In this chapter of the tarot course we will see The Emperor and its meanings. The hidden details for its interpretation in the tarot, its correspondence with numerology, the elements and kabbalistics. What does The Emperor mean in the Tarot? What does The Emperor card mean in love, work, money or health? What is its spiritual meaning and what does it reveal to us? What does The Emperor card upside down or reversed mean?
The Emperor and its meaning
The Emperor is the number 4 in the tarot.
The Emperor has a deep and forceful meaning. In the upside down position it signifies authority, the representation of the father figure, structures and solid foundations.
The Emperor in reverse position is domination, excessive control, despotic attitudes, rigidity and inflexibility.
Correspondences of the card:
- Kabbalistics associate it with the element Earth, the Hebrew letter daleth and the number 4.
- Esotericism associates this card with the planet Jupiter, the astrological sign of Aries and the autumn season.
- In numerology it represents the number 4: (2+2) the double duality, the double dialectic, the basis of the world.
Graphic description of the chart:
The Emperor is the complement of the Empress. He is the masculine principle, the Animus and the Patriarch. He represents power and authority, and his stern attitude is linked to the sensual beauty of the Empress.
- The Emperor has a long white beard, symbol of his experience. It is suggested that this man has acquired years of wisdom and experience and is worthy of listening to because he has seen firsthand the consequences of his actions.
- Behind his figure are barren mountains, representing the rispidity of life and the throne is decorated with four rams’ heads, representing intellectual heights, determination, action, initiative and leadership. The ram is also a symbol of Aries, the Emperor’s astral ruler.
- In his right hand, the Emperor holds an Ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life, and in the left is a sphere representing the world he rules. The Emperor’s orange background and red dress symbolize the passion and energy of life and the challenges it offers.
What does The Emperor mean in the Tarot cards?
The Emperor right side up, General Meaning: The Emperor represents authority, the embodiment of the father figure, solid structures and foundations. It represents the material, achieved by the skills and knowledge that have been learned and the temporal and earthly powers.
It suggests stability, the enjoyment of material achievements, social position and fortune, the solidity of all that has been achieved. The emperor shows us the dominance of the mind over the heart, the rational over the passionate.
This can sometimes be unwanted, but many times taking this position is the right thing to do in certain situations. When difficult decisions must be made it is important that you maintain your concentration and focus, and it is this attitude that will make this period of time easier to carry and accomplish what you wish to do.
Enjoy the assertiveness and confidence that this self-control and focus brings. Move forward and do what you know is best. If you can master yourself, then you can practically master anything.
While this card can represent your attitude and a part of your personality, it can also indicate the appearance or presence of a man in your scenario. This could be a co-worker, your own father or a father-like figure.
Perhaps he will be interested in you romantically. If so, don’t dismiss him just because of his age. You may feel that this type of man “rules with an iron fist”, and that it can be frustrating at times, but he is trying to help you see that rules have their place and their reasons – and that you will make the best of it all, in the end it will be beneficial to you.
Above all, this man teaches, without even trying, perhaps, the benefits of structure and logical decision-making over petty emotions and desires. The situation at hand is perfectly controlled, commanded by someone who knows what he wants, who understands how to get it and who will indeed get it.
This person who represents the card, surely has a high rank or a solid position socially and materially. She is authoritative, her decisions are confident, dominant and unquestionable. It is a card about self-confidence.
If you are expecting some kind of final result when The Emperor appears, it indicates that it will be positive, that you will achieve it because it is something very well studied and carried out, there is a neat planning and perseverance in the efforts.
What does The Emperor Card mean at work?
The work must be well done and your efforts will not go unnoticed. Pay special attention to organization, to the follow-up you give to things using mainly your powerful logic, so the results should be magnificent.
If you are looking for work, now is a time to be dispassionate, with the focus off yourself and prioritizing how others see you, from a logical point of view. If you offer your services and opinions from a cerebral and logical point of view you are likely to seduce employers in this way.
The Emperor indicates jobs where you have to command and have a commanding attitude, positions of supervisors, managers, chiefs of staff, also military activities where rank, discipline and obedience are a priority. Serious jobs, very orderly and planned.
What does the Emperor Card mean in love?
In principle, the card indicates a type of relationship where the material and sexual plane is much stronger and more defined than the plane of emotions and feelings. You may find yourself close to someone who is older than you now.
This person is likely to be attracted to the order, logic and organization that you have and display. The attraction may not be mutual from the start, but if you are patient and persistent, it is likely to grow.
What does the Emperor card mean for money and finances?
There will be success in the realm of finance and business, there may be an inheritance involved, and if you are involved in a legal suit, you are almost certain to emerge victorious. It is a very encouraging card in that respect.
The Emperor shows a need for discipline, for using logic in order to make your finances work better for you. What we pay attention to in our lives grows: Are you treating your money with respect, do you know what you have, how you get it, and where you are going with your money?
Don’t focus on the lack now, because the lack is then what grows. Pay attention to what you have and what you want.
What does the Emperor card mean in health?
It is a time of great vitality and strength. You must believe in your right to good health. You must analyze logically what you are doing to your body. Order and discipline can be helpful.
For example, if you are struggling with a health problem, write down your symptoms, track them, and then see if there is something in your life that may have triggered the problem. Consider an “elimination diet” to check for intolerance to certain foods.
What does The Emperor mean spiritually?
Be sure to take time for yourself in order to fulfill your need for spiritual growth. While you are very focused on the aspects of your left brain, (logic, reason, order,) allow your right brain to receive attention as well.
Logic can lead to spirit, if you allow this, and if you don’t get too caught up in your own logic. Meditation, (which requires great discipline) will be easier for you to do at this time.
What does the Emperor card upside down or reversed mean?
The Emperor reverse, General Meaning: The Emperor reversed represents Domination, excessive control, despotic attitudes, rigidity and inflexibility. It can tell us that we are giving our heart more credit than our logical mind tells us.
In general it is not a bad thing, there are situations in which putting your heart is the only solution, as in others it is to use logic exclusively, but ideally you should use a balance between the two. Use your mind and your heart, this card tells us.
You may be easily distracted now and may have difficulty maintaining your concentration and focus. And this is a time when concentration and focus is vital now.
The card may point to an older man, who may be in opposition or conflict with you now. Try to look beyond the external and consider what he may have to offer that will be of use to you.
Don’t get too irritated if he is trying to say “the right thing to do”; take the parts of his advice that are helpful and ignore the rest. If you only focus on his attitude, you won’t get anything valuable.
What does the reversed Emperor card mean at work?
At work you may feel a loss of power, even to abusive attitudes, to be intransigent, to move by interests and to find a lot of opposition in the environment.
Perhaps it is time to surround yourself with a loyal work team, which follows your directions but makes you see your mistakes with irrefutable facts.
The reversed Emperor may indicate that you are not in the mood for structured and formal work now. You need the novelty, the surprise, to get out of the routine.
However, obviously, you may have no choice but to accept things as they are.
Do your best to show the structure and order that your work requires of you, but be sure to give yourself small breaks, or slight rewards for something that at the moment represents quite a lot of effort for you.
What does the reversed Emperor card mean in love?
The main characteristic of this reversed card is the great doubts you have at the moment about how to act. Whether you should do it or not.
The issues of organization can be quite a problem in the relationship now, both for an excess of it and for its lack. If you consider yourself a methodical and orderly person, you may be with someone who isn’t (or may be about to be.)
Consider where or how compromises can be made. If you don’t, the relationship will have little or no chance of functioning harmoniously.
What does the reversed Emperor card mean for money and finances?
If you are currently struggling with finances, you may well need to seek outside help. Look for someone who is good with logic, order, and being methodical in terms of budgeting, dealing with taxes and cash flow, and other technical aspects.
You can’t afford to take a haphazard, improvisational approach when The Emperor appears in this context. There are expenses at home that seem to never end and spiral out of control. Difficulties in saving and charting the use of money.
What does the reversed Emperor card mean in health?
You may be prone to some accidents involving the upper or lower limbs. You are not disciplined at this time to diet or give up harmful habits, nor are you disciplined to heed your body’s messages.
If you have orders and prescriptions to follow, don’t rebel, you will only get worse. It is time to follow the logic of others since you cannot dispose of it completely, for now.
What does the Emperor card reversed mean spiritually?
When the Emperor is reversed, it may be a sign that you are in need of a helpful spiritual advisor (possibly male and older than you).
However, you should be cautious about accepting spiritual advice from a “guru”. No human being is perfect, and it is important that you listen to your own thoughts and intuition, no matter what others say about this guru or teacher who is close to you now, or who will come into your life.
Learn from this teacher, but don’t discount yourself in the process.
If you liked the content, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more tarot.c content.
