Untamed, Uncontrolled

From the Alchemical Renewed Tarot, the Chariot; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Venus in Pisces:

I know not of any other single thing that brings such woe as the mind that is untamed, uncontrolled, unguarded and unrestrained.  —Buddha (Anguttara Nikaya)

Place's Chariot is illustrated with the mythical figure of Phaethon, the son of Helios, the sun god. The boy decided he had what it took to fly the sun chariot across the earth; unfortunately, he scorched the earth, dried up rivers and injured people. Zeus then sent a thunderbolt and fried him. Arrogance is fueled by an exaggeration of skills, while self-confidence is based on a realistic assessment of abilities. The Chariot asks us if our impulsive thoughts and emotions hold the reins or if we do. How do we know? Norman Fischer explains that we if we are controlled or compelled by them, then they are guiding us. Venus in Pisces is emotionally porous, vulnerable to the energies and moods of the outer world. Learning to observe our mental weather without being swept away can keep us from being at the mercy of those reins pulling us to and fro.

Effort + Encouragement

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Chariot; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Ansuz:

We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. —Jesse Owens

Orcas are powerful, swimming up to 34.5 mph and armed with four-inch teeth. Our dreams can be just as potent and require us to stay firmly in the lane of reality rather than fantasy (imagination builds, fantasy escapes). When we hit roadblocks or delays, we might be tempted to wig out or give up, but creativity can be a great resource if we avoid those options. Ansuz represents communicated wisdom that inspires and guides. When we're in need of inspiration, we should choose our encouragers with care. As J.W. Goethe wrote, “Instruction does much, but encouragement everything."

Incoming Messages

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Chariot; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, Birds:

The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

—Robin Sharma

The charioteer is represented by a statue known as Ephebe of Agrigento. Ephebe is a Greek term that describes a male adolescent who is in military training. His 'horses' are Naxian sphinx statues, symbols of power. The Greeks saw them as merciless - if you couldn't answer their riddles, you got eaten. How often have we vowed to do or change something, only to have our emotions or desires steer us off course? The Chariot is about learning to harness the senses, emotions and instincts so they work for us rather than against us. The Birds card symbolizes conversation, but because these birds are woodpeckers who often drum to communicate, this conversation might be of a different sort. Perhaps it an internal one from our body sending us a message. According to research, physical sensations within the body can cause psychological effects, and the ability to perceive and interpret those signals (interoception) can have a profound influence on mental health. We need to pause and question what's going on within us, using discernment before we follow or ignore those messages.

Shaping the Mind

From the Light and Shadow Tarot, the Chariot; from the Art Rounds Oracle, Coral:

Irrigators regulate the rivers; fletchers straighten the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; the wise control themselves. —Dhammapada, 80

This buddha-like charioteer pauses for the cause, taking a moment to let his emotions settle (holding the crab) so his mind will be clear. The booklet's verse reads: "I am the Chariot, which carries calm through torrent and tempest." Whether we're on a spiritual or physical journey, our mind has the ability to completely distract us or to keep us heading in the right direction. Being aware of our thoughts, we can turn them in a new direction if the mind is simply spinning plates rather than focusing on the task at hand. Coral reefs, though covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, support about 25% of all marine life.  These creatures form colonies by cementing themselves together with the calcium carbonate they secrete. This card suggests community, connection, and collaborative action. As Desmond Tutu stated, "The fundamental law of human beings is interdependence." We need to connect with others who will help us reach our goals - especially those who will point out when we've taken an exit ramp.

Gain and Loss

From the Cosmic Tarot, the Chariot; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Loss:

Those who are truly wise will remain unmoved by feelings of happiness and suffering, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, gain and loss.

—Buddha

This fellow, with his beard blowing in the wind, is making good time. But the faster we go, the less control we have, and the less we notice along the way. I'm celebrating my birthday today (my Medicare and Social Security debut, as my mother called it). At this point, I've lived more life than I have life left. So, while I want to keep moving and progressing, I don't want to do it at top speed. I want to appreciate the small joys and wonders that busyness didn't allow me to notice. Loss - a magpie with someone's piece of jewelry - is a reminder that aging does take some things and people away from us. Yet it can also bring gains in wisdom, if we keep our minds open, attentive and curious. 

Wisely and Slow

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Archer (Chariot); from the Rune Cards, Need (Naudiz):

Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.

—William Shakespeare

The Archer represents the Chariot - in the same way we must train ourselves with self-discipline and restraint to reach our goal, so the Archer trains her arrow (and her dogs) in hopes of a successful hunt. If our aims are to be reached, we must understand that forethought and patience are as important as persistence. Naudiz represents necessity, gaps in our plans that need our attention. People who are in a hurry to get what they want often make impulsive, emotional, or risky decisions. Choosing to delay our progress and correct those deficits can prevent the wheels from coming off on the journey.

Crossing the Finish Line

From the Shadowscapes Tarot, the Chariot; from the Cedar Runes, Uruz:

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live in.

—Jim Rohn

Moore envisions this Chariot driver as Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. By focusing on intent and will, obstacles can be overcome and triumph ours. But while self-confidence is grand, it must be paired with self-discipline as well. Uruz represents the aurochs, an ancient wild ox. It symbolizes strength, endurance and health. I've been stuck in a chair dealing with an intense situation for three days from sun-up to sun-down (not by choice). I've got a lot of arthritis in my lower back, and sitting with little movement locks joints up and causes intense pain. But today, I've been given an unexpected reprieve - a day off. While I'd love to lie in the bed, I think a visit to the chiropractor is in order if I'm going to make it through the next two weeks and cross the finish line. Discipline it is.

Moving Forward

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Chariot; from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 8 (Holding Together):

Say the word 'quest' out loud. It is an extraordinary word, isn't it? So small and yet so full of wonder, so full of hope. ―Kate DiCamillo

What is this strange machine Pieper uses for a Chariot? It is a Trojan Armored Vehicle, employed by the British Army; it is not a weapon, but a vehicle used to clear minefields and make difficult terrain easier to navigate. Its excavator arm can be used to dig, remove obstacles, or deposit the fascine it carries to cross trenches or marshes. The plow on the front allows the vehicle to push things out of the way or to detonate mines. Such a machine capable of multiple uses reminds us that any quest or journey requires planning and preparation, knowing there will be difficulties we must face along the way. Smooth sailing should not be expected. Hexagram 8, Holding Together, points to joining things that are separate or different into a coherent whole without suppression. In the case of the Chariot, it suggests that our will, emotions, and logic need to work together, assessing each need as it arises. Pause, breathe, and let the solution come, then move forward.

Desire and Commitment

From the Delta Enduring Tarot, the Chariot; from the Southernisms Oracle, "Have a hankering for:"

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek. ―Mario Andretti

This couple are taking a rest after loading one hundred heavy watermelons in their pickup. Soon they will grab their sign and head to the nearest town to see if they can sell their harvest. The Chariot is about movement, first in the preparatory stage of getting ready, then navigating to get to one's objective, and finally the arrival where the goal can be completed. It's generally more hard work than riding down the highway with the windows down and the music blaring. Hankering means to 'hang on,' and refers to our thoughts getting attached to an idea or desire. We all hanker after different things, but rarely do we satisfy them unless we get up and get moving.    

Get Moving

This week I'll be using the Urban Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Robin Scott (though now published by U.S. Games). I'll be pairing it with an oracle I created called "Principles to Live By." Today's draws are the Chariot and Gratitude:

Ignorance is bliss. Wisdom is blisters.

—Brian Spellman

Planning and preparation are essential for any big task or project, but at some point, we must stop making lists and start taking action. It's time to start gaining ground before our way is blocked. I live in the bottom corner of the state of Georgia. Tonight, we have been warned that an Arctic blast is arriving that will keep nighttime temps in the low 20s (F) accompanied by 25 mph winds. It will stick around for a couple of weeks and likely bring sleet and possibly snow. Now in Canada or North U.S., this is simply called winter. But in an area that rarely drops below 30 F, we are sorely unprepared. Yet we have been hurriedly doing our best to get ready anyway. [By the way Southerners do NOT know how to drive in sleet and snow, so avoid this area until it thaws.] Gratitude is a reminder of the resources we do have, including a home in which to harbor from the storm. It's a principle that can warm the heart, no matter what the weather.

Please Disregard

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Chariot; from the Pictish Oracle, the Eagle:

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.

― William James

What is it that distracts us from our focus, makes our confidence wobble, and dulls our will? While the stimulus might have come from the outside, the seed that grows from it is in our mind, a fictitious narrative that trips up our purpose and progress. The Eagle makes ten appearances on class I stones; an old Gaelic name for the eagle was ‘fireun’ which can be translated as truth, integrity or a just man. This bird suggests we check the soundness of those thoughts and ideas that cause us to deviate from our objective. As James wrote, we may need to disregard those that serve only as a distraction.

What's Holding the Reins?

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Chariot; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Key:

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. —Benjamin Franklin

The Charioteer in this image is a marble sculpture known as the Agrigento Youth; it took a violent fall, likely from an earthquake, losing his nose and parts of his arms and legs. The 'horses' are Naxian sphinx statues that guarded Apollo's temple at Delphi. Greek mythology describes them as merciless to those who could not answer their riddles. This card represents the strength of determination to reach one's goals. But what happens when life sends an 'earthquake' that disrupts our progress? Do we allow our baser instincts and emotions to run the show? Doing so would likely only create more problems than we are currently dealing with. The Lenormand Key offers us a way to meet our challenges wisely, by reining in our wild, chaotic thoughts and seeing with an unbiased perspective. Dispassionate attention can assist us in recognizing any resources that might aid us so that we can move forward once again. 

Unmoving

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Chariot; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Hei:

When you know what you want you go toward it. 

― Ayn Rand

The sphinxes asleep in the field of flowers suggest that something has gone awry with this charioteer. They move in the direction of his mind, and he seems to currently have a case of analysis paralysis. Is he afraid of making a wrong choice? Then he should take the words of Bryant McGill to heart: "A person who makes few mistakes makes little progress." Perhaps the journey isn't proceeding as planned, and now he doesn't know whether to keep going forward or turn back. Yet refusing to move won't help; he can make progress or make excuses. Hei is a Hebrew letter that means 'behold' and suggests a nudge to get us to wake up, pay attention, and get out of our rut. Progress doesn't depend on speed, just motion.

Towards the Goal

From the Rohrig Tarot, the Chariot; from the Master Tarot/Oracle, Two Horses:

In racing, they say that your car goes where your eyes go.

– Garth Stein

After he has been influenced and shaped by those he's met so far, the Fool gets behind the driver's seat and begins assert himself in the world. He's a bit like a kid who's just received his driving license, feeling excited with an undercurrent of trepidation. He hears in his head the voices that tell him not to get distracted or a wreck will be inevitable. But he soon learns it's not just the outer disturbances that can make him lose his focus, but the inner ones as well. His urge for freedom and his ambition encourage him to move, but move mindfully. The Two Horse card refers to the 47th verse in the Gospel of Thomas: "It is impossible for a man to mount two horses or to stretch two bows." The Chariot can't travel down two roads at the same time; there is a point where a choice must be made. Which one is simply a distraction, and which one will take us towards our goal?

Two Vehicles

This week I'll be using the Gaian Tarot, a deck and book set created and self-published by Joanna Powell Colbert (now published by Schiffer). I'll also be using the Goddess Oracle, a deck and book set created by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and illustrated by Hrana Janto. Today's draws are the Chariot and Freya:

Lose your mind and come to your senses.

~Fritz Perls

This Chariot is a canoe, paddled by a serious fellow intent on his getting to his destination. The eagle offers the medicine of fierce attention, the salmon tenacity, and the black and white orcas balance and harmony. His self-discipline and focus allow him to avoid emotional triggers and physical distractions, keeping him headed in the direction he desires. While such concentration is laudable, he might heed the message of the orcas and spend some time in his body instead of just in his head. The mind needs the vehicle of the body, and Freya (Norse goddess of beauty, passion and fertility) suggests we appreciate it and pay attention its wisdom too. 

Unattached

From the Middle Way Arcana, the Chariot; from the Vertical Oracle, Ritual:

The Great Way is not difficult for those who are unattached to their preferences.

~Seng-ts’an

Any progress can be stymied by what the Buddhists call the Three Poisons. Craving (rooster) is the obsessive desire for something we are sure will bring us happiness. Hatred (snake) is rage aimed as something we think is preventing our happiness. Delusion (pig) is refusing to see reality clearly because we prefer our own version. Skillful choices and actions require that we recognize when we're under the influence of these poisons and turn from them. Ritual is a set of specific actions that remind us of what is important and essential. These practices keep our mind focused on our purpose rather than being distracted by things that have nothing to do with the direction we're headed. 

Containing Frame

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Chariot; from Rory's Story Cubes, Chariot:

The attempt to look at your attitude—what you are feeling and thinking and the frame that holds it, is one of the routes to freedom.

―John Tarrant

The two humans pulling the Chariot are the animal instincts of its driver. Instincts are great for motivating behavior, but they have no safety switches. They tell us to run over anything or anyone to get to our goal. However the mind allows us to filter and direct these instincts rather than letting them become our master. Fire suggests the passions that motivate us; like our instincts, these strong attractions must be fed while also contained. As the Yin Yang symbol on the Chariot implies, there are times when we need to be passive and receptive, and times when we need to be active and assertive.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

— Viktor E. Frankl

As Appropriate

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Chariot; from the I Ching Pack, Hexagram 30 (Fire over Fire):

It's ironic that the Chariot has appeared today as I was supposed to be headed out of town but extremely bad weather and an injured, abandoned kitten have kept my wheels at rest. I feel torn by my mother's expectations (to show up no matter what) and my personal obligations (be safe, get the kitten stable). Hexagram 30, with keywords such as warmth and clarity, explains that we need to use our power in selfless ways. Ego would force a situation - go to keep the peace and people please or don't go at all and say "the hell with it." But the middle way, without attachments, would see what could be done without resorting to extremes. It suggests to be led by the light - receptive to seeing reality as it is - and then move (or stay) as is appropriate to the situation.

Necessary Weeding

From the Anna K Tarot, the Chariot; from the Meditation Cards, "Joy in Bloom:"

Klaffinger uses Phaeton, son of a water nymph and the sun god Helios, to illustrate her Chariot. Helios had promised to grant his son any wish, but when Phaeton said he wanted to drive his chariot, Helios tried desperately to talk him out of it. Even Zeus could not control those fire-breathing horses, so it wasn't too big a surprise that Phaeton lost control and scorched a large portion of the earth. Zeus, in order to save the earth, struck him down with  a lightning bolt. Daring to take on a challenge was not Phaeton's downfall, it was failing to prepare and train beforehand. Yet the "Joy in Bloom" card suggests we don't have to hide and lick our wounds forever; instead, we can learn from our mistakes.

Spring and all its flowers

now joyously break their vow of silence.

It is time for celebration, not for lying low;

You too — weed out those roots of sadness from your heart.

~ Hafiz

Mind Training

This week I'll be using the Tyldwick Tarot, created and self-published by Neil Lovell. I'll also be using the Antiquarian Lenormand, created and self-published by Maree Bento. Today's draws are the Chariot and the Lady/Ace of Spades:

This charioteer is missing a few limbs - a signal that his efforts will mainly be a mental effort rather than a physical one. The tapestry behind him ("The Boar and Bear Hunt") emphasizes the charioteer's hunt for what he desires. The statue itself is that of a Greek ephebos - meaning an adolescent male who was of age to train as a soldier. His 'horses' are Naxian sphinxes; they were seen as merciless guardians of tombs and sanctuaries. In this card, they warn that we need to guard the mind well. The Lady is represented by Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and she is the only woman to win the award in two different fields (physics and chemistry). She managed her many accomplishments while married with children. The Lady is a reminder that we should not let gender, class, or any other label stand in the way of the goals we want to reach.

A gender line... helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.

~Ruth Bader Ginsburg