In the cards this week: Goals

Working toward them, reaching them

This week’s cards are a balance; how appropriate, right at the equinox! They acknowledge that we’ve been putting in real effort toward our goals but also that there are still some obstacles to steer around — or redirect.

The Nine of Horns is pretty straightforward: When you do the work, you reap the reward. Life isn’t always like that, unfortunately, but for right now, that basic cause-and-effect does seem to be happening for a lot of people, and I’m glad.

The Chariot is a slightly different matter. If you’re familiar with Minoan art, you might recognize the image on the card as my interpretation of one of the end panels from the Hagia Triada sarcophagus.

Driving a chariot is a very specific skill, and it’s a bit more complicated than driving a car because the animals pulling the chariot have minds of their own.

Trying to achieve anything in the Big World is kind of like that. Tarot readers might talk about “the forces around you,” but let’s be honest: Most of those forces are other humans. And in order to get to where you want to go, you have to convince those humans to either help your or get out of your way.

That’s what the Chariot is talking about.

It’s not pointing us toward manipulation, passive-aggression, or any other kind of underhanded behavior. If you’re going to drive the chariot of your life (bear with me, it’s quite a metaphor) then you have to take into account what your horses (or griffins) are capable of, what their temperaments say about how you should handle them, and what kind of condition the road is in.

It’s a lot.

But getting a handle on your environment — assessing it honestly and planning how to work with it — is vital if you want to feel like you have any kind of control over your own destination (or destiny).

When I was creating this deck, I enjoyed finding the patterns within the cards, patterns that connected and contrasted different sets of cards. The Chariot is part of one of those patterns in a group that I call the success cards.

To me, this is how the success cards shake out: The Chariot means succeeding by controlling others; Strength means succeeding by controlling yourself; and Sacrifice means succeeding by giving up control.

So I’m going to take the time this week to assess what kind of help and/or hindrance I’m encountering from the people around me, and figure out how to work with that to further my life goals. I’ll be honest in my communication with others, and also honest with myself in terms of what I can and can’t achieve. I hope it will turn out that there’s more help available than I originally thought. Sometimes that’s the case.

I wish you a week full of smooth roads and cooperative chariot horses!

This week’s cards:

Nine of Horns: You've done the work and are well on your way toward the success you desire. While you shouldn't slack off, you certainly should take the time to enjoy what you've earned so far. After all, you worked hard for it.

The Chariot: Take into account the people and situations around you as you make decisions and move toward your goals. Be clear about what you have to work with and include that information in your decision-making. None of us live in a vacuum. While you can't necessarily control other people's behavior, you can steer your own course so their actions and desires don't negatively impact your way forward.

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About Laura Perry

I'm an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. I'm also the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. My spiritual practice includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. I'm currently working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths and a Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series (release date 26 August 2025). I’m also an avid herb and vegetable gardener and living history demonstrator.