4 - The Emperor
Note: This guide is based on the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck. Other tarot decks may have unique meanings, or some of these meanings may not apply.
| Upright Keywords: | Confidence, command, control, stability, leadership |
| Reversed Keywords: | Tyrant, stubbornness, inflexibility, immaturity, wavering |
The Emperor sits on a gray stone throne adorned with the skulls of rams. His red robes are worn over a suit of armor. He holds a scepter and orb in either hand, symbols of his sovereignty and rule over his realm. The crown on his head is gold, inlaid with red and white jewels.
In the background, mountains stretch into the red-orange sky. These represent the Emperor's stalwart personality and endurance.
The Emperor is a strong, commanding figure in the tarot. His imagery suggests firmness and authority. His expression is flat, stern.
In Readings: Upright
In the upright position, the Emperor embodies his best characteristics: strength, responsibility, structure, and leadership. He indicates someone who is capable in their current position. Sometimes, the Emperor has very little nuance and simply refers to someone who is a leader.
Some interpretations include the Emperor as the embodiment of the divine masculine.
Card Combinations:
Suggestions for possible meanings of this card when combined with others.
The Hanged Man, reversed: An impatient authority figure is sure of their abilities, unwilling to wait a moment longer.
King of Pentacles: Strong foundations and firm beliefs in the value of hard work.
Judgment: A moment of reckoning will be beckoned in and weathered by someone who is more than capable of managing.
Five of Swords: Victory via strong leadership. Maturity in winning.
In Readings: Reversed
When reversed, the Emperor becomes an incompetent tyrant, entirely unyielding and stuck in his ways. Power has made a monster of someone who might have once been a fair leader.
Think of the reversed Emperor as your typical mediocre middle manager: Just enough power to make your day-to-day life miserable, but not enough to feel secure in their position. They use what they have to feel more important than they really are.
The control that the Emperor once held is slipping. When the powerful suddenly lose their ability to rule, is the response to give up or to lash out in an effort to regain it?
Card Combinations
Suggestions for possible meanings of this card when combined with others.
The Star: An unpleasant authority figure's failure to account for your aspirations will be unable to prevent you from reaching higher.
Temperance, reversed: Hubris feeds into impulsivity feeds into hubris feeds into impulsivity.
Eight of Swords: You are trapped by your inability to wrangle your surroundings (and your subordinates?) into appropriate order.
Four of Pentacles: A fear of incompetence is causing someone to unnecessarily hoard resources.
Other Perspectives
Thoughts from: Contributor Name
Contributor's thoughts here.
Thoughts from: Contributor Name
Contributor's thoughts here.