Original sketch for THE CHARIOT (VII) in The Marker Tarot
Closer to how THE CHARIOT (VII) will appear in The Marker Tarot
For comparison, THE CHARIOT (VII) in the well-known Rider/Waite/Smith deck
As I mentioned at the end of my previous post about THE LOVERS (VI), today's card for "The Market Tarot,"* THE CHARIOT (VII) is another card I've never really "gotten next to." Even when the usually male Charioteer is female, it still tends not to generate more for me than "You go, Girl!" This may have to do, at least in part, with my personal over-focus on the inner world. As VII can be seen as action in the outer, material world. I.e., the choices made in the inner arena of VI are now being applied in the outer world in some concrete way. This, of course, is the logical next step for The Fool, as s/he has developed enough to move beyond living inside, to exploring and building in the material realm. In fact, it's a necessary step out of the protective egg of the small self, into the risky but rich and vital material world.
Synchronistically, I'm presently having trouble being out in the concrete world (literally in the case of sidewalks :-D) both due to a physical problem and to a spate of more than usually intense emotional upheaval. But I have been sorely missing my almost daily very long walks (as much as two miles) on which I use my own version of a chariot: a wheeled walker. When I saw my final drawing for VII finished and taped to the card (there are several previous versions), I laughed out loud. It looks a bit like The Fool (the circle) seated on a flying magic carpet! And that would be my wish now, as an injured toe prevents those long walks until it heals. Also, because it's such an effort to get anything accomplished in this world the more I age. Ah, if "Pigs had wings ..." But they don't, and carpets and walkers can't fly either. Neither can the chariots of our bodies, pulled forward by our conscious and unconscious minds -- sometimes contrary, sometimes cooperating, sometimes utterly oblivious to each other.
Next card up will be STRENGTH (VIII), one of my favorite Majors (as well as one of my favorite Marker Tarot designs so far). THE CHARIOT/teer has become more active in the world, as well as more accomplished in staying "on the road" while still honoring inner processes. But VIII brings in an even deeper and higher challenge that can lead to further integration.
*The other two decks I've got going are Roswila's Taiga Tarot (blog dedicated solely to the deck's designs), and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal (you can search for "Found Tarot" at the top left of this blog; the photo/cards for The Found Tarot are salted betwixt and between all sorts of other posts).
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For the full details (history of and ideas behind this deck's designs) please see this blogs' first post, The Fool.
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'til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot, in whatever forms it comes to you,
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under "View my complete profile")**** SEE ALSO: Roswila's Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry; and Trying to Hold A Box of Light for digital photos only.
