Looking to the UW, at first glance we seem to be looking at the image of a young prince or king riding in his chariot. Closer inspection however makes clear this is an illusion. The small sphinx before the Chariot, are not harnessed to the cart. Even if they where strong enough to pull it. The prince has neither whip nor reigns to command them, just a scepter. The prince himself is dressed up rather like a dandy, and the cart looks more pretty than functional. Our inspection has made it clear, that our prince is no prince, but rather an actor portraying one. If this sounds familiar I have mentioned this before in group. At the time I also pointed out that I myself did not decypher the card, but became aware of the story behind the card through Whitley Stiebers, The Path.

Yet as Janina Points out in her essay on the card the Chariot is traditionally a card about Mastery. The charioteer has to command a team of animals into a cohesive whole, at the same time he has to remain in control of his vehicle and his self. People of my generation remember the spectacle of the Chariot Race in Ben Hur, on the Telly. It really captured the danger (a little too well a stunt man was killed filming the scene.). So which is it, is the Chariot a card about an Actor or a King. I think the answer lays in the mans costume. The Crescent moons trimming the Charioteers shoulders tie him firmly to the moon, and the water element. Not what we would expect. A charioteer One would think would clearly be a wands card. As shown by the wonderful example of this card in the Tarot of the Old Path.

The Chariot is about Mastery, but the action occurs under the surface. It is about the mastery of our own internal landscape. In the Tarot of Marseilles, the chariot is pulled by horses going in different directions. Internally we have all had these moments. Our own internal energies pull us in different directions. In these moments we need sometimes to be the actor in our own lives. Too walk the walk, and talk the talk, and play the role presented too us. One role obviously is the role of parent. We often have to put our parenting first. Ground a child, sit them down, play the authority figure in our childs life even though it can often be difficult.

Once I found my daughter out, concerning some piece of mischief I have long sense forgotten. It seemed at the time, she needed a swat on the bum. I called her into the house, and sat back in my chair. She came in dressed for the English winter. Standing in front of my chair so very small all of 4 years old, and nervous. I looked at her for a long moment, and said "forget it go play outside." Daddy's are no match for Bunny Ear-Muffs. Just the same though I always took my role seriously and for the most part fulfilled the role of her father. Her mom tells a story where D' got just so made at her for disciplining her and shouted. "I wont be your friend anymore." Her mom replied. "Im not your friend, Im your Mother." Its a role alot of people are uncomfortable with nowadays. It seems to me alot of parents want to be their childs friend, and personally I think its a mistake the child pays for in the end. We have a job to do, setting boundaries to their behavior so they can grow up to be people capable of living without us. Seems just a little sad, but thats the job, from day one. Prepare them for the day they will be on there own.

Another example is when one is looking for work. One must be careful about how one presents oneself to a potential employer. Again we have to be an actor for a moment. The Hiring manager does not need a friend. In my case s/he needs a technician. I need to communicate to the interviewer that I am comfortable with test equipment and the skills that go into maintaining Satcom services and repairing electronics. S/he does not need to know about my hopes for other interviews, nor, how devastating being unemployed feels. I need to wear a brave face for an hour, control my inner life, and present my best self.

Some people may feel that this is some way dishonest, putting up a front. I dont think so, Im not talking about lying on your resume, that is dishonest. What I am saying, is being you best self from time to time, gives you something to aspire too. It sets a mark. I can be my best self. I can be more like the person I imagine myself to be, and be the man or woman I imagined I would grow up to be when I was a child. I can Master the Chariot,

Blessed Be All, BB.

Divination: Control, Continue Effort bears fruit, Overcoming adversities. Self discipline.

Reversed: Out of Control, Feeling overwhelmed, Time to rely on your Inner Warriar, Center with-in.