September 17, 2001

• The Chariot
  
  Lots of folks believe that in tarot, Trump VII, The Chariot, represents doing battle, going off to war, fighting for what you believe in. That sort of thing. It’s a fairly easy meaning to find in the picture; there’s a guy in a chariot, and what do we know about guys in chariots?
  
  My favorite tarot deck is the Thoth Tarot, designed by Aleister Crowley and actually painted by Lady Freida Harris. Now, Crowley is, without question, about as well understood by the popular masses as the tarot itself, and has a similar reputation. Please try and set that reputation aside for a moment. What Crowley has to say about the card I’m holding in my picture includes this: “The visor of his helmet is lowered, for no man may look upon his face and live. For the same reason, no part of his body is exposed.”
  
  I take this to mean that the armor is for *our* protection, not that of the Charioteer. An unknown figure of power, seated motionless under the canopy of the universe, drawn forward by angels, brings to us the cup of truth. The armor looks threatening, so naturally, we decide to be on our defensive. We don’t see a sword or any other weapon, but we see blood. Do we drink? Will the Charioteer allow us a sip if we want it?
  
  And because I don’t like talking about tarot cards, but about what’s really going on in the world, consider: We’re not capable of seeing the whole truth, only the tiny bit we get to sip from the chalice, if we’re both humble and courageous enough to take that risk. The big scary violence in the world today? It’s armor, covering a truth.

  • 8:17 pm
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