LexTalk

Have you ever been REALLY busy… but somehow felt like you weren’t actually getting anywhere?

You’re answering emails.

Working.

Cleaning.

Planning.

Starting projects.

Making lists.

Crossing things off the lists.

Adding NEW things to the lists.

Thinking about the things you forgot to put on the lists.

And at the end of the day you’re like:

WOW.

I DID SO MUCH.

…

What exactly did I accomplish?

Because apparently… movement and direction are not the same thing.

OOOF.

And today’s tarot card is making me think about that BIG TIME.

Welcome back to LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time!

We’ve officially reached Card #29 of 78, and today we’re exploring a Major Arcana card traditionally associated with:

Determination.

Direction.

Willpower.

Self-control.

Momentum.

Confidence.

And learning how to steer competing forces toward the SAME destination.

Today we’re learning about…

THE CHARIOT — VII

And my beginner memory trick for this one is:

The Chariot = Pick a direction and take the reins.

Because having motivation is great.

Having ambition is great.

Having seventeen goals is… well…

We’ll talk about that.

But eventually?

We need to decide where we’re actually going.

Let’s investigate.

Meet The Chariot

Card: The Chariot

Number: VII — 7

Arcana: Major Arcana

Traditional Astrological Association: Cancer

Core Themes: Direction, determination, willpower, self-control, momentum, confidence, focused action

The Chariot belongs to the Major Arcana, which means we’re dealing with one of tarot’s bigger life themes.

And at first glance?

This card looks like:

LET’S GOOOOOOO!

There’s a charioteer.

There’s armor.

There’s a chariot.

There are two sphinxes.

There’s an entire city behind him.

This man clearly has PLACES TO BE.

But when I started looking closer at the card… I noticed something interesting.

Where are the reins?

Traditional chariots are controlled using reins.

But in the Rider-Waite-Smith Chariot, the figure doesn’t appear to be physically steering the sphinxes with reins.

Instead, he holds a wand.

Which makes the symbolism much more interesting.

Because The Chariot isn’t simply about physically forcing something forward.

It’s about directing your own energy.

Your choices.

Your focus.

Your determination.

Your impulses.

Your priorities.

Basically… YOU are responsible for figuring out where this thing is going.

No pressure.

What Does the Number Seven Mean?

Since we’re learning tarot one card at a time, I want to pay attention to the number too.

The Chariot is Major Arcana VII — 7.

In tarot and numerological interpretations, seven is often associated with themes such as:

Reflection

Challenge

Determination

Inner development

Seeking understanding

And I think that fits The Chariot really well.

Because this isn’t mindless movement.

It’s not:

GO FAST!!!

It’s intentional movement.

The Chariot asks:

Where are you trying to go—and are your choices actually taking you there?

That’s a much better question.

Let’s Study The Chariot

There’s A LOT happening on this card.

So… tarot detective hat ON.

Let’s investigate.

The Charioteer

The central figure stands confidently inside his chariot.

He’s wearing armor.

He looks prepared.

Focused.

Strong.

And importantly… he isn’t running alongside the chariot desperately trying to keep up.

He’s positioned as the one directing the journey.

Charioteer = Willpower, confidence, and personal direction.

And I think there’s an important distinction here.

Control doesn’t necessarily mean controlling everything happening around us.

Because… GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

Life is unpredictable.

Other people make their own decisions.

Plans change.

Things happen.

Maybe The Chariot is more about controlling what we actually CAN control.

Our choices.

Our reactions.

Our effort.

Our direction.

You can’t control the entire road.

You CAN decide how you navigate it.

I like that.

The Black and White Sphinxes

This is probably the symbol that helps me understand The Chariot the most.

In front of the chariot sit two sphinxes.

One black.

One white.

And they appear to be positioned slightly differently.

These opposing colors are commonly interpreted as representing:

Opposing forces

Different desires

Competing priorities

Duality

Contradictory impulses

Basically…

MY BRAIN EVERY DAY.

Part of me says:

Save money!

Another part says:

But look how cute this is!

Part of me says:

Finish the project you already started!

Another part says:

WAIT.

NEW IDEA.

Part of me wants rest.

Part of me wants productivity.

Part of me wants stability.

Part of me wants adventure.

Sound familiar?

Sphinxes = Competing forces that need direction.

And here’s the thing.

The Chariot doesn’t necessarily tell us one side is wrong.

Maybe BOTH forces exist.

The challenge is figuring out how to keep them from pulling us in completely different directions.

The Wand

Instead of reins, the charioteer holds a wand.

And I LOVE this detail.

Because a wand can symbolize:

Will

Intention

Direction

Personal power

The charioteer isn’t physically dragging the sphinxes where he wants them to go.

He’s directing them.

Wand = Intentional direction and focused will.

Which gives me another beginner-friendly way to understand this card:

The Chariot isn’t about forcing life to obey you.

It’s about learning how to direct YOURSELF.

OOOF.

The Starry Canopy

Above the charioteer’s head is a canopy decorated with stars.

And this is such a beautiful detail.

The stars can symbolize:

Higher purpose

Guidance

Possibility

Connection between earthly action and larger goals

It’s almost like he’s moving through the physical world while still remembering something bigger.

Stars = Guidance and a larger sense of purpose.

And that makes me think about how easy it is to become busy… without remembering WHY we’re busy.

Maybe the question isn’t only:

What am I doing?

Maybe it’s:

What is all of this supposed to be moving me toward?

The Crescent Moons

Look closely at the charioteer’s shoulders.

There are crescent shapes incorporated into his armor.

These are often interpreted as lunar symbols.

And The Chariot is traditionally associated astrologically with Cancer, a zodiac sign ruled by the Moon.

The Moon connects symbolically with:

Emotion

Intuition

Cycles

Inner experience

Which adds another interesting layer.

The Chariot looks like a card about ACTION.

But underneath all that armor?

There’s emotional awareness too.

Moons = Intuition, emotion, and inner awareness.

Maybe determination isn’t about ignoring feelings.

Maybe it’s about not letting every temporary feeling completely redirect the chariot.

The Armor

The charioteer wears armor.

Which immediately suggests:

Protection

Readiness

Strength

Discipline

But armor is interesting.

Armor protects us.

It can also become heavy.

Armor = Protection and preparation.

And maybe there’s a subtle reminder here:

We can protect ourselves… without completely shutting ourselves off.

The City Behind Him

Behind the charioteer sits a city.

He’s moving AWAY from something established.

Toward something else.

We don’t actually see the destination.

And I LOVE that.

Because how often do we wait until we know EXACTLY how something will turn out before moving?

The Chariot seems to say:

You don’t need to see the entire road.

You DO need a direction.

City Behind = Leaving the familiar and moving forward.

The destination might not be visible yet.

But staying still isn’t the only option.

The Chariot Itself

Obviously… there’s the actual chariot.

A chariot is a vehicle.

It takes someone from one place to another.

So symbolically?

This is about MOVEMENT.

But again… movement needs direction.

If the black sphinx goes left… and the white sphinx goes right… we’re going approximately:

NOWHERE.

Which brings us to the heart of the card.

Chariot = Forward movement created through focused direction.

The Chariot Upright Meaning

When The Chariot appears upright, common themes include:

Determination • Direction • Willpower • Momentum • Confidence • Self-Control • Focused Action

Maybe you’ve decided what you want.

Maybe you’re working toward a goal.

Maybe you’ve been pulled in several directions and need to refocus.

Maybe you need to stop waiting until you feel completely ready.

Maybe you’ve already started… but now you need consistency.

The Chariot doesn’t guarantee:

YOU WILL WIN!

Tarot doesn’t guarantee outcomes.

Instead, I see this card asking:

Are my choices actually moving me toward what I say I want?

OOOH.

That question can get uncomfortable REAL fast.

Upright Message:

Choose your direction, focus your energy, and move intentionally.

The Chariot Reversed Meaning

You know the LexTalk rule!

REVERSED DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN BAD.

Common reversed themes include:

Lack of Direction • Scattered Energy • Loss of Motivation • Feeling Out of Control • Aggression • Forcing Progress • Delays

And honestly?

This might be the version of The Chariot I relate to most.

Because sometimes we have PLENTY of motivation.

The problem is… we’re trying to go fourteen directions at once.

Start the project.

Grow the business.

Exercise.

Save money.

Clean the house.

Learn something new.

Post on social media.

Drink more water.

Meal prep.

Start ANOTHER project.

Eventually… the sphinxes are just wandering around the parking lot.

Reversed Message:

Am I actually lacking motivation—or am I trying to move in too many directions at once?

OOOF.

Busy Isn’t the Same as Moving Forward

THIS might be my biggest takeaway from The Chariot.

Because I can be VERY busy.

I can fill an entire day.

Answer things.

Organize things.

Research things.

Plan things.

Work on things.

And then realize… the ONE thing I actually wanted to accomplish?

Didn’t happen.

Being busy can feel productive because we’re constantly moving.

But movement isn’t automatically progress.

The Chariot asks us to look at the destination.

If I keep doing exactly what I’m doing… where does this road actually lead?

That is SUCH a good question.

You Can’t Prioritize Everything

I hate this lesson.

Because I would like EVERYTHING to be important.

Thank you.

But unfortunately… if everything is a priority?

Nothing really is.

The Chariot forces us to choose.

Maybe you have ten goals.

Great.

But which one needs attention TODAY?

Which one matters most this month?

Which one actually supports the life you’re trying to build?

The others don’t have to disappear.

They might simply need to wait.

Choosing one direction doesn’t mean the other directions are bad.

It means you’re deciding where your energy goes first.

Motivation Isn’t Always the Problem

How many times do we say:

I just need motivation.

But do we?

Sometimes I think we need CLARITY.

Because it’s hard to move confidently when we don’t know what we’re trying to accomplish.

If I say:

I want my blog to grow.

Okay.

What does that mean?

More readers?

More subscribers?

More affiliate clicks?

More search traffic?

More social shares?

Those might require different strategies.

The clearer the destination becomes… the easier it is to choose the road.

Maybe direction creates motivation.

Not always the other way around.

Control What You Can Control

The Chariot is often associated with control.

But I DON’T think the healthiest interpretation is:

CONTROL EVERYTHING.

Because that’s impossible.

You cannot control:

What someone thinks about you.

Whether someone clicks your post.

Whether an employer calls you.

Whether someone buys your product.

Whether another person changes.

Whether life throws something unexpected at you.

But you CAN control:

What you create.

Whether you apply.

How you communicate.

How you respond.

What boundaries you set.

Where you spend your time.

What you do next.

Maybe The Chariot is about directing THAT energy.

Stop trying to steer everybody else’s chariot.

You’ve got your own.

When Two Parts of You Want Different Things

Let’s go back to those sphinxes.

Because I LOVE them.

We often act like we need to completely eliminate conflicting desires.

But… what if both are valid?

Maybe you want:

Security AND adventure.

Rest AND achievement.

Independence AND connection.

Saving AND enjoying your money.

Structure AND freedom.

Those aren’t necessarily contradictions.

Maybe the challenge is learning how to make room for both without allowing them to constantly pull you apart.

You don’t always have to destroy one sphinx.

Maybe you need to teach them how to travel together.

The Chariot in Love & Relationships

Okay… let’s talk LOVE.

In relationships, The Chariot can connect with:

Direction • Commitment • Independence • Shared Goals • Determination • Forward Movement

For established relationships, this card can invite an important question:

Are we actually trying to go in the same direction?

Because two people can love each other… and still have very different visions for the future.

Where to live.

Money.

Family.

Lifestyle.

Career.

Priorities.

Love matters.

But direction matters too.

Upright Love Reflection:

Are we moving toward shared goals while still respecting each other’s individuality?

For someone single, The Chariot can encourage clarity around what you actually want rather than simply pursuing connection for the sake of having one.

The Chariot Reversed in Love

Reversed themes can include:

Conflicting Goals • Power Struggles • Feeling Stuck • Different Directions • Trying to Force Progress

And that last one is important.

Sometimes we want a relationship to move faster.

We want answers.

Commitment.

Clarity.

Resolution.

NOW.

But forcing something doesn’t automatically create healthy progress.

The reversed Chariot can invite reflection on whether both people are actually participating in the direction of the relationship.

Tarot can’t determine another person’s intentions.

Communication can provide much better information than trying to force certainty from a card.

The Chariot in Career

Career is where I REALLY like this card.

Because The Chariot screams:

PICK A GOAL.

Common upright career themes include:

Ambition • Determination • Focus • Advancement • Leadership • Momentum • Pursuing Goals

Maybe you’re:

Applying for jobs.

Starting a business.

Growing a creative project.

Working toward a promotion.

Learning a skill.

Building something.

The Chariot asks:

What outcome am I actually working toward?

Not vaguely.

Specifically.

Because once you know that?

You can start asking whether your daily actions support it.

Career Reflection:

If I could make meaningful progress toward ONE professional goal right now, which one would matter most?

The Chariot Reversed in Career

Reversed themes might include:

Scattered Focus • Burnout • Lack of Direction • Workplace Frustration • Trying to Force Results

Maybe you’re doing too much.

Maybe the strategy isn’t working.

Maybe you’re chasing every opportunity.

Maybe you need to stop and reassess.

Changing direction isn’t automatically failure.

Sometimes it’s navigation.

If Google Maps tells you there’s a road closure… you don’t scream:

I COMMITTED TO THIS ROAD!!!

and drive directly into a barricade.

You reroute.

Life can work that way too.

The Chariot & Money

Financially, The Chariot makes me think about GOALS.

Because:

I WANT MORE MONEY.

is understandable.

But it’s not very specific.

Do you want to:

Pay off debt?

Build emergency savings?

Increase income?

Save for travel?

Improve your credit?

Spend less?

Invest?

Those are different destinations.

And they require different actions.

Money Reflection:

What is my most important financial destination right now—and are my current choices helping me reach it?

The Chariot doesn’t predict financial success.

It encourages intentional direction.

Determination vs. Stubbornness

OOOH.

Here’s another important distinction.

Determination says:

I still believe in the goal.

Stubbornness says:

I refuse to change ANYTHING even though nothing is working.

Those are not the same.

You can remain committed to the destination… and change the route.

Actually?

Sometimes that’s the smartest thing you can do.

The Chariot doesn’t require us to barrel straight through every obstacle.

It asks us to keep steering.

Speed Isn’t Everything

The Chariot looks like a FAST card.

Movement.

Momentum.

Action.

But faster isn’t automatically better.

If you don’t know where you’re going… going faster just gets you lost more efficiently.

Maybe progress isn’t about speed.

Maybe it’s about direction.

Someone else might be moving faster than you.

Cool.

Are they going where YOU want to go?

Probably not.

So why are you measuring your journey against theirs?

Stop Comparing Someone Else’s Route to Yours

This is another lesson I’m pulling from The Chariot.

We constantly see other people’s progress.

Someone grew faster.

Earned more.

Reached the milestone earlier.

Started younger.

Has more followers.

Bought the house.

Got the job.

Built the business.

And suddenly we feel behind.

But… Behind WHO?

We’re not all driving toward the same destination.

Different goals.

Different resources.

Different timelines.

Different circumstances.

Different roads.

Maybe someone else’s chariot is moving faster because they’re headed somewhere you don’t even WANT to go.

That’s worth remembering.

Discipline When Motivation Disappears

The Ace of Wands taught us about inspiration.

The Chariot teaches something different.

Because eventually?

The excitement wears off.

And then we have to decide whether we’re still going.

That’s where discipline comes in.

Not:

FORCE YOURSELF TO BE PRODUCTIVE EVERY SECOND.

No.

Rest matters.

Life happens.

But if something genuinely matters to us… we can’t rely entirely on feeling inspired.

Sometimes the next step is boring.

Sometimes it’s repetitive.

Sometimes it’s small.

But it’s still movement.

Today’s LexTalk Tarot Journal Prompt

Grab your tarot journal!

Today’s main question:

What direction am I trying to move toward—and are my current choices actually taking me there?

And another one I REALLY like:

Where am I confusing being busy with making progress?

A few more:

What deserves most of my attention right now?

Where is my energy scattered?

What competing priorities are pulling me in different directions?

What can I control in this situation?

What am I trying to control that isn’t mine to control?

Where do I need more discipline?

Where do I need more flexibility?

Am I committed to the goal—or just attached to one particular route?

What could I temporarily deprioritize?

And finally:

If I had to choose ONE destination right now, what would it be?

The Tarot Deck I’m Learning With

The Chariot is another perfect example of why I’m enjoying learning tarot through Rider-Waite-Smith imagery.

Instead of memorizing:

The Chariot = Determination.

I can look at the card and remember:

Charioteer = Willpower and direction

Black & White Sphinxes = Competing forces

Wand = Intention and personal will

Starry Canopy = Guidance and purpose

Crescent Moons = Intuition and emotion

Armor = Protection and readiness

City = Leaving the familiar

Chariot = Forward movement

And suddenly… I understand the STORY.

Throughout LexTalk Tarot, I’m using a physical Rider-Waite-Smith style tarot deck because studying the artwork helps me understand each card instead of simply memorizing definitions.

If you’d like to learn alongside me using the same style of deck, you can [check out the tarot deck I’m using here — paid link].

You absolutely don’t need my exact deck to follow along. I’m simply sharing what I’m personally using throughout this journey.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Learning Tarot With a Journal

I’m also keeping notes about each card in a tarot journal.

And today’s extremely sophisticated beginner memory system?

TWO SPHINXES WANT TO GO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND THIS MAN NEEDS TO GET HIS SHIT TOGETHER.

Listen.

Tell me you won’t remember The Chariot now.

I’ll wait.

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, any notebook works perfectly.

But if you’d like a dedicated place for tarot meanings, symbolism, personal interpretations, and reflection prompts, you can [check out the tarot journal I recommend here — paid link].

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How I’m Remembering The Chariot

Beginner tarot friends… Don’t memorize this entire blog.

Here’s today’s cheat sheet:

THE CHARIOT — VII

Core Meaning: Direction and determination

Upright: Willpower, direction, momentum, confidence, self-control, focused action

Reversed: Lack of direction, scattered energy, frustration, forcing progress, feeling out of control

Charioteer: Willpower and leadership

Black & White Sphinxes: Competing forces or priorities

Wand: Intention and direction

Stars: Guidance and larger purpose

Crescent Moons: Emotion and intuition

Armor: Protection and preparation

City: Leaving the familiar

Chariot: Forward movement

Traditional Astrological Association: Cancer

And today’s beginner memory trick:

The Chariot = Pick a direction and take the reins.

Done.

One card.

One story.

29 Cards Into LexTalk Tarot!

Okay… NOW we’re ACTUALLY at Card #29.

No accidental Star repeat this time!

We’ve officially explored:

29 OF 78 TAROT CARDS!

That’s a little over 37% of the entire deck!

And I think The Chariot fits perfectly where we are in this journey.

Because starting something takes inspiration.

Continuing takes consistency.

But eventually?

We need direction.

Otherwise we’re just collecting projects.

And I say that with LOVE… as someone whose brain can create a brand-new project approximately every twelve minutes.

The Chariot reminds me:

Not every idea needs my attention at the same time.

I can choose.

I can prioritize.

I can change direction when necessary.

And I can keep moving without needing to know exactly how the entire journey will unfold.

One Last LexTalk Thought

I think The Chariot is one of those cards that initially sounds like:

GO!

PUSH!

WIN!

KEEP MOVING!

But the more I look at it… the less I think that’s the real lesson.

Because movement isn’t difficult for a lot of us.

We’re already moving.

Constantly.

We’re working.

Planning.

Creating.

Thinking.

Answering.

Helping.

Researching.

Scrolling.

Organizing.

Worrying.

We’re BUSY.

Maybe the bigger challenge is deciding:

Where am I actually trying to go?

Because if one part of me wants one thing… and another part wants something completely different…

I’m going to spend a LOT of energy without traveling very far.

Just like those two sphinxes.

One wants left.

One wants right.

And the chariot sits there like:

WELL, THIS IS GOING GREAT.

Maybe determination isn’t about pushing harder.

Maybe it’s about becoming clear enough that we know where to direct our energy.

And then?

We move.

Not perfectly.

Not always quickly.

Not without detours.

But intentionally.

And if we discover that the road we’re on isn’t working?

We reroute.

That’s not failure.

That’s navigation.

I LOVE that.

Because we don’t have to choose between:

Never giving up.

and:

Changing our minds.

Sometimes the destination remains important… but we find a better route.

Sometimes we realize the destination itself doesn’t fit us anymore.

And we’re allowed to choose another one.

The Chariot doesn’t lock us onto a road.

It puts us in the driver’s seat.

Or… the charioteer’s seat.

And maybe that’s today’s biggest lesson.

There are plenty of things in life we cannot control.

Other people.

Timing.

Algorithms.

Opportunities.

Unexpected problems.

Whether something works immediately.

But we can still ask:

What CAN I steer?

My effort.

My priorities.

My boundaries.

My choices.

My response.

My next step.

And maybe that’s enough.

You don’t need the entire map.

You don’t need to know exactly how long the journey will take.

You don’t need to move faster than everybody else.

You just need to know:

Which direction is mine?

And then?

Take the reins.

Well… metaphorically.

Because apparently this guy didn’t get any.

The Chariot = Pick a direction and take the reins.

One card. One lesson. One little bit of magic at a time.

— Lex

Tarot interpretations are subjective and are shared here for personal reflection, education, and entertainment. Tarot should not replace professional medical, legal, mental health, or financial advice.