This Chariot card took me 11 months to complete. Well no that’s not a fair representation. What I mean is I started the first draft of this card almost a year ago, and then just… stalled. (Funny enough, for a Chariot card…)
It’s still not done done, but it is a complete first draft. For every single card, I think I’m done, and then a few days later, sometimes weeks later, I happen to glance at it and suddenly spot egregious problems I need to fix.
Grimaud’s Etteilla III associates Card 21 with Rehoboam, the legendary 10th century BCE son of King Solomon who divided the previously united Kingdom of Israel into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, and who imposed harsh policies and burdens on the people.
Kinda fun to see the two Chariot cards side by side for comparison. On the left is from my Spirit Keeper’s Tarot deck, Revelation Edition. It’s philosophically fascinating how the slightest little change makes the biggest difference.
In the SKT, the line drawing pre-color is in black, thickness 7. For the Etteilla, line drawings are done in brown or midnight blue, thickness 4 or 5. Look at the dramatic difference just that one little change makes.
Etteilla’s Chariot card, numbered 21, in contrast to what you’re probably more used to, signifies discord, rebellion, possibly an insurrection, and disorder. I’m finishing up this card and bringing it to manifestation here in the U.S., in California no less, during the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, which are also happening up here in the San Francisco Bay Area as well.
Echoing Etteilla tradition, I’ve titled this card The Tyrant, but also, it’s Plato’s Chariot Allegory, a metaphor for human Will, drawn by two horses, one representing reason and rationality, and the other representing chaos and appetite.
In an 1875 Paris printing of the Tarots Egyptiens (an Etteilla deck), the charioteer is a depiction of “Le tyran Busiris.” In Greek mythology, Busiris was a villainous king of Egypt slain by Heracles, symbolic of cruel, impious tyranny and barbaric despotism.
“Le tyran Busiris” became a popular trope in Enlightenment Era French literature, as an archetype of tyrannical rule, likened to Nero or Caligula, and thus symbolizes a critique on the abuse of power.
The hieroglyphs in the halo encircling the charioteer’s head reads: “I live in right and truth; I exist in it. I am the lord of the Two Realms.” (Cited from The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Complete Papyrus of Ani, translated by E. A. Wallis Budge, 1895). Just from my personal experiences as a translator, I’m sure that English translation has faults, so just take it with a grain of salt.
So The Chariot, signifying human will and the ambition to conquer, is also The Tyrant when will and ambition pursues self-serving dominance. This is about the Ego trying to rule, whereas the Ego ought to serve. And so in a lot of ways, I really love this nuance, or wrinkle in how we approach The Chariot card in tarot.
It’s not departing from what we think we know as the meaning for The Chariot. It’s still victory through control, self-mastery, and it’s still about willpower and journeying in a particular chosen direction. All that takes Ego, healthy Ego. Etteilla’s Chariot depiction invites us to consider what happens when Ego is corrupted.
I would say The Chariot card I drew for the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot leaned in to a more optimistic, affirmative, and positive interpretation. It affirms self-mastery through pursuit of Light and Truth. It’s also undoubtedly more Golden Dawn influenced, whereas I tried to be intentional about deconstructing it out of this Etteilla deck.
The meaning of The Chariot conveyed in my Etteilla rendering (I hope) is more multi-faceted and nuanced. While the SKT Keys unlocked spirit forces and therefore the line drawings were designed to be talismanic, here in my Etteilla, the art strives to be social, cultural, and philosophical commentary.
And to play with that idea of The Chariot and corrupted Ego —
— the halos around the charioteer and the caduceus are in the same position as the solar eclipse conjunct Venus featured in the Fallen Temple (Tower card).
Aligning the cards with their counterparts in the Three Septenaries, Card 21 is also intended to be a progression from Key 14 (The Devil) and Key 7 (Tree of Life), but then also with its preceding Key 20 (Wheel of Fortune), and as the “after” picture to the “before” picture of Card 1 (Thoth-Hermes). Philosophically, The Chariot has got to connect with Card 2 (The Sun & Osiris).
You can spot the patterns when you stack the Majors like so:
And that concludes all completed first drafts of the Major Arcana. Woohoo! New level unlocked!
Sigh. I still have none of the suits completed, haven’t yet done a single court card, and have made minimal progress in the Wands and Cups.
benebell wen 
You’re making an incredible deck during an incredibly difficult time period and, in all honesty, I’m shocked and overjoyed folks are creating anything in this climate every day. So I just want to say, no matter how long this deck takes, I’m already extremely proud of it, excited for every new card, and will be here when your ready to release it into the world!
Oh, and also, that’s a bomb ass Chariot lol.
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Thank you so much! Yes it was slow going and difficult to feel motivated, but still trying to show up. 🙂
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keep going Llebeneb, this is looking incredible!
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that should be my byline on the deck box and guidebook — By Llebeneb New
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Benebell, it’s great being on this journey with you and watching your style skills develop also the dedication and commitment you have made to your art- on all levels shines out to a very chaotic and troubled world. Beauty is always needed. These cards are beautiful and I’ve loved seeing them when you reveal them. You’re an inspiration. As I said last time my third eye goes crazy. Many thanks for allowing us to share some of this journey with you.
stu
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Thank you! ❤
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Hats, or should we say Memes, off to you ❤️✨
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that was supposed to Nemes 🤣 spell check 🙄
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that was supposed to be Nemes! 🤣 Spell check 🙄
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Hats, or should we say Nemes (not memes 🤣), off to you ❤️✨
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…oh my sorry, it took time to update my replies and I thought it hadn’t worked. And I can’t delete or edit my comments.
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Yeah the WordPress comments function is really difficult to use. Sigh.
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lol! ❤
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The tyrant should be much fatter and more orange
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In my opinion, your drawing talent has really grown! I just love this deck so far. I think my favorite part is how the image “steps” of the frame. An aspect of tarot stepping into the 3-d world. Thanks for sharing your progress/process.
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thank you! yes, for me as the artist, that’s one of the more fun parts of designing each card, figuring out where and how to “break the fourth wall.”
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This card fascinates me! I feel like I now, after a lot of blocks and struggles, have an understanding of the RWS Chariot that makes sense to me. I love my SKT deck and am looking forward to working with this deck when it is completed, particularly as you note the different grounding of the artwork. I was intrigued by the “despote Africain” language on some of the historic deck images and how it might correlate to the timing of the original release by Etteilla and links to political interests of European countries toward control of Africa. I went on a brief Google search and there are some interesting correlations there regarding cosmic timing! I suspect Pluto moving to Aquarius is bringing out similar language and interests currently happening. Now seems like an excellent time for this deck to come to fruition. Thank you for sticking with it and for your attention to the depths of detail that make connections so meaningful when working with your decks.
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What a wonderful set of trumps! I particularly love the veil, prudence, the tree of life and the fallen temple. Exquisite.
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Your art continues to develop wonderfully. It’s incredible how full of meaning your drawings are! I hope you’ll remain safe and well during these difficult times. Please keep us updated so we know you are ok with little posts once in a while, if you don’t mind.
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This deck looks totally awesome & I really hope you keep going!!! Very easy for me to say & a whole other thing for you to do!!!! To support that end, I am very willing to pre-order the pre-order!!! With you keeping us posted, it is very fun to see how this deck is coming to life!! It gives us who follow you something beautiful to look forward to & to help support its creation. Why not do a pre-order of the pre-order??? We help you keep going since you help us with your artwork, column & website. Something beautiful such as your deck here gives your followers a ray of light in this insane, crazy world we are in now!!!
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Wow, it makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER that you’re kinda stuck with this project. I’ve been working on a tarot project ~ poetry & collage work ~ & this past year, I’ve barely been able to do anything at all. Part of this is from depression ~ my very best friend died & he was my most fervent supporter & art critic.
Just the other day, I thought of a new way to approach the project & I’m really excited about it but of course, life is getting in the way ~ but hopefully, by the fall, I’ll be able to get back into it 100%.
I love your work & reading about how your create your cards. I gain a LOT of inspiration from you!
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