The Emperor
The Emperor symbolizes authority, structure, and societal laws. He represents a father or an authority figure and signifies the protection civilization offers against the chaos of nature. In readings, he urges you to assert leadership, think rationally, and create structure. However, he can also denote oppressive hierarchies.
Keywords
Introduction
If the Empress is the maternal archetype of tarot, then the Emperor is the father. The ram links him to Ares (Roman Mars), but also signifies a strong wild animal, domesticated. As the Empress is associated with nature, the Emperor represents the worlds built by men that are 'married to nature.'
Symbolism
Behind him looms a painting of a mountain range, representing a solid foundation that is resistant to change. He symbolizes society and the laws that both bind and support it.
Role in Society
The natural world is chaotic and dangerous, and the structures built and enforced by society protect us from this chaos. At worst, the Emperor represents a constrictive hierarchy that many of us recognize as systemically racist, sexist and classist. Progressively, we can choose to read the Emperor as a civilization that can be democratically shaped for the better.
Interpretation in Readings
In readings, the Emperor often represents your father or a father figure. He may also represent any authority figure who holds power over you: your boss, a cop, a soldier. The Emperor could also represent a masculine romantic partner, especially if there is a power imbalance in the relationship. In situational readings, The Emperor urges you to stand up for yourself, assert leadership, create structure, and think rationally through a situation.
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