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Independently licensed psychotherapist offering traditional psychotherapy and psychospiritual counseling.

Monday, November 3, 2014

The Chariot: Beauty in Paradox

Welcome back to The Alchemy of Tarot! I hope you had a wonderful, safe, and healing Samhain tide. In the Northern hemisphere, we have entered into the darkest time of the year, and can better explore our internal wisdom, find balance, and appreciate the messages of shadow. These messages are best received in the quiet spaces of meditation, ritual, and introspection.

Rider-Waite Tarot
 In our journey through the tarot we have explored the first 6 cards of the deck, allowing us to enter the archetypes of The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress and Emperor, The Hierophant, and The Lovers. We now approach the 7th card of The Chariot. Ironic that in my most recent tarot reading for myself, I pulled this card as my querent!

  The Chariot, associated with the zodiac sign of Cancer illustrates the archetype of finding our direction in life, while acknowledging internal and external conflicts that may sometimes threaten to serve as an obstacle along our path. Looking at the Rider Waite illustration, the charioteer is clearly well prepared for battle. He is covered by the finest armor, wearing a laurel wreath, with a star on his crown...even his lower arms are shielded! He is protected from the elements by his elaborate Chariot with stars overhead and an insignia beneath. While he is sheltered from the elements, he has clear view of his path. On his shoulders are two crescent moons, both waxing and waning.The black and white sphinxes lay in front of the chariot, in a seemingly paradoxical state of active rest. These mythical creatures, like the charioteer, are prepared to move at a moment's notice.  Throughout the card we see these antithetical elements representing challenge and friction, yet needing to work in harmony in order to be successful in battle or other pursuits.


How do we negotiate our own internal battles? How do we navigate through disparate voices, disparate desires pulling us in separate ways? The Chariot archetype reminds us that we are complex individuals and often must work through internal strife along our paths. If we maintain focus we can utilize the energy of this struggle in a constructive way. This archetype reminds us that part of being human is struggle, and that as well prepared as we are to progress along any given path, we will still encounter obstacles....often internal, that threaten to block our way. It also allows us to honor the beauty of paradox, of the uncertain, the unknown. So often we look to find control and certainty in every situation. The tenets put forth in Terror Management Theory underline this desire to prescribe order and control in order to assuage feelings of uncertainty and chaos inside us, or within our environment. But guess what? We don't control everything, don't know everything and that's ok. There is infinite beauty in mystery and shadow, as well as infinite possibility! The Chariot demonstrates that even though we may live with uncertainty, we can still stride confidently towards our goals and dreams.

If you would like to book a Tarot reading, Reiki or intuitive session, please email me: abraxasintuitivearts@icloud.com and make sure to visit me on FB, Twitter, and my new website www.abraxasintuitivearts.com!

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