Exploring the Major Arcana Through The Zodiac: Cancer Season and The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning

I can. I am. I will. 

I can. I am. I will. 

I can. I am. I will. 

With each labored breath, I repeated these phrases in my mind over and over and over again. Drenched in sweat, feet pounding into the pavement, these words would propel me through the toughest moments in my half-marathon training over a decade ago. The body was quickly seduced by the desire for easy oxygen, but the mind was (thankfully) determined to complete each run. 

Over the course of 10 months, my body became stronger, but the experience was much more transformative for my mind. I opened to a new level of personal power, fueled by a carefully directed will and determination to follow through. 

This is my experience of The Chariot, the 7th card of the major arcana. It is also a card that represents Cancer season, of which we’ve been in now since Summer Solstice, June 20. Cancerian energy involves the home, family, nurturing, protection and lots of emotional depth, which The Chariot alludes to in multiple ways: The alertness of the charioteer, the celestial symbols—particularly the moons on their shoulders, representing emotional awareness—and especially the breastplate of armor, protecting the heartstrings of the driver. 

As you can see, a warrior stands in full regalia at the helm of a readied, but not-yet-moving, chariot. Blessed with the symbols of stars and crescent moons, before a move is made, they remember the depth of who they are; stardust incarnate. From this perspective, they view the present moment.

Flanking each side of the chariot are a black and white sphinx, representing the opposing forces that live both inside and outside of us. This warrior has worked to harness them, coaxing them into their power. It’s all systems go. A threshold has appeared.

At this threshold we have a decision to make. We’re ready, we’re recharged, we’re prepared and we’re armored up, but we haven’t moved just yet. Will we move forward with faith in ourselves, attempting what’s possible? Or will we stand here, contemplating, waiting for the right moment, hoping something will happen? 

The Chariot tarot card meaning often indicates you’re more ready than you realize. It’s time to harness the power of your will, to dig down into the gritty depths of determination and attempt a lofty goal. Sometimes it also indicates you’re more than prepared to set a difficult personal boundary, especially when we view it in the sense of Cancer’s archetypal energies of protecting the softness of your emotional vulnerability. Boundaries are often seen as callous, cruel or heartless, but on the contrary, when done with intention, are a form of self-love that allow us to create our own sense of emotional security and safety within. The amount of preparation we’ve taken for this decision, whatever it may be, is obvious in the card. The energy is proactive, not reactive. You can trust yourself.

If you’re the warrior staring out into the world, you’ve weighed your options, you’ve come to a peaceful internal resolution, and now it’s time to draw the line in the sand…what are you waiting for?

Ready to step over that threshold? Need a little guidance? You know where to find me.