The Emperor - 4

Protect yourself and create stability

After leaving the Empress, the Fool greets her counterpart, the Emperor.  He sits facing us on a stone throne with mountains looming behind him.  He holds a scepter of eternal life in one hand and the globe of all he rules over in the other.  The Emperor is clothed in red, the color of passion, protection, and virility.  He brings in the fatherly energy of discipline and planning for the future, teaching us how to look ahead and truly reach the goals that inspired us to create in the first place.

Rider-Waite-Smith

Meanings

  • The Emperor teaches us discipline, vision, and organization, he takes the ideas brought into the world by the creativity of the Empress and helps us find the path the move forward in helping it grow.

  • He is a father figure representing the divine-masculine energy, bringing in boundaries, decision-making, and envisioning and planning your future actions. 

  • It is time to take your ideas to the next level and start laying out plans for expansion in the future.

  • While The Emperor in a healthy place brings the energy of a wise leader, there is a warning to remember that extremism can move him into a tyrant.  The same traits that make him a good ruler with stable boundaries can become harsh and exacting when taken to the extreme.  Remember to always seek balance in your creativity and drive.

Numerology - 4

Fours are associated with dependability, organization, and stability.  Fours approach life in a methodical and systematic way, they are practical and down-to-earth but can be rigid at times.  Four is associated with the planet Uranus and the energy of progress, innovation, and seeking change in the world.

Tarot de Marseille

Symbolism

Crown – shows the Emperor’s position as a leader and symbolizes his position and authority and a connection to the divine that gives him access to higher wisdom. 

Throne – made of stone, he is a ruler with a foundation of stability, it echoes the strength and steadiness of the mountains in the background.

Ram’s Heads – the four ram’s heads decorating the throne show a connection to Aries (and its ruling planet, Mars) and symbolize ambition, will, leadership, and courage.

Scepter – in the shape of the Egyptian sign, Ankh, symbolizing eternal life.  The scepter shows the Emperor’s authority and power, protection, union over opposing forces, and leadership over others.

Globe – the globe in the Emperor’s left hand shows his authority over his kingdom and the world and is similar to the globe on the Empress’ scepter.

Robes – the Emperor is clothed in red, the color of passion, power, virility, and representing Mars

The Light Seers Tarot

Associations

Fire – the suit of passion, creativity and making things happen, it is represented by wands in tarot.  The element of fire relates to your motivation, adventures, goals, and passion for what is in front of you.

Mars – the planet of war, conflict, and masculine energy.  It is associated with the kind of destruction necessary for true transformation.

Aries – leadership and courage, the passion and drive to make things come into fruition.  Aries has persistence that can move into the kind of stubbornness sometimes necessary for pushing through problems.

Tarot Mucha

Archetype - divine father, a stable ruler and authority figure

  • King Arthur – Tales of King Arthur

  • Mufasa – the Lion King

  • President Snow – The Hunger Games

  • Don Corleone – The Godfather

  • Atticus Finch – To Kill a Mockingbird

  • Mr. Banks – Mary Poppins

Papa Bear - Structure

Papa Bear reminds us that we won’t feel our best without some rules in place. He makes sure we get lots of sleep, eat good food, and put our things away so we’re ready for adventures when they come.

Rules can keep us safe