The Meanings of the 22 Major Arcana Tarot Cards – The Emperor:
Introduction to The Emperor
The Emperor is Key 4 of the Major Arcana in Tarot decks. This card stands for order and control. The Emperor is the masculine equivalent of the Empress and is ruled by the planet Mars.
The Emperor is the male counterpart to the Empress. He represents mature male sexuality and love. In most Tarot decks online, the Emperor appears on a throne of rams’ heads as their capitals, a symbolization of the Emperor’s dominating force. In many Tarot decks, the Emperor is shown on his throne dressed mainly in red, the color of Mars, his ruling planet. He holds a scepter in his right hand with his free left hand resting on the throne and often has his legs crossed in the shape of the Arabic number four, his key number. A shield bearing the image of an eagle, a symbol of his ruling planet of Mars sits at his feet.
The Emperor is the card of male sexuality, paternal love, authority and power. He represents a man of importance. The Emperor is a father figure, a political figure and a mentor. If the Emperor card appears in a reading for a woman, the card represents all her desired qualities she seeks in a man. The Emperor card denotes stability and status and the law of the land. The Emperor is the birth card of people born under the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpio and is an expression of the number four, the number of stability and structure. The Emperor is the primary birth card for those born under the sign of Aries, and a secondary birth card for people born under the sign of Scorpio. The Death card is the primary birth card for the latter group.
The Emperor Upright
The Emperor upright is the Tarot card of leadership. It represents stable government and worldly wealth and power. Passion is present, but intellect dominates intuition. The Emperor card in this position in readings denotes superb organizational skills and success in a career.
If the Emperor is next to the Empress card in a reading, it usually denotes a successful couple that wields political power with a free exchange of ideas. When the Emperor appears before the Temperance card in Tarot readings, it means a diplomatic solution is very possible. If Temperance precedes the Emperor in the reading, it indicates that a transition to a position of power will go smoothly. When the Emperor precedes the World card, peace or a ceasefire is possible. If the Emperor appears in a Tarot reading before or after the Strength card, willpower and perseverance will be greatly multiplied in any mundane matter.
If the Emperor is before the Chariot card in a Tarot reading, a detailed plan will be launched with much success. When the Emperor is before the Chariot card, business travel overseas is often indicated. If the Emperor is ahead of the Fool in a Tarot reading, one may be sent to unfamiliar ground by an older man but if the Emperor follows the Fool card, travel to distant lands will reap fame and fortune.
The Emperor Reversed (RX)
The Emperor reversed indicates egocentricity and a need to dominate. Immaturity and an obsession with the pursuit of fame and fortune are also suggested by the appearance of the Emperor reversed in a Tarot reading. When the reversed Emperor (rx) appears next to the Wheel of Fortune or the Chariot card in any Tarot spread, it means a standstill. If the reversed Emperor card is with the Empress, power struggles in a relationship are underway. If the Empress is also reversed, that has the meaning of a long-term problem in a marriage that will not be resolved at any foreseen time and indicates neither partner is actually free.
Fame and fortune are sought foolishly if the Emperor is reversed along with the Fool in a Tarot reading. But if the reversed Emperor card appears alongside the Fool, goals will be attained after a lesson is learned. Whenever the reversed Emperor follows the Tower card, a new but weak leader is on the horizon, but when the Emperor (rx) precedes the upright or reversed Tower, there will be a change to stronger authority.
The Emperor in Regards to Love, Sex and Relationships
The Emperor often suggests a relationship with a much older man or one’s father or other male authority figure. The presence of the Emperor card suggests a stable and strong partnership. This card brings order and structure to love, as it does to all other aspects of life. The Emperor card denotes a mature relationship based in logic and mutual interests rather than in the free flow of emotions.