The Emperor
While the Empress represents unconditional love and abundance, The Emperor’s role is to teach the Fool that some things are worth fighting to protect. Just as the Empress is the universal mother, he is the father figure. His role is that of a teacher who shows the Fool the meaning of power and how to use it.
He is exactly what you should think of when you consider masculinity.
The Emperor is a fair and kind leader. His heart is with his people and what is in their best interest. He leads in a soft and selfless way. He is a loyal and committed partner and is in control of his emotions. He is not afraid to protect his kingdom but would never choose violence or anger without being forced to.
Oh wait… does that not sound right? Society today might have accidentally pulled the Emperor in reverse.
Light
“I lead the circumstances at hand with harmony, confidence and curiosity”
(Divine Masculinity, Authority, Protection, Natural Leader)
When pulled upright, the Emperor tells us that we are protected. He shows that situation at hand is improving. He reminds you that you can trust yourself to make the right call. He calls us to be a leader in our own story.
HOME- This will show us the importance of setting boundaries and establishing order in our home.
RELATIONSHIP- If you’re looking for love, this card tells you to focus on establishing a strong foundation for partnership. In a relationship, it tells you to focus on future planning. This card also represents loyalty in love.
CAREER- Expect your finances to get organized and then learn how to plan, balance and budget. You can expect to have fairness at work and continues success. You will benefit greatly from structure, and it will help to achieve your goals.
Strong systems and hard work will always pay off in the end.
Shadow
“If you don’t stand for anything, what will you fall for?”
(Unchecked power, control issues, selfishness, being stubborn)
If you pull the card in reverse, or upside, the meaning shifts to represent the shadow side. We all have a light and shadow side and it’s normal to experience both in life. Our goal is to learn to notice what our shadows our telling us.
The Emperor in reverse is power hungry and selfish. He is carless and excessive with his demands and does not have the interest of his people at heart. He represents toxic masculinity… Domineering, control, and greed. He doesn’t have boundaries and isn’t afraid to excessive force to get what he wants.
(Who pulled our governments Emperor card in reverse??)
Astrology
The Emperor is an Aries. He has the fire and determination of a leader. He is ruled by Mars the planet the planet of war. These are all great and necessary characteristics of person who embodies the right side up meaning of the Emperor… but are easily dangerous for that of the reverse.
Element
Like the fiery planet he represents and his zodiac sign, the Emperor represents fire. Fire is the element that is associated with willpower, transformation, and change but without strong boundaries and control a fire can easily get out of hand.
Chakra
The Emperor represents the Base Chakra for grounding and security. This makes sense given his need for grounding and security. I also find it a great connection to the Empress who represents the Earth, as she grounds him.
Symbolism
The Emperor sits on a throne with Rams heads on all 4 corners to represent his Aries nature.
In his right hand he holds the stylized ankh, which is an Egyptian symbol for life and reproductivity. His right hand is the hand that represents what he gives to the world. Hiss left hand, of receiving, holds a golden apple that represents the Roman goddess Venus which connects to his counterpart - the Empress. The ankh and the apple symbolize their partnership.
The crown sitting on the crown chakra shows the connection with his higher self. The crown is closed to show The Emperors self-containment and self-reliance.
His armor is a symbol of strength, defense, and an action of the war. He sits in armor because while he will not go looking for a fight, he is prepared in case one is to come his way.
The Emperor reminds us that at its core, the driving force of masculinity should be the same as femininity. The Emperor and The Empress are driven by the same thing… love. She creates it, he protects is, and together they live in harmony.
If the driving force of our community and society was rooted in love, how different would life look right now?
Thanks for learning Tarot with me.
XOXO,
Maykayla
Realtor || Gatherer || Herbalist || Tarot Enthusiast
***In this series we will walk the Fools journey together - one card at a time - starting where every journey always does: with a soul that is ready to begin.
Come back tomorrow as we follow along while the Fool meets The Hierophant.
If this series resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
What are your thoughts on the Emperor?
Do you think there is any insights I missed or left out?
Do you think our societal view of masculinity represents the Emperor right side up or in reverse?