CARD NUMBER 21. – The African despot (Roboam).

Upright. – Revenge, rupture, riot, hatred, tyranny. Near Card number 56: quarrel between parents or other family members.

Reversed. – Quarrel calmed down. Near card number 12 : certain reconciliation.

“You are free to choose, but you are not free to choose the consequences of that choice.” – Adrian Rogers

The Costs of Freedom

With freedom comes the ability to make your own decisions. You can choose how to live your life, from the most minute aspects of everyday existence to the far more complex systems of living in a society of other unique individuals. At the same time, freedom also means being able to live with the lifestyle that these choices create. The Chariot is very familiar with this natural trend, and is willing to adapt to the circumstances that he forces upon himself. Whether they be good or bad, he recognizes the consequences of his own actions and uses them to inform his future decisions, but is always able to handle the hardships that he inflicts upon himself. He is able to support himself through most anything, and may be more comfortable acting independently from others. His distaste for reliance on others makes it difficult for him to ask for assistance or admit defeat.

You are much like The Chariot, and value your own personal freedom far more than anything else. Even if this means putting yourself in an undesirable living situation, you would much prefer an existence where you are self-sufficient over one where you have no choice but to rely on others. You take great pride in your freedom, and are very good about not complaining about the situations that you may sometimes put yourself into. However, there are times where your hunger for freedom has put you in extreme situations, and it would have been a much better idea to just let yourself fall under the ward of others, even if it is just temporarily. Freedom isn’t something that you lose forever; it is always something that can be regained, even if you are working from a state of total reliance. There are going to be times where you can’t be completely free from the influence of others. This is completely normal, and there are many situations where your physical or mental health will need to be prioritized over your ability to remain totally self-sufficient. However, if you continue to push for freedom and independence, then you must be prepared to deal with even the worst consequences, especially if you had seen them coming.

While romance may be a mutual agreement, it should not feel as though you are being trapped. Being in a romantic relationship with someone means that you are willing to stick with and support them even through the hardest of times; if you are to have true freedom, it is going to be mutual freedom as a couple, not individual freedom from each other. In order to have a healthy romance, you have no choice but to sacrifice your complete autonomy. This isn’t always easy to accept, but this is simply the nature of being in a relationship. If you are unable to come to terms with this, it could potentially stand to cause you grief later down the line. Distress over the loss of total independence has the capacity to destroy a relationship, and it is therefore something that should be addressed early so as to not be threat in the first place.

You may be struggling with the loss of your total autonomy due to a romantic relationship, therefore jeopardizing your ability to maintain long lasting, meaningful relationships. This issue can manifest in a variety of ways: you may be feeling the urge to physically get away from your partner, the two of you may be getting into arguments over the excessive amount of time you spend doing activities without them, or you may even be doing disloyal things behind your partner’s back. While you shouldn’t feel trapped in a relationship, you must also accept the fact that you’ve entered into a state of mutual trust and support, and therefore have certain obligations to your partner that must be met. If you are unable to cope with the total loss of your autonomy, then this is an issue that you must work on within yourself before committing to another person. You don’t need to give up romance completely, but in order to avoid hurting your partner in the future, this is an internal issue that you need to come to terms with.

SEVEN. THE CHARIOT

An erect and princely figure carrying a drawn sword and corresponding, broadly speaking, to the traditional description which I have given in the first part. On the shoulders of the victorious hero are supposed to be the Urim and Thummim. He has led captivity captive; he is conquest on all planes—in the mind, in science, in progress, in certain trials of initiation. He has thus replied to the Sphinx, and it is on this account that I have accepted the variation of Eliphas Lévi; two sphinxes thus draw his chariot. He is above all things triumph in the mind.

It is to be understood for this reason (a) that the question of the sphinx is concerned with a Mystery of Nature and not of the world of Grace, to which the charioteer could offer no answer; (b) that the planes of his conquest are manifest or external and not within himself; (c) that the liberation which he effects may leave himself in the bondage of the logical understanding; (d) that the tests of initiation through which he has passed in triumph are to be understood physically or rationally and (e) that if he came to the pillars of that Temple between which the High Priestess is seated, he could not open the scroll called Tora, nor if she questioned him could he answer. He is not hereditary royalty and he is not priesthood.

Most careers are going to involve interacting with other people. Unless you are self-employed, there is generally always going to be some sort of hierarchy that you will be placed into upon being hired with a company. While your work may be performed independently for the most part, this does not mean that you will able to get by without interacting with your coworkers or following guidelines enforced upon you by management. Many employers desire a type of freedom-loving employee; because they can work without supervision or instruction, these type of employees are able to produce work without supervisors feeling the need to constantly breath down their neck. However, an employee must be trustworthy with this freedom, and it is oftentimes very difficult to earn.

You are an independent employee; you are able to do your work duties without much assistance or supervision from others, and would much prefer to complete you work-related tasks alone. Your supervisors trust that you will do a good job even without their guidance, and you are generally left to your own devices. This is the perfect type of work for you, and despite the fact that you still have no choice but to rely on others from time to time, you are generally very satisfied with this position. However, if you feel as though you are being suppressed by your work environment, this may be a sign that it is time to pursue such a job where you are able to work in an independent state. This may mean having a talk with supervisors, applying for a different position within the same company, or even leaving your current job in order to pursue a career of self-employment. Should you continue to stagnate in an environment where you feel suppressed, it is very easy to become bitter and discontent with your work, leading to emotional turmoil and a lack of dedication to your work. To avoid this, be sure to find a position that is going to give you room to breathe and work without the oppressive gaze of others.

When one is afraid to deal with the consequences of their actions, they may allow themselves to fall into a state of inaction. When The Chariot appears in the reversed position, it may be a sign that you are refusing to take responsibility in your life, and are not properly adapting to the freedom that you have to make important life decisions. You can’t always rely on others to take care of you; there has to be a point where you step up and take responsibility for yourself.

This does not mean that you need to move forward completely on your own, and without any outside assistance. Instead, take this as a sign that it is time for you to move forward without the direct help of others. Take a moment to identify what has been holding you back, and take steps in eliminating these limiting factors. The first step is always the hardest, but once you gain more experience in taking care of yourself, you will find that it gets easier and easier with time.

The Chariot represents fast pace. This is a time to seek what you desire and through the obstacles, go forth in a determined manner. You are in control, you have the willpower you need to see you through, and you are ready for anything. This can only mean The Chariot is a YES card.

• Upright Chariot – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Reversed – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Meaning for Love – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Love Reversed – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Meaning For Advice – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Meaning For Advice Reversed – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Health – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Marriage – Yes or No?
• The Chariot Interpretation In A Practical Reading – Yes or No?