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Key 7: The Chariot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Child of the Power of the Waters; Lord of the Triumph of Light

“The Eighteenth Path is called the House of Influence (by the greatness of whose abundance the influx of good things upon created beings is increased) and from the midst of the investigation the arcana and hidden senses are drawn forth, which dwell in its shade and which cling to it, from the cause of all causes.”  (Sepher Yetzirah)

The Eighteenth Path between Binah and Geburah takes us through the veil of the Abyss, thus connecting the Supernals with the seven lower Sephiroth. 

The Chariot of the Sun, as it is sometimes referred, is an apt portrayal of how the light of the Sun is carried by the Moon.  The lunar cycle has 28 days, four times seven, of which each quarter influences a period of growth or withdrawal.  The chariot acts as a throne which relates to the order of Angels Aralim of Binah, and is in movement, its wheels representing the Wheel of Fortune, Key 10, wherein are depicted the 12 zodiacal segments: this then connects the Chariot to Malkuth (as the 10th Sephira), Binah, and Chokmah, as Chokmah’s order of Angels are the Auphanim (Wheels).  The Charioteer, who is depicted in this card as Caesar, is associated with Kether.  He points upwards in ALTA PETA (“I seek the Highest”), his wings indicating that he is not of the mortal realms, but represents the Higher Self.  His armour and shield hold the protective aspects of Cancer, considered to be the celestial house of the soul.

This Key then reflects “A rule of ten, three, seven and twelve, and He appointed them in the Teli, the Cycle and the Heart.  The Teli[1] in the universe is like a king on the throne; the Cycle in the Year is like a king in the province; and the Heart in the Soul is like a king in battle.”[2]

In the solar plexus region of the Charioteer is seen a cross depicting the four directions and in between are seen the colours of the four elements, representing the Kerubim, showing that the chariot can be moved in any direction by Divine Will.

Ezekiel 1:6:  The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the colour of beryl (gemstone of Cancer), and all four had the same likeness.  The appearance of their workings was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.  When they moved they went toward any one of the four directions.  They did not turn aside when they went.

The Hebrew letter Cheth, meaning ‘enclosure’ or ‘fence’ can represent the boundary between God and man.  This card suggests that the chariot itself acts as a conduit for the energies of Binah, and Binah is the archetypal Temple. As the victorious warrior king leaves Geburah, he brings his throne into the Holy Sanctuary, the source of faith.  The Chariot is then both earthbound and celestial, as it must pass through the veil of the Abyss.  This is further symbolised by the two horses:  the black horse of the Law and the white horse of Love.  They are bound together to the chariot and Charioteer (Will) by two serpents, representing sexual energy that has been harnessed and is directed upwards.   When the forces of Law and Love are unbalanced, tension prevents the eagle (the high aspect of Scorpio) from projecting the sexual energy to the awaiting Mother, but is projected to the lesser mother, Malkuth.  Yet as Child of the Powers of Water, Lord of the Triumph of Light, on all seven levels of consciousness, the eagle’s keen sight will not fail to guide the Chariot to its eternal home.

Divination:

Triumph over obstacles.  Success in any undertaking.  Help and protection by Providence.  Unconscious sexual drive.  Moving forward, promotion.  Inner drive to succeed.  Travel.  Strong will and self-control.  Conception.  The Chariot almost always indicates a good omen. 

Ill-dignified:  Success will only materialise with continued effort.  Being unprepared.  Lack of discipline.  Failure due to lack of direction.


[1] Teli:  A celestial Pole Serpent that is in the Universe “like a king on his throne”, an axis-mundi upon which the world of manifestation hangs, a cyclic principle of space-time exemplified by the 12 constellations of the zodiac, a force that devours the Sun in eclipse, and a beast demonized by exoteric biblical religion that upon final judgment must be destroyed with God’s “great sharp sword”. http://cdcruz.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/teli-apep-celestial-serpants/

[2] Sefer Yetzirah, Aryeh Kaplan; Weiser Books; p.280