Control. Willpower. Conquest.
Cancer season is a pivotal moment within the cosmos, as well as ourselves. As above, so below. As we introduce Cancer season by way of the Chariot, you’ll learn this watery sign gains its strength through being in tune with emotion and intuition.
Before we get into it, let’s go over a few of the basics of the Cancer archetype.
Terminology:
Decan: A 10-degree section of an astrological chart
Domicile: Place in the zodiac where the planet is ‘home’
Detriment: Opposing sign to the ruler (domicile); uncomfortable energy
Exaltation: where a planet functions at its strongest
Fall: opposing sign to the exaltation; weakest positioning
Femininity: passive, receptive, still energy
Masculinity: active, action-oriented energy
This is the Tarot deck I’ve used for many years.
Cancer Symbolism
Cancer is a cardinal (starts a new season) sign that introduces us to our first encounter with its watery energy within the astrological year. This is also where we say goodbye to spring and welcome in summer by way of the summer solstice (we’ll get more into why that’s important here shortly).
Ruled by the Moon, Cancer embodies the archetype of the Mother: the nurturer. The nurture aspect aligns with its dominion over the stomach and breasts, the parts of the body where food is stored and milk is produced. Cancer does well with embracing a gentler approach towards life and self.
Cancer also embodies the protector that avoids instead of confronts. Rather than meeting adversity head-on, it moves sideways like the crab or completely retreats to its shell. Cancer season is the perfect time to learn that strength doesn’t always require a firm hand. Sometimes the remedy is gentleness, softness, and empathy for yourself and others.
The Chariot
Within this card you can see some esoteric and spiritual influence from several disciplines represented here, all in perfect harmony. The armor of the Charioteer is synonymous to the crab’s shell: protecting that intuitive and empathic energy as well as providing substantial structure to sustain itself in the presence of those watery conditions. It’s the barrier made by the armor that supports distinction between our inner knowing and external influence.
The Chariot represents control, movement, willpower, and conquest. In readings, it asks us first to tap in to our own will and sense of self-control to progress forward. This aligns to the cardinal nature of Cancer. Rather than initiating through chaos like the fiery Aries, the Cancerian initiates through control and flow with the cosmos as support.
Chariot Symbolism
Cancer season marks the summer solstice, the day of the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year. This brings us first to the Charioteer’s crown containing the 8-pointed star and its connection to light and truth.
The number 8 symbolizes the infinite (∞). Combining that symbolism with the energy of the card equates to the infinite harmony that carries us forward through the Fool’s journey. This star also links back to Venus as the morning star, the brightest star in the sky right before sunrise.
Spiritually, its positioning above the third eye holds significance, and I think about the third eye chakra being strengthened by light (sunlight, specifically) and the crown chakra holding truth. The Bible refers both Lucifer (‘light bringer’ in Latin) and Jesus as morning star.
Next are the 2 sphinxes, one black and one white, reminiscent of the two black and white pillars seen in Key II, The High Priestess. The sphinx embodies both the raw strength and instinct of the lion with the insight and intelligence of the human. Lucifer and Jesus were also described as distinct expressions of the lion in Biblical texts as the devourer and the enlightened one, respectively. It through light and truth we are guided, spiritually and physically, to see the full picture and all the details in between. Again, harmonious energy in full display.
The crest on the Chariot features wings of enlightenment above a shield with the united Lingam (the phallic-shaped symbol) and Yoni (the disc-shaped symbol) representing Shiva and Shakti deities of Hinduism, respectively.
The crescent moons on the shoulders contain the symbol of the Urim (light) and Thummim (truth), symbolic of the stones once used as a divination tool once placed in a small bag that was sewn on to the breast plates of the High Priests of Israel. These devices were mentioned a several times in the Bible as well. (Definitely see the Cancer connection with both silver [the metal for the Moon, Cancer’s domicile] and being on the breastplate [Cancer rules the breasts])
The clothing of the Chariot also speaks to the external influence of the cosmos, containing a tunic of various alchemical symbols representing the elements and a crown with an 8-pointed star.
The Kemetic Tarot Integration
In Kemetic spirituality, the Atet is the solar boat that carries out its mission in the form of a serpent, Mesektet, who defeats the evil energies and the demon serpent Apep nightly and returns to the East to rise again. In this expression of the Chariot, we see Ma’at leading the voyage with the scales and a lotus sceptre representing balance and truth. In the middle, Amun-Ra carries the ankh and was sceptre as the sun deity representing life force and power. In the back, we see Tehuti as the sacred scribe holding the ankh and a scroll.
Final Thoughts
In order to sustain this controlled movement the Chariot calls for, we must be grounded in and guided by light and truth. The cardinal energy of Cancer asks us to initiate through flow and with harmony as the fuel. Receiving this card in readings shows triumph is best attained by working harmoniously with the cosmos. Embrace the elements and as extensions and mirrors of what is within.
In part two, we’ll be discussing the Venusian influence of the first decan of Cancer through the Two of Cups.
Hope this helps!
With love,
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