Tarot is an excellent tool for meditation to enhance spiritual growth. With Tarot, in our readings we each have subtly different meanings for the different cards, meanings which work well for ourselves better than anyone else’s. Spiritual Tarot works the same way. We each have our own path and we each see subtly different things in the Major Arcana cards to help us along that path.

With this series I’m sharing my journey, in hopes that it might help to shine a little light on yours.

The Charioteer stands in his gray chariot in front of what appears to be a river. In the distance behind him a city can be seen. He wears body armor with a golden breastplate; there is a white square on it symbolizing the number four, reason and practicality. His helmet is black, trimmed with gold, and ringed with what looks like a living wreath of green. At his shoulders are two moon-shaped figures, one showing a smiling face and the other frowning, symbolizing the positive and negative polarities of the Universe. The front of the chariot show the wings of inspiration above the Lingham-Loni, the Hindu sign of male and female, again signifying positive and negative polarity. In front of it, where you would expect to see horses, are two small sphinx-like figures, one black, one white (once more signifying positive and negative polarity) and they are lying down. The sphinxes are facing somewhat away from each other; if they were to try to pull the chariot, they would be pulling in two different directions.

Now, things get interesting. Looking closely at the Chariot, it looks as if it is made of concrete. Even if the sphinxes stood up and pulled together, they probably wouldn't be able to move it, it would be far too heavy. Interesting. There are no harnesses hitched to the sphinxes either and, although the charioteer holds his hands in the position of driving, there are no reins. This just doesn't give the picture a sense of motion; it looks more like suspended animation, or, perhaps, a pause in the action. Now it's time to connect the dots. Just what is going on, here, anyway?

The Chariot represents our conscious mind in the process of driving the body along its chosen course. Metaphysically, the Chariot symbolizes receptivity. It shows, in effect, a pause in everyday action to listen, to be receptive to Higher Guidance. We all have a pipeline to the Divine, we are an integral part of the Divine! Through meditation, we can learn to tune in to this Force, our God-Self, for Guidance in making our decisions. We learn how to listen to that still small voice within us. It's there for all of us; we just have to listen. Now, the Guidance will not overpower what we are thinking or doing. It lets us go on our way, taking as much time as we want to learn life's hard lessons. But, it is always there if we take the time to listen for it. It often speaks to us in feelings. Like the Lovers taught us, we can feel whether what we are about to do is right or wrong for us. It also comes as a quiet inner voice telling us "this is good!" or "this is not so good!"

Again, we are all part of the Divine and the All is always there to guide us. The more we take the time to listen, the faster we will learn and grow. We need to learn to meditate, to listen. It's very important to us.

That's what the Chariot means to me.