As The Fool progresses from The Empress in a period of nurturing and emotional growth, they next arrive at the doorstep of The Emperor, the counterpart to The Empress. As The Empress is depicted as the archetypal Mother, The Emperor is portrayed as the Father.
When we look at the psychological and developmental aspects of the Father archetype, we see a roadmap of sorts for the core characteristics of The Emperor:
DisciplineResponsibilityDevelopment of a strong sense of selfEmbodiment of societal normsDevelopment of personal moral values
The Emperor embodies qualities such as strength, protection, guidance, wisdom, and the ability to set (and keep) boundaries. They typically represent a positive figure that is capable of providing a sense of security and support and fostering growth and development. However, The Emperor, when pushed to extremes, can become corrupted leading to authoritarianism, rigidity, and oppression. An overly controlling or abusive masculine presence can stifle creativity and individuality, leading to issues with authority and self-esteem.
About The Emperor
Dressed in a rich, red robe, The Emperor’s attire signifies power, passion, and vitality. The armor beneath his robes hints at his readiness (and willingness) to defend his realm and maintain his authority. In his right hand, he holds a scepter topped with an orb, a traditional symbol of sovereign rule and worldly authority. His left hand rests on his knee, clutching an ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life, signifying his control over the well-being of his people.
Upon his head rests a golden crown, adorned with jewels, indicating his elevated status and connection to divine wisdom. The Emperor’s long, white beard signifies his experience and the wisdom gained through the passage of time.
The background of the card is dominated by rugged mountains, symbolizing resilience and unwavering resolve. Unlike the lush, nurturing landscape of The Empress, The Emperor’s surroundings are stark and formidable, emphasizing the themes of discipline, strength, and protection.
Together, these elements convey The Emperor’s role as a ruler who values structure, law, and order, and who is willing to enforce these principles to maintain stability and security.
It’s also worth noting that The Emperor is a separate entity from the King court cards, although there are often similarities, particularly with the King of Swords. While both figures signify authority, leadership, and the enforcement of order, The Emperor represents a higher, more encompassing level of power. The King of Swords is a master of intellectual rigor, logic, and justice within his specific realm, often dealing with the execution of law and order through sharp decision-making and clear thought. The Emperor, however, embodies a broader power that encompasses all aspects of leadership, including emotional, physical, and spiritual considerations.
Additionally, The Emperor is the ruler of the suit of Swords, the suit of communication, thoughts, words, ideas, beliefs, wisdom, and knowledge, all things intangible and mind-centric. This is the suit of logic and really has no room for emotion; in fact, any of the cards in the suit of Swords that involve emotion have a visibly negative depiction (3, 5, 8, 9, and 10, for example), an illustration that emotion and logic often exist in conflict. And when you take the ego and “always-right” mindset of The Emperor and pair it with the Suit of Swords, you have a potential tyrant who fights for what he wants, regardless of who it hurts or destroys in the process. Many political leaders can EASILY be represented by The Emperor (often influenced by The Devil – perhaps literally – with an addiction to power, wealth, and the desire to control others).
The Emperor in Modern Decks
There are thousands of different representations of The Emperor in Tarot. Below are a few examples of The Emperor from various decks and art that show the variety and vastness of creative freedom within the Tarot community.
Tarot by Neon Light: websiteTerra Volatile: websiteFlorana Tarot: instagramThe Antique Anatomy Tarot: amazonThe Lovely Ladies Tarot: website | amazonThe Ink Witch Tarot: website
Symbolism in The Emperor
Stone Throne with Ram Heads
The throne upon which The Emperor sits is made of unbending stone, a symbol of rigidity, stability, and permanence. The ram heads are the symbol of Aries and Mars, both associated with assertive energy, aggression, and often war.
In parenting, these symbols are a reminder to take a firm but fair stance, leading with confidence and authority.
Red Robe
The red robe represents the power and passion held by The Emperor. It is not intended to intimidate but to show active movement and enthusiasm for their work.
In parenting, the red robe represents the visibility of our power and attitude as observed by others. While we may not be public figures, there are always eyes on The Emperor, and the red robe is a reminder to maintain an outward appearance of warmth and approachability.
Armor
The Emperor’s armor is concealed under their robe (visible with the legs and arms), an indication of readiness, protection, and defense. While they are welcoming to all (red robe), they remain resilient in the face of challenges and are quick to stand by their rules, morals, and boundaries.
In parenting, the armor is a clear symbol of the protective role of a parent, always ready to defend and support our children.
Scepter with Orb
The Emperor rules with sovereign authority as indicated by the scepter and orb. They are an independent, absolute power; what they say goes. This is necessary to maintain order and structure in the realm.
In parenting, this is indicative of the authority and responsibility a parent holds, guiding our children in structured fairness and wisdom. Rules, routines, curfews, and expectations are set as guiding principles by The Emperor not only as a means of protection but as a means of education to teach personality authority in their lives.
Ankh
In Egyptian history, the ankh was often depicted in the hands of Egyptian deities, signifying not only the power to sustain power but also their dominion over the living and dead. In a sense, it indicates The Emperor as the sustainer of life within their realm. It also provides insight into what The Emperor stands for, enduring structures and principles that outlast their own reign.
In parenting, the ankh can be seen as imparting values and principles to one’s children that will guide them throughout their lives, ensuring their well-being even beyond a parent’s direct influence.
White Beard
While obviously a masculine feature, The Emperor’s white beard is a symbol of experience and wisdom. It illustrates that The Emperor’s path to the throne helped shape his style of leadership, discipline, and rule.
In parenting, the white beard is a reminder that we gain experience every day as we encounter new situations, all of which impact our parenting style and the choices we make. For many of us, we learn as go and our “beard” grows with each new challenge and lesson learned.
Rugged Mountains
Similar to The Emperor’s white beard, the mountains are representative of the challenges that exist, particularly those in our past. The struggles to overcome have improved personal strength, integrity, and resilience in The Emperor.
In parenting, the mountains remind us that no challenge is too steep or difficult to overcome and that sometimes we must shift our perspective to conquer the challenge in bite-size chunks. It’s a reminder to not give up and to teach our children that persistence in the face of a challenge will result in personal growth and resilience.
Join us next as we delve deeper into the role of The Emperor in our lives and how it can be an inspiration for self-discipline.
