The Chariot - Rider Waite Tarot imageThe Chariot divinatory meaning relates to higher knowledge, scientific inspiration and research. May also mean spiritual sciences and esoteric/hermetic arts. Enlivening energy within the given situation leading to a reasoned resolution inspired by insight.
In the Merlin Tarot, The Chariot is a female figure, deriving from a number of the well known classical goddess names; an archetype of Minerva. The political Minerva of the Roman Empire is a taylor made image imposed upon a wild, chariot driving goddess of the Celts. In the Merlin Tarot, the name Minerva is used in a functional sense as opposed to a Roman historical sense.
All variant forms of the goddess are representative of culture & civilisation utilising wild energies of life towards creative balanced ends. Thus, she has a savage primal goddess within her, yet protects and inspires selected heroes towards achievements which help mankind to develop collectively.
The Charioteer employs individual and collective consciousness as a vehicle for specific consciousness; guided mind and intellect to balance & define wild energies within a situation.
The Charioteer, in the Merlin Tarot image (not the one above) carries a long spear/staff which represents power under control and direction of a guiding consciousness; the Charioteer directs the horse & the chariot (the vehicle of the guided consciousness), and if necessary she defends the ford across the stream, the road and the city beyond. She bears a circular shield on her left shoulder, which bears the face of a solar god. He is Bel and represents the victorious sun, the pagan sun kings, gods & heroes who were guided by the goddess.
The Charioteer as mentioned previously is the symbolic Minerva, who is the patroness of all arts, sciences, all cultural growth. She brings balance & harmony into the minds of mortals; but she also has a warlike role acting as a defender or destroyer.
In the Chariot she brings corruption through the cleansing and enlightening power of intellect in service to spiritual consciousness. Her role is to challenge our preconceptions of intellectual or scientific superiority before she permits us to develop further. This last role is a reflection of the basic power of taking; or red dragon.
The path of the Chariot is that of development and pattern building. The cultivated landscape and constructed city in the image are alternative forms of the spiral path over the moor and the hill with its mysterious cavern. The city is the enduring, timeless Holy City, in which the grail may have been found at certain times. The city holds within its walls the Mystery of Light. (taken from The Merlin Tarot by R J Stewart)
