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Total Barbelith Tarot: 7-The Chariot

  
 
Rex City-zen
16:45 / 05.09.01
So it has been decided then that we will continue with individual threads per card.

Today brings us to:

VII- THE CHARIOT


Tarot index
 
 
Rex City-zen
16:50 / 05.09.01
 
 
Ierne
17:04 / 05.09.01
This card represents the state of mind where - unlike the last card - everything is going a bit too smoothly and things happen a bit too easily. Often complacency sets in, or an overinflated sense of ego.

Luckily, nothing is as simple as it seems...
 
 
Annunnaki-9
19:53 / 05.09.01
I'll leave the Kabbalistic stuff to others, but this card can mean discipline. It has an air of "Mars Enthroned" in a triumphal victory, but not the common (and correct) view of Mars as unmitigated masculine agression, rather Mars tempered by self-control. This is victory achieved through discipline.
 
 
the Fool
00:11 / 06.09.01
Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
and baby I love you

beep beep'm, beep beep YEAH!
 
 
Rex City-zen
17:11 / 06.09.01
CHARIOT

Astrological Sign: CANCER

Use of inner will.
The chariot represents the use of inner will and intelligence to achieve personal goals.Anything the querent sets out to do will be accomplished.Will overcome anyone and anything that stands in hir way.Intentions are pure with a disciplined focous.
REVERSED:
Conflict and problems due to opposing aims and ideas,from another or one's self.Can be overpowered by opposition and lack of experience.May also be confused about which route to take to resolve situation.
 
 
grant
17:43 / 06.09.01
The Chariot: That's right, I DO own the road.
 
 
Rex City-zen
18:47 / 06.09.01
cute
 
 
Annunnaki-9
19:57 / 06.09.01
Arright, arright- a little Kabbalistic stuff for my favorite card.

Look at this card and the High Priestess in the Waite-Rider deck. See any similarities? See also the Hierophant. These three cards (II, V and VII) cross the Abyss that separates the highest three sephira from the lower. THey are initiatory cards. THe High Priestess is an initiation into the Mysteries, the Hierophant an initiation into an ordered scheme, a church, a party, something with a doctrine well set out and explained by an adept, whereas the Priestess initiates in a lot more subtle manner, usually individually, and there's a lot more left of the mystery after she goes away, usually leaving the aspirant saying 'wha...?' It's not uncommon for males to fall in love with their Preistess teacher in whatever form she manifests herself. But she'll go away- she'd better, It's one of the tests.

All this being said, I'm a little unclear as to the nature of the Chariot's initiation. There's the whole 'Protector of the Holy Grail" thing, at least in the Thoth deck. There's a martial quality here, but also, as we all know, the finder of the Grail was a lone wolf, so to speak. I stand by the discipline thing mentioned above, but I don't think it's a military style indoctrination. Maybe more of the old style of warrior, like an Indian of the plains, counting coup and raiding horses, seeking glory through prowess in a highly individual way. This accounts for the Geburah-ic influence.

Related: two other Major Arcana leap the Abyss- the Lovers, already spoken about, and Atu XVII: the Star.
The Lovers can be an initiation into ego-destruction through the Beloved. What of the Star?
 
 
Rex City-zen
16:09 / 10.09.01
Of course 6 being the number for man(kind) and the number f dimensions lost at creation.
The addition of the star to the lovers (17+6=) is the enigmatic 23.Fall apart.The star crossed lovers seperated by time and space...(wipes tear from eye)
The aquarian deck which I prefer has the lovers and the star connected as before and after pictures...I will post them asap and discuss this more when we "hit" the star.
 
 
Rex City-zen
16:11 / 10.09.01
Gawd...
I found the fool's perc perscription and posted the above in the wrong thread!!
That'll teach me to listen to those of you who told me to make it all one thread...
aaargh!
 
 
Kobol Strom
18:33 / 10.09.01
The chariot,The Dragon of Death,Hot Rod,Crazy wheels.'Frankenstein' in Deathrace 2000.MAD MAX Interceptor V8,with turbo.Put your seatbelts on.Set a course for the heart of the sun.The Mig 29 fulcrum.Marios platforming action.Jamie and the magic torch.Hitchin a ride.Funky love train.Alpine drive.Little Nellie gets wet.Chuck Yeager and the BELL X1.Apollo 13.The suns rays.Gravity.Earth.American graffiti.Arnie and every vehicle in 'Commando'.The Nostromo.The catalyst.The place of transition and it will have important resonance with transpiring events.Watch for signals in the wallpaper.The shifting sands of cliche.
 
 
Mordant Carnival
19:58 / 10.09.01
Upsly: You are going to pass your driving test.
Downslow: You are flunking your driving test. Or your car is going to break down.

Trust me on this.
 
 
Rex City-zen
17:41 / 27.09.01
THE NOMINATION FOR THE CHARIOT CREATOR IS:THEO CALYPSO( Self appointed gaurdian of the Chariot )

If you don't mind...??
 
 
Annunnaki-9
20:50 / 27.09.01
You know, I'm honored for the nomination, and I'd like to thank the Academy, my parents (gods bless 'em), ect, etc....

BUT- as far as computers go, I can to two things and two things only- e-mail and surf web. That being said, I do indeed have some skills in the visual design field, I'd be happy to hand draw my conception and send to another for scanning puposes. With my limitations, it's all I can do.
 
 
cusm
23:32 / 27.09.01
quote:Originally posted by Theo Kalypso:
All this being said, I'm a little unclear as to the nature of the Chariot's initiation.

The Chariot, as card of internal will, initiates himself. He has mastered the powers of darkness and light (or your preferred duality), setting them against each other as an engine to generate energy that pulls him where he wants to go. How else does one cross the abyss form Gebura, save through his own power? He wishes to see what is across, so he goes there, and finds the answers he sought.

As icon of individual will, one interpretation is that the charoit does not move, but stays in one place. It is the world which moves around it. It is the temple of the world, the center of all things. It can take him to the higher spheres, where he finds he no longer has need of it.
 
 
Ganesh
23:40 / 27.09.01
It's the Palace On Wheels...
 
 
Lothar Tuppan
13:25 / 03.10.01
So... is our culture's fascination with cars about the quest for control over our lives and the strengthening of our wills?

"heading out to the highway. I've got nothing to lose at all. Going to do it my way, take a chance before I fall." - Judas Priest.

"I am a rocker, I am a roller, I'm an all out controller. I'm the Night Rider baby!" - Mad Max

(with enough Mezcal, Mad Max can be about anything. Damn good movie )
 
 
Rex City-zen
16:47 / 03.10.01
THEO...
That would be fine...if you are still interested. I thought it was a good idea since you are the self proclaimed gaurdian of the chariot.
Let me know...
 
 
Lothar Tuppan
12:38 / 04.10.01
quote:Originally posted by Theo Kalypso:


All this being said, I'm a little unclear as to the nature of the Chariot's initiation. There's the whole 'Protector of the Holy Grail" thing, at least in the Thoth deck. There's a martial quality here, but also, as we all know, the finder of the Grail was a lone wolf, so to speak. I stand by the discipline thing mentioned above, but I don't think it's a military style indoctrination. Maybe more of the old style of warrior, like an Indian of the plains, counting coup and raiding horses, seeking glory through prowess in a highly individual way. This accounts for the Geburah-ic influence.



I know my previous post sounded a bit flippant but I'm serious: Doesn't it seem that the old meme (highly prevalent in the 70s and 80s) of the post-apocalyptic wandering warrior (quite frequently with some sort of vehicle that is also a weapon) was tapping into the same sort of archetypes that are resonant in the Chariot? Maybe this is obvious but I've never connected it before. You just got me all hot and bothered about all this!

Hell, even the newer video games that revisit those themes (Interstate '76, Fallout) follow the parameters you layed down above.

I gotta go drive around before I get any more excited.
 
 
cusm
12:53 / 04.10.01
*imagines Mel Gibson posing for the card art*

hmm...

The Chariot as the Man With No Name. I like it.
 
 
Annunnaki-9
01:36 / 13.10.01
I'm sorry, but due to recent events, I've found it advisable to take a vow of media silence (hereby violating my own rule) untril, well... until.

We're screwed. All of us. the sooner you aLL Realize this, the safwer yuoull be.

we're screwed/
 
 
Lothar Tuppan
13:19 / 15.10.01
Theo, don't let the world take the reins of the Chariot away from you. The tragedies of the world may run you off the road but don't do it for them.

We're all scared (except for maybe those in deepest denial) but I don't think that means we need to get sandwich boards that say "The End is Nigh."

There's plenty of ways to meet the inevitable future. Which road you take is up to you.
 
 
Rex City-zen
16:53 / 15.10.01
Fuck it.
Live life like a car ad.
 
 
Annunnaki-9
20:53 / 29.04.02
Well after long silence and many miles under my wheels, I'm back. I used to be 'Theo Kalypso, self-proclaimed protector of 'the Chariot'.' So, is there any art for this card, or shall I get to work?
 
 
enough
21:39 / 29.04.02
...over the bad spell, eh Theo?...Let's revive the deck! We are all still alive...By all means, make the card! You're the one for the job...
RIDE THE SNAKE
 
 
the king of byblos
08:42 / 21.04.03
hi,
this may ramble a bit but Robert Graves gave a strange account of the chariot symbol, not directly associated with the Tarot but pertinent nonetheless:
the chariot has four wheels, each with four spokes seated on this is a armoured man carrying the obligatory cup/challice/grail.
Each wheel represents one of the four years of a sun-king's reign after which he is sacrificed on the leap-day.
There is one wheel for each of the traditional four totem animals (later the four gospel Saints).
Each wheel has four spokes, one for each of the equnoxes [and for the four royal cards in the minor arcana?]
The caracter on the chariot is the Sun-king who is God in Man, Mars (as mentioned above) whose otherwise boudless energy is contained in the material of the armour.

From my point of view this is the consumation of the previous card and a lot more feminine than i used to think; the only maleness in it is the contents of the armour -that thing usually refered to as the Holy Ghost;-)
 
 
inthedarkwemustlie
11:06 / 21.04.03
Although this is very generalised, I often see The Chariot as a symbol of two roads, two choices, but the need to balance wether or not which road you choose. It proposes two choices, neither good or bad, but the essential thing to do with the road you choose is balance, other wise it may become unfruitful. There's is alway's something as too much good. Choosing between perhaps a better paying job and a leser paying job may seem a very easy choice. But if things are not balanced, the better job may turn into a nightmare, just for an example.
 
 
EmberLeo
19:41 / 05.11.06
This is the skit I wrote as performed for a production called Oracles from the Living Tarot.

This entry is specifically written after the performance took place, as a memory of how it all went. I can't promise the words are exactly what came out of my mouth, I'm afraid - live performance while in divinitory trance is a bit variable.
-----------------
[The DECK is arranged in a tableau of poses on steps behind the READER, who is mediating a discussion of faith between the SKEPTIC who believes only what science tells her, and the FANATIC who believes everything she reads in Llwelyn books.]

[The READER has audience members pull cards for the reading.]

[The CHARIOT is pulled, and announced.]

[MUSIC plays]

"And the sign said the words of the prophets
are written on the subway walls and tenement halls
and whispered in the sound...

... of silence"

[I, the CHARIOT, walk casually towards the audience wearing a felt fedorah with a coyote tail hanging from the band, an oversized oilcloth duster, a green bandana, a plaid button-up shirt, jeans, and black boots with white felt wings attached.]

CHARIOT: [Wave] Hey.

[Remove hat] So, Coyote walks into a bar, and the bartender says "Oh gods, not again." and Coyote says "Whaddya mean?! I never..."

[Phone rings]

[Look alarmed, then embarassed]
[Swear quietly while putting hat back on]
[Fish around in coat for the phone]
[Answer phone]

This really isn't a good ti...

Why yes, I DO have an audience th...

No, I'm NOT going to tell them that, they'll lynch me!... No, I... NO!

Ok, but I don't have that ...

[READER brings a canvas bag full of envelopes. The bag reads "A wizard is never late, nor early. He arrives pricisely when needed."]

Oh. Okay. Yeah, I can do that. Okay... FINE!

[Hang up phone and glare at it]

You know, I keep asking them: "Why me?"

You know what they say?

"Because you listen!" [Audience laughs]

It's enough to make me want to crush my cell phone.

[Sigh and pick up the bag] Well, anyway, here. These are your messages.

[Start passing out envelopes, giving one each to the SKEPTIC, the FANATIC, the DJ (who helped me fill all the envelopes), and one to my boyfriend for his birthday. The rest are for audience members, except for one red envelope which stays in my hand.]

[FANATIC reads her message, and becomes outraged. She follows me into the audience]

FANATIC: What the hell is this?!

CHARIOT: That's your message.

FANATIC: This is NOT my message!

CHARIOT: Well, here, what does it say? "Don't believe everything you read." Well, there you go - You're off to a great start!

[Audience laughs.]
[Return to passing out messages]

FANATIC: But this can't be right, that's not what the message is supposed to say!

CHARIOT: Oh, by all means, you tell me what it's supposed to say.

FANATIC: You're the Chariot! You're supposed to come in, sweep me off my feet and carry me on to my next big adventure!

CHARIOT: Wait, you want me to lead you somewhere?

[FANATIC nods emphatically]

CHARIOT: For gods sake, don't follow me! I am NOT your guide. If you want a leader go find the Empress, or hell, even the Hermit is better than me! Actually, no. If you want a guide, you know what you should look for? A MIRROR. I have better things to do.

[Move past the FANATIC to hand out yet more messages]

FANATIC: Who ARE you?!

CHARIOT: What's that got to do with anything? It's YOUR story. I'm just a cameo, a... a machina ex deus dropping in to provide a bit of exposition before moving on to some other story. Who I AM doesn't... [Look at red envelope in hand and realize it's for me]

Oh, huh, this one's for me... [Open the note and read it.]

[Scream in frustration and anger. Throw down the note. Throw my hat at the note.]

[Drop the bag, and go collapse on the steps in a heap to cry.]

[READER gets up from the table, picks up the note, reads it, and comes to talk to me.]

READER: Come on, honey, you're not done. [Hands me the note] "Tell them who you are."

[I fend off the READER, flailing, and return to center stage, taking off the oilcloth duster as I go]

You want to know who I am? My name is Angela. I have a boyfriend, a sister, a brother, a cat, a car, and an addiction to Starbucks Chai that I have to maintain. [Audience laughs] I'm a... a computer science student who hates school. I want save the world in my spare time - if I had any. [Audience laughs] I want to get married, have kids, and a house with a white picket fence, and live happily ever after!

I'm not different from you!

The only difference between me and YOU [turn to point at the FANATIC] is that I LISTEN.
Maybe I have more faith in the voices in my head.

But I'm still scared... and overwhelmed... and I'm so tired.

But I know [Put hat back on] I just have to pay attention
[Point to the bag of envelopes, then pick it up]
and Keep Moving!
[throw duster over shoulder, and start to head out]

[Audience is silent]

[Remember something, suddenly, and turn back]

I'm sorry! So... The bartender says "Oh gods, not again" and Coyote says "Whaddya mean?!"

[Bitter sarcasm] "I never screw you the same way twice!"

[turn angrily to grab my card on the way out]
[stalk my way around the circle to go sit in the reading]
-----------------

--Ember--
 
  
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