The Emperor: Read the Card

(Tarot Prompts for Writers)

Here’s a compilation of my notes on reading The Emperor as a card of the day or in a spread.

If you’re just learning tarot, use the deck that most appeals to you, and spend some time looking at your card. What does it say to you? (See my description of The Emperor as I see it.)

Tarot is personal and open-ended. There are traditional meanings — and yes, you should know them if you want to read tarot cards — but it really only “works” if you follow what the cards mean to you personally. Your emperor and my emperor may not mean the same thing.

Number

The Emperor has the number 4, which represents organization and structure in the physical world. It symbolizes practicality, but also devotion and service. It stands for strength and stability, both physically and in relation to values and beliefs. It is a number of balance and completion: the four elements, the four directions. It indicates security and safety, a strong foundation, and is especially favourable to matters of the home.

Name

The Emperor rules. He rules an empire on earth for the long-term. He represents earthly power achieved through force of will. He demands respect. 

Placement

The Emperor comes near the beginning of the major arcana, after the Empress and before the High Priest. He represents the power of this earthly world and its concrete organization. He has his place and you must respect it.

Traditional interpretations

The Emperor has an iron will. He represents ambition, self-control, and conquest, but also honesty, strength, and protection. He is authority, order, stability, and justice. Dominance, masculinity, vigour and energy, and also wealth and accomplishment. 

The card can indicate favour from someone in a position of authority; more often it represents the need to be like the Emperor: realistic, strong, willfu, dedicated.

The Emperor is not just about getting what you want, but keeping it, using it, and living well with it. He is grounded in the world. He is willpower embodied. He is symbolic of patriarchy, even of a warlike society. He may be aloof and intolerant of mistakes. He is said to symbolize reason over emotion. His knowledge is gained through practical experience. 

The Emperor is thoughtful but not terribly creative; he has a mundane logical understanding of what his senses tell him. He can be a tyrant or a great ally. He has courage and stamina and fearless tenacity, but he is not one to question anything deeply. He’s excellent at immediate decisions but out of his depth in larger issues that require subtle understanding. Rely on him for strength, not for judgment. 

Reverse interpretations

Even reversed, the card can indicate benevolence or compassion from someone in a higher situation. More often, it indicates immaturity, weakness, or subservience; a lack of self-control or a misuse of power. The Emperor reversed is an immature bully. The card can indicate trouble with authority, loss of an influential position, or failure of ambition.

You must be strong and put your mind over your heart. Be more assertive. Dominate the domineering. And make sure this is the world you want to rule. 

Thematic readings

  • In love, the card reminds you to look at the relationship and the lover with a clear head. It can indicate stubbornness that hinders the relationship, or it can warn that one partner may try to dominate the other. 
  • In work, this is a powerful card that shows great promise. A great omen for career matters. You have work under control. Take the lead and dominate. 
  • In general life, the card can indicate an important or influential person whose help benefits you. Or it can warn that official matters need attention. This is a time to get things done. The Emperor is all about getting what you want.

Specific positions

  • Current situation: A sign of financial stability, ambition, and achievement. Look around and ask what you have conquered. Is your empire doing well? Don’t be enamoured by your power; attend to your empire.   
  • Past influence: The card can indicate an important or influential person whose help has benefitted you, or it can point to matters of your empire that you have protected or neglected.
  • Outcome: Well placed, the card says that you’re in a powerful position to achieve your goals. Proceed with courage, reason, and tenacity. Seek knowledge through experience. Use reason and judgement. Keep a calm head, make decisions based on facts, and don’t be overly influenced by your emotions. Strong leadership skills are essential for progress. You must cultivate the attitude of the Emperor to carry out your plans. Your cause is just and you are likely to succeed.
  • Blocked: Look around at what you rule and make sure it’s in a good state. You must wield greater authority. Be commanding, even demanding. Be a leader. Put aside your doubts and sympathies and take necessary action to achieve your goals. Someone in power may be hindering your progress. (They may or may not have reason to.) If that’s the case, you must win them to your side.  

Questions for the Querent

  • Do you see this card as a person or an idea? Are there elements of the Emperor in you?
  • Do you have any reaction at first sight of this card? What do you focus on?
  • What is your sceptre, your strength?
  • Have you achieved your ambitions? Are you enjoying success? Do you have drive to achieve your ambitions?
  • Are you logical or emotional, dominant or nurturing? (He looks egotistical and emotional to me; why do we not count the will to dominate as emotional? Why is nurturing considered more emotional, less rational, than conquering?)
  • Can you lead? Is there a project you should be leading? Are you avoiding some practical matters you should attend to?
  • Are you enamoured with your own ego?
  • Are you able to give respect to those in authority over you? 
  • Do you get respect from those you have authority over? Are you confident in your ability to rule?

Keywords to aid Memory

  • Control/Authority
  • Leadership/Power
  • Reason/Practicality
  • Ambition

Write
tarot
Emperor

Images on this page are by the following artists: Banner, left to right: Marseilles deck engraved by Nicolas Conver; Dragon Tarot illustrated by Roger and Linda Garland; Tarot Balbi by Domenico Balbi; Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti ; Radiant Rider-Waite deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith; Druid Craft deck illustrated by Will Worthington (also shown alone in the box).