Do you keep seeing the Emperor card in your tarot spreads? If so, rest assured that this is no coincidence. The universe is clearly relaying a message to you, and you must learn to decipher it.
The Emperor Tarot Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
A new opportunity, Abundance, Maternal care, Nurturing, Pregnancy, Stability
Reversed card (keywords)
Domestic problems, Financial issues, Stagnation, Unwanted pregnancy
The Emperor Tarot Card Description
The Emperor is a major Arcana card with significant symbolism. In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, this card depicts a father figure with a long white beard. He is wearing a red robe and sitting on a throne. Four ram heads are carved into the throne, a clear nod to the Aries zodiac sign and its ruling planet, Mars.
In his right hand, the man holds an ankh scepter, a symbol of life. In his left hand, the Emperor is holding a globe. He is a wise and dominant ruler, working for the benefit of his people, and the whole world is his dominion. A shiny golden crown sits on top of his head. Behind him, there is a mountain range and a small river.
Upright Emperor Meaning
The description of this card provides clues on its meaning. The Emperor is an authority figure or someone who plays a fatherly role. He represents power, discipline, control, authority, and even law. The mountains behind him represent a solid foundation or resistance to changes and challenges. A barely noticeable river symbolizes the emotions behind the tough exterior—there is more than meets the eye.
Love Meaning
For those in a romantic relationship, the upright Emperor card is a card of stability and a clear vision for the future. The partner is stable, reliable, and mature. The Emperor in a love tarot reading can also symbolize commitment and the importance of discipline and devotion in romance.
In a non-romantic relationship reading, the Emperor symbolizes parental and father figures, such as a family member or friend who brings stability and trust into your life.
Career Meaning
If you are seeking career advancement and workplace success, this card is a good omen. There might be a leadership role waiting for you, but you will need to stay focused and disciplined to secure it. Your abilities as a hard worker and a strategic thinker will shine through, and success will be almost guaranteed.
Finances Meaning
Your hard work will pay off, and your finances will reflect your career success. However, you will need significant discipline and self-control when making financial decisions. Keep track of how you spend your money, and make sure that your purchases are responsible and reasonable. If needed, set a clear budget and stick to it to help keep your finances in check.
Reversed Emperor Meaning
A reversed position doesn’t always equal a reversed meaning. Sometimes, a reversed position redirects the card’s meaning, and in some cases, it can even strengthen or weaken the meaning of the upright card. For the Emperor card, a reversed position can symbolize a lack of self-control or impulsivity, but it can also represent someone who is power-hungry or controlling.
Love Meaning
If you are in a long-term relationship, you may feel too consumed by it. You might have lost the sense of your personal power, or you and/or your partner may have been too immature to build a strong and enduring foundation for your relationship. Now, you are bringing the worst out of each other, using manipulation tactics to take control.
When it comes to your non-romantic relationships, how’s your family life? In particular, do you have a good relationship with your father? Oftentimes, a reversed Emperor card suggests unresolved father issues.
Career Meaning
How ambitious are you? What would you do to emerge victorious from a power struggle? Seeing this card in a reverse position when thinking of your professional life might symbolize too much ambition—you might be prone to abusing your power if given a chance.
Alternatively, you might become the victim of the abuse of power. Your superiors may be too protective over their positions and might, therefore, prevent you from advancing further.
The fault might also be within you—your shortcomings and lack of effort may be holding you back. Look within and ask yourself if you have been trying hard enough to achieve your goals. As always, carefully consider your situation and assess which meaning makes the most sense for you.
Finances Meaning
Your lack of discipline when it comes to your career—as well as the lack of control you have over your own life—is influencing your finances. Still, that’s not the end of the world. You can still make changes and get your finances in order. For instance, you could consider hiring a financial advisor to help you regain control.
Other Cards With The Emperor Card
Obviously, the exact meaning of the Emperor card will depend on its interactions with other cards in your tarot spreads. The Emperor symbolizes stability, power, authority, and discipline as a standalone card, but its meaning evolves when paired with other cards. Below are some of the most interesting Emperor pairings.
The Emperor and The Empress
First, let’s see how the Emperor card interacts with its female counterpart, the Empress. These two cards represent the masculine and feminine energies—while the Emperor is more about power and dominance, the Empress represents fertility, abundance, and stability.
Both cards depict royal figures who rule over their dominions. Dressed in red robes and holding scepters in their hands, the Emperor and the Empress are symbols of great powers and forces working in your life. Together, they can also symbolize harmony and the process of creating something new.
The Emperor and The High Priestess
When paired with the High Priestess, the Emperor represents the rational and logical side of life, while the High Priestess represents intuition and the mysteries of the unknown. As such, these two cards might seem incompatible, but that’s not necessarily the case.
As a matter of fact, the Emperor and the High Priestess can complement each other. Together, they represent a logical and intuitive approach to life, and you could greatly benefit from such a holistic approach. Use logic to guide you, but listen to your intuition when it speaks to you.
The Emperor and The Hierophant
This is an interesting combination, as both cards represent tradition and authority. If your tarot spread contains both of these cards, it might represent a strong mentor figure in your life and your relationship with that figure. You might also be religious or prone to obeying rules and societal norms.
If that’s the case, you thrive in well-structured and organized environments, so try to position yourself in such surroundings. Avoid chaotic and unpredictable situations and people, and respect and follow the law.
The Emperor and The Devil
If you get these two cards in the same spread, you may find the pairing odd, as the Devil represents the corruption of everything that the Emperor card stands for. This combination can represent power abuse, unchecked control, manipulative practices, and oppressive restrictions.
The Emperor and The Wheel of Fortune
Nothing lasts forever, and everything changes. The Wheel of Fortune is a card that reminds us how volatile life is. Even when we are in a position of power, feeling like we are on top of the world (as represented by the Emperor card), it can all change overnight.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you will necessarily lose your accomplishments, but it does remind you to stay humble and prepared for obstacles and circumstances that can set you back. This pairing also reminds you that if you’ve reached a low point in your life, you can only go up.
The Emperor and The Tower
The Tower is always a card of disruption and change—the old structures are falling down so that the new ones can be built. This card represents instability and uncertainty, unlike the Emperor card, which symbolizes stability and safety.
How you should interpret these two cards together depends on your individual situation. If you’ve been stable for a long time now, there might be a period of instability ahead of you. On the other hand, if you’ve just gone through the destruction phase, you’re now headed toward building something new and better.
The Emperor and The King of Swords
The King of Swords is a card of power and authority, similar to the Emperor card. When two similar cards appear together in your spread, it means that their message is very strong.
Your biggest strength is probably your intellect, so use it to your advantage. You will likely need to use your logical and strategic thinking to achieve your goals. You’re strong, disciplined, and strict but also just and righteous. This makes you a natural-born leader, so embrace your destiny and fulfill your potential.
The Emperor Card and Its Astrological Sign
As mentioned, the Emperor card is the card of the Aries sign, which is attested by the four ram heads on this card. Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of authority, domination, leadership, strength, passion, and even aggression—the qualities associated with the Emperor card. In other words, it is no coincidence that the Emperor card is the card for the Aries sign.
This unique relationship emphasizes how important it is for a leader to be bold and proactive. Power goes to those strong enough to take it, but as a leader, one needs to be ready to protect those he rules over.
Conclusion
The Emperor card is a card of great power. It symbolizes leadership, authority, discipline, control, and many other qualities we should all strive for. If you get this card in your tarot spreads rather often or feel particularly drawn to it, there is an underlying reason. You have the potential to fulfill your ambitions and to lead others by your example, but you will need to work hard and stay disciplined to unlock your full potential.
For more tarot meanings of specific cards, please peruse our other articles, and let us help you make the most out of your destiny. Speak with a psychic or get a free tarot reading today, and make the most of your tomorrow!
