the two sphinxes and the starry canopy on card VII, what it means upright and reversed, in love, as a yes or no, and questions for reflection.
The Chariot is card VII of the major arcana. A crowned figure stands in a chariot, drawn not by horses but by two sphinxes, one black and one white. There are no reins. The card is about willpower, determination and victory — moving forward by keeping opposing forces under control.
The Chariot tarot symbolism
In the classic 1909 artwork:
- The charioteer wears armour and a crown with a star. He holds a wand, not reins: he steers by will, not by force.
- The two sphinxes, one black and one white, pull in different directions. They stand for opposites — instinct and reason, fear and desire — that must be made to work together.
- The starry canopy above him suggests a higher purpose or protection.
- Crescent moons on his shoulders link the card to emotion and to Cancer, the zodiac sign traditionally assigned to the Chariot.
- The city behind him is what he has left. The Chariot is a card of setting out.
The Chariot tarot meaning upright
Upright, the Chariot means:
- Determination and a clear goal.
- Victory won through effort and self-discipline.
- Control — holding mixed feelings or competing demands together and moving anyway.
- Movement and travel — many readers link it to journeys, moves and vehicles.
- Confidence to take charge of a situation.
It follows the Lovers (VI): the choice has been made, and now it must be acted on.
The Chariot reversed
Reversed, the Chariot's drive turns against itself:
- Lack of direction — effort spent in every direction at once.
- Loss of control — the sphinxes pulling apart.
- Aggression or forcing an outcome.
- Obstacles and delays, or a journey put off.
- Self-doubt that stalls progress.
The Chariot tarot in love
Upright in love, the Chariot suggests moving a relationship forward with purpose: committing, moving in together, or working through a difference rather than avoiding it. For a single person it can mean going after what you want, rather than waiting.
Reversed in love, it can point to a power struggle, one partner trying to steer everything, or two people heading in different directions.
The Chariot tarot yes or no
The Chariot is usually read as yes — especially if the question is about effort, competition or a journey. Its condition is that you stay focused: the win depends on keeping control.
Quick reference
| Upright | Reversed | |
|---|---|---|
| Keywords | Willpower, victory, control | Drift, aggression, delay |
| Love | Moving forward together | Power struggle |
| Yes or no | Yes | Not without more focus |
| Number | VII (7) | |
| Zodiac | Cancer |
Questions for reflection
- Where am I going, and do I really want to get there?
- Which two parts of me are pulling in different directions?
- What would change if I steered by purpose rather than force?
Reading with a real deck
The Chariot's details — the sphinxes, the missing reins — are easier to notice on a full-size card than on a screen. Our tarot deck in a gilded tin uses the classic 1909 artwork. For the rest of the major arcana, see our tarot card meanings for beginners and tarot spreads.
