White Horses of the Major Arcana

By Leela J. Williams

What do horses represent to you — freedom, grace, strength?

The horses within the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot invite us to go beyond cursory or general associations by recognising them as individual beings, each with a unique presence. They carry more than a rider — they carry a wealth of detail to enhance your readings.

Di Day, the President of the Tarot Guild of Australia, speaks of horses as symbolic mirrors of human consciousness and drive. In a recent presentation, she said, “The horses represent the body, and the riders represent the mind.” This imagery invites comparison with a Hindu allegory in which the chariot is the body, the horses are the senses, the mind is the reins, and the charioteer is the intellect. Within this framework, the deeper self is the passenger. From this perspective, we can begin to see the horses not merely as aspects of the self, but as agents in their own right, with independent drives and experiences within the tarot.

Let’s take a brief look at the horses of the Major Arcana and the different stories they embody.

The Sun

The horse of The Sun is white, suggesting purity, innocence, clarity and

illumination. However, it is the mount’s demeanour that creates the conditions for these aspects to flourish. With its head slightly lowered, its gaze rests on the ground ahead, ensuring sound footing. Although a large red ribbon streams beside it, the horse remains unstartled. Its gentle, focused and steady nature allows its naked, inexperienced passenger to ride into the world with open, gleeful trust. Through their instinctive connection, the rider needs no saddle, no reins — not even to hold on.

The Sun & Death Cards (shown above) are from the Traditional Rider Waite Deck

Created by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909 - Under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite. 

Death

In the Book of Revelation, Death is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. His mount is described as pale, sometimes sickly white or ashen. While the horse’s white coat holds the same associations as in The Sun, here we view them through Death’s lens. Purity may arrive as a cleansed slate, clarity as a stark ending, and illumination as a reckoning. Regal yet reined, the horse is directed through a battlefield. Its stance is purposeful, its movement deliberate. Its saddlery, posture and the rise of its leg reveal the horse’s military training. It will stay its course, out of duty. It follows its rider’s guidance, pressing forward regardless of its surroundings or what lies underfoot.

Get to know the horses of the tarot for yourself by spending some time with the Knights and the Six of Wands. Consider what colour and posture are communicating. The Knight of Pentacles is riding a strong, dark Clydesdale — a horse bred for labour. Here it is shown standing still. How does it compare to the Knight of Wands’ rearing chestnut mount or the Knight of Swords’ galloping grey? Make some notes about your reflections and impressions, then check back for our upcoming article on the horses of the minor arcana.

Leela J. Williams is an award-winning psychic creator.

Discover her oracle decks and journals, including Zoologica: The Steampunk Oracle HERE.