The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No
Momentum is on your side if you commit to a direction. Hold your focus, keep your emotions steady and push forward.
| Arcana | Major Arcana |
|---|---|
| Number | 7 (VII) |
| Element | Water |
| Astrology | Cancer |
| Hebrew letter | Cheth (Golden Dawn attribution) |
| Yes or no | Yes |
| Upright | determination, momentum, control, victory |
| Reversed | loss of direction, pulling in two ways, frustration |
The Chariot symbolism
A warrior stands in a chariot beneath a canopy of stars, holding no reins. Two sphinxes, one black and one white, sit in front of the vehicle facing in slightly different directions. The city is behind him. The absence of reins is the key detail: he steers the opposing forces by willpower and focus alone.
The descriptions on this site refer to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909), illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith and designed with Arthur Edward Waite, which is the reference for most modern tarot. Other decks may show different imagery with a similar meaning.
Upright meaning
- determination
- momentum
- control
- victory
The Chariot is the card of determination and victory through willpower. It shows that you can move forward despite competing pressures, as long as you keep your focus and do not let either side pull you off course.
In a reading, the card often signals progress after a period of effort: winning a competition, passing a test, moving house, getting a car or finally taking control of a situation. Its number is seven, a number linked to effort, testing and triumph.
Reversed meaning
- loss of direction
- pulling in two ways
- frustration
Reversed, The Chariot shows a loss of direction. You may be pushing hard but in too many directions, or you may feel that circumstances are driving you rather than the other way round. Frustration, aggression or giving up just before the finish line are common themes.
Pause and choose one direction. Regaining control starts with deciding what matters most.
New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.
The Chariot in love and relationships
Upright in love
In love, The Chariot shows determination to make a relationship work or to move it to the next stage. For singles, it suggests taking the initiative. It can also represent balancing two different personalities in a couple.
Reversed in love
Reversed in love, the card can mean power struggles, a partner pulling in a different direction or trying to control the outcome too much.
The Chariot as feelings
As feelings, The Chariot means someone feels determined about you and may be actively pursuing the connection. They want to move forward.
Career and work
At work, The Chariot is a strong card for ambition, competition and hitting targets. It supports going after a promotion or leading a difficult project to completion.
Money and finances
With money, The Chariot favours disciplined saving toward a specific goal and staying on course despite temptations.
Is The Chariot a yes or no card?
Yes
The Chariot is a yes, provided you stay focused and in control. Success is earned through effort rather than luck.
Want to ask your own question? Try our yes or no tarot, which uses the same yes, no and maybe values shown on this page.
Number, element and astrology
The Chariot is card 7 (VII) of the Major Arcana, the 22 trump cards that describe life's big lessons and turning points. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's system, which shaped the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, it is attributed to the Hebrew letter Cheth and to Cancer, giving it the element of water.
Advice from The Chariot
Decide where you are going and hold the direction. Your willpower is stronger than the forces pulling you apart.
Example reading
Illustrative example
Someone preparing for a competitive entrance exam while working part-time draws The Chariot. The card supports success, provided they stop splitting their evenings between too many commitments and focus their energy on the exam until it is done.
This example is written by our editors to show how the card is read in context. It is not a real client's reading. See our tarot spreads for how positions change a card's meaning.
Related cards
Dream symbols linked to this card
Being late, Car. Our dream dictionary explains how the same symbolism appears in dreams.
Ask the cards about your situation
Draw three cards for your own question. Every card in your result links back to its meaning here.
Free tarot readingCard of the dayFrequently asked questions
What does The Chariot mean in tarot?
Upright, The Chariot means determination, momentum, control, victory. The Chariot is the card of determination and victory through willpower.
What does The Chariot reversed mean?
Reversed, The Chariot shows a loss of direction. You may be pushing hard but in too many directions, or you may feel that circumstances are driving you rather than the other way round. Frustration, aggression or giving up just before the finish line are common themes.
What does The Chariot mean in love?
In love, The Chariot shows determination to make a relationship work or to move it to the next stage. For singles, it suggests taking the initiative. It can also represent balancing two different personalities in a couple. Reversed in love, the card can mean power struggles, a partner pulling in a different direction or trying to control the outcome too much.
Is The Chariot a yes or no card?
The Chariot is a yes, provided you stay focused and in control. Success is earned through effort rather than luck.
Does The Chariot mean travel?
It can. Traditionally it is associated with journeys, vehicles and moving forward, so travel or relocation is a common interpretation.