DESCRIPTION

The victorious hero, who wears a laurel wreath crown topped with metal and star, has conquered the mind and progressed through certain trials of initiation. In Plato’s allegory of Phaedrus, it is the task of the charioteer—representing the soul—to rein in the horses of immortality and mortality in their journey to the ridge of heaven. The crescent moons on his shoulders symbolize the Moon’s rulership over Cancer, emphasizing that the moon’s cycles must be understood and honored. The breastplate and gauntlets of the charioteer resemble a crab’s armor, further emphasizing the connection to Cancer. The victorious warrior is at the helm of his chariot, which is drawn by two sphinxes, but they’re still at rest in their final preparation for the adventure. This idea of enclosure and protection is depicted in a number of ways within this key: the wall of the city, the Chariot itself, the armor of the charioteer, and also the castle. The charioteer stands as if embedded in a solid stone cube, possibly representing the “Cube of Matter,” symbolizing our material world. The walled city in the background indicates the world that he’s leaving behind in his quest for self-actualization. The Chariot is on the other side of the river from the city, which represents liberation and being set free. His consciousness is now free to grow and expand after having successfully completed his training and preparation.

The charioteer’s posture is standing perfectly aligned as the middle pillar. The sphinxes are black and white like the two pillars of polarity. The white one represents force and expansion, while the black one represents form and limitation. We must learn when to apply each mode of movement in order to achieve balance and safety in our drive. There are no reigns because the charioteer is the master of his own ship, he steers with his mind. The emblem on the front of the Chariot is an emblem of Shiva, with an interlinked lingam and yoni. This shows that there must be a perfect union of masculine and feminine forces that generate all things on the quest for divine knowledge. The masculine force performs the mental magic while the feminine is the magic of embodiment. This symbol is set within a shield and above that is a winged solar disk, which is a solar symbol of power that was loved by the ancient Egyptians. The winged solar disk represents freedom, liberation, and spiritual transcendence.

The Chariot also embodies a link between Heaven and Earth. There is a starry canopy, which refers to the constellations, indicating that there is celestial purpose reflected in earthly actions. The secret wisdom is attained by battling with and overcoming our lower nature while bringing our higher spirit into the physical world of form. The gift of the Charioteer is the gift of mind in its capacity to contemplate the divine, through philosophy, science, and the advancement of self-insight and culture. You’ve encountered the Chariot in your life when you’ve experienced the capacity to create movement and change with a sense of balance, will, and use of mind. Chariot people are natural motivators and catalysts. A role model when you were a kid or perhaps someone you look up to now are people who have been The Chariot in your life. As for more contemporary examples, we might think of the astronauts who were some of the first to explore outer space or any kind of explorer who seeks adventure and glory. Other careers might be as a motivational speaker, a coach, or a change agent hired to help transform a company.