As feelings the emperor represents power, that feeling of complete control when your driving fast down an empty highway. Authority, when everyone in the room looks to you to have the answer and you actually know exactly what your’re talking about. Fatherhood, the way a child looks to their father to guide, and help them make sense of the world.
Below you will discover the complete meaning of the emperor tarot card upright and reversed, including in love readings, career readings, finances, health and powerful emperor tarot card combinations.
The Emperor Keywords
Upright Position: Authority, Paternal Figure, Structure, Stability, Protection, Leadership,
Reversed Position: Excessive Control, Stubbornness, Inflexibility, Lack of Discipline, Unreasonable Demands
The Emperor Tarot Card Description
The emperor is the father figure of your tarot deck. Sitting on a large throne with four ram heads that symbolize his connection to the zodiac sign Aries and the planet Mars. In his right hand, he holds an Ankh, the Egyptian symbol representing life. In his left hand, the emperor holds an orb, symbolizing the world he rules over with a firm but fair hand.
His red robe symbolizes power, and passion. The armour underneath shows that he is protected from harm. Behind him is a mountain range, indicating the solid foundation that backs his rulership. A small river trickles in front of the mountain range, a hint that beneath the tough and often stubborn exterior, there is an emotional side to the emperor.
The Emperor Tarot Card Meaning
Understanding the Upright Emperor
The emperor tarot card represents personal power. This is a tarot card that demands respect when it appears in your readings. A sign that wealth, success and the achievement of your goals is more than possible, with disciplined action.
The emperor card signals that it’s time for you to step into a position of authority, establish power with a firm yet fair hand. You have the qualities and experience of a good leader, status and recognition may be essential to your happiness. An opportunity to advance to a position with more power is indicated by the emperor.
This tarot card asks you to face conflict in your life head on, with a confident and logical approach. The emperor is the embodiment of head over heart, so put your emotions to the side and do what needs to be done. When you protect the people around you, you will be repaid with loyalty and respect.
The emperor tarot card is all about structure, and the emperor is bound by a system of rules. A systemic approach to the situation you’re dealing with is what’s best. Get organized, be strategic, and map out your plan of action, like a person who is truly in charge.
The Emperor Reversed
What is your relationship to power, authority and responsibilty? Currently you are expressing too much, or too little of these qualities.
When the emperor tarot card appears reversed in a reading, power plays surround you. You may be feeling bossy and extra demanding at this time, alienating the people close to you. Alternatively you’re giving up your power for someone else, people-pleasing and avoiding conflict.
If you or someone in your life is acting like an absolute ruler, balance needs to be restored. Unyielding power benefits no one, the emperor needs to listen to his advisors in order to properly lead.
If you have desires and are struggling to see them come to fruition, this card suggests that you are lacking discipline and focus. What can you do to regain focus in your life? What routine or structure can you put in place to support reaching your goals ? It may sound boring, however when you make achieving success a habit it becomes easy!
The emperor reversed can also symbolize an authoritative and dominant figure in your life. They may have good advice, however it’s being lost in the way they express it. Sometimes you need to challenge the authority in your life and find you own way. Even if that means making a few mistakes.
The Emperor: One Card Pull
In a one card pull the emperor can be simplified to one powerful message, discipline is needed! What are you doing to employ discipline in your life? Whatever situation you’re in will improve with consistent practical action and concentration.
Is the Emperor a Yes or No card?
In a yes or no tarot reading, the emperor represents a yes answer, regardless of position. The position of this card will indicate a forceful yes (reversed position), or empowered yes (upright position).
For an in depth guide on yes & no tarot questions click here.
Emperor in Love and Relationships
Upright Emperor Tarot Love Meaning
Love is not the Emperor’s strength. When this card appears in a love tarot reading, approach your romantic situation with pragmatism, common sense, and practicality.
This major arcana card represents a romantic relationship that is traditional, stable and secure. You can expect a lasting commitment with your current partner.
For singles, the emperor is your sign to be straightforward about how you feel to create clear understanding in romantic prospects. Ask them out, tell them you like them, clearly define the type of relationship you’re looking for. Confident communication is key.
The emperor can also represent a relationship with a significant age gap entering your life. This person will be confident, powerful, stable, and well-established. Feelings and romance may not come easy to them, however they will be protective and desiring to influence your life positively. They may be an Aries.
The Reversed Emperor Tarot Love Meaning
When the reversed emperor appears in a love reading, it indicates an unbalanced relationship. Competitiveness and the desire to be right are getting in the way of an enjoyable romance. There needs to be some yielding.
At it’s worst, the destructive and unbalanced relationship shown by this card can be controlling, possessive and demanding. In a relationship reading, think carefully. This type of dynamic will lead to one partner feeling trapped and can even erode their self-esteem. If you recognize yourself acting as the reversed emperor, find a way to stop being a control freak. There needs to be a balance between the desire for structure and individual freedom.
For singles, the emperor reversed can show a difficulty connecting emotionally. Father issues may be getting in the way of you finding a positive love relationship. If you have a fear of commitment and find yourself moving from one partner to the next quickly, being extremely picky, or repeatedly being attracted to emotionally unavailable partners, it’s time to heal the father wound.
You may have a great dad and still be dealing with the consequences of the father figure reversed. While parents do their best, they’re rarely perfect. Look to your childhood to find why these negative relationship patterns are repeating. It could be that your father wasn’t able to show you himself being an active part of a loving relationship.
The Emperor Tarot Career Meaning
Career Meaning – Upright Emperor
When the emperor upright shows up in career reading, your hard work is paying off. You have the leadership qualities required to become a well respected and dominant figure in your workplace. Being systematic, strategic and organized in your approach will greatly benefit you at work.
If you remain disciplined and consistent, you will get exactly what you’re wanting out of your career.
Reversed Emperor in Career and Work
In a career context, the reversed emperor can show you are lacking concentration. If your discipline has been faltering, this is your sign to get back on track before your situation gets worse. Create a plan of action that you can follow, or a routine that will help structure your work life.
At it’s worst, the reversed emperor signifies a power struggle. A senior employer may be rigid and demanding, ruling the workplace like a tyrant. If this is your situation, it may be time to break free and start a job search for something better.
Sometimes the reversed emperor tarot card asks you to challenge the authority in your life. If you’re wanting to be your own boss, this is confirmation to go for it. Let your clear vision lead you forward.
Finances Meaning – Upright Emperor
The emperor creates rules and structure in all areas of his life. In a money reading, he is a sign to use self-control and practicality in regard to your finances. Being disciplined with your money and establishing a conscious spending plan, budget, or routine for paying off your bills will benefit you greatly. All in all you’re in a good place financially, remain in control, and you’ll have more than enough.
Finances – Reversed Emperor Meaning
If you’re lacking control of your finances, it’s time to bring common sense back to your spending. The emperor reversed shows you need to create a plan to get your money back on track. Not taking responsibility for where you are will get you nowhere. Consider speaking to or learning from someone who you see as an authority in the realm of money. If they are in control and organized with their finances, they can likely help you get there too.
The Emperor Tarot Health Meaning
In a health reading, the emperor represents ignoring the needs of your body. You may be disconnected from your internal world and therefore pushing through when you need rest, overeating when you’re full, or not paying attention to subtle signs of dysfunction. Athletes have a tendency to ignore pain and push past their limits. Where are you ignoring your body and pushing too hard?
Take a logical approach to your health. Address any concerns with a health care professional. If you can’t feel what your body needs at a given time, create a simple routine for looking after yourself to support good health habits.
Reversed Emperor in Health and Wellness
When the emperor reversed appears in health tarot readings, it can be a sign of poor sleeping patterns. Physical symptoms may be manifesting from a lack of discipline or routine. If you’re finding yourself cranky, tired and lacking energy, consider how you can create a nighttime routine to encourage better sleep.
You need consistency, whether that’s an exercise plan you can actually stick to, or something like meal planning, adding structure to how you look after yourself will benefit your health greatly.
Alternatively, the emperor tarot card appears to show you’re pushing yourself way too hard. You need to respect your physical limits, or you risk experiencing burn out and illness as a result.
The Emperor Tarot Card Combinations
The Emperor and The Six Of Pentacles
The combination of the emperor card and the six of pentacles indicates that you’re in a position to positively impact the people around you. Other’s look-up to you, use your leadership and authority for the benefit of the greater good in whatever way you can. This combination of tarot cards can symbolize a windfall of money and success that will put you in a position to be generous and give back to those around you. Use your financial success for good, and you will guarantee more prosperity for your future.
The Emperor and the Two of Wands
When the two of wands and the emperor card show up together, this is a positive omen. Your clear vision and careful planning are leading you to great success. You’ve set the groundwork, and now it’s time to move forward with your plans. Decisive action (even if it involves taking some risks) will lead to the achievement of what you desire. Collaboration and partnership can bring added strength to your plans if you’re open to it. This tarot card combination is a powerful symbol of personal growth.
The Emperor & Empress Tarot Card Combination
Drawing the emperor tarot card with the empress is extremely lucky. In your tarot deck these two cards are the representatives of masculine and feminine, mother and father. Together they show you are in the perfect position to create and employ the powerful action needed to see your creations through to manifestation.
In a love reading these two cards represent a perfect match, equally balanced and harmonious in nature. This is likely a power couple and has a strong indication of creating a family together.
Go here to uncover the empress tarot card meaning.
Common Questions about The Emperor Tarot Card
What does the Emperor tarot card represent in terms of authority and leadership?
The emperor tarot card meaning is deeply linked with authority and leadership. The emperor suggests it’s time for you to embrace your personal power and own your role as a leader. Other people are already looking up to you and ready to follow.
In the religious context it relates to secular hierarchy, especially when in combination with the heirophant, and asks you to carefully follow the chain of command in whatever organizations you’re involved in.
What is the astrological connection between the Emperor tarot card and Aries?
The connection between the zodiac sign, Aries and the emperor card, is due to the ram heads featured on his throne and the nature of the emperor. For a deeper look into why the emperor is such a powerful representation of Aries, check out this article that uncovers the connection between astrology and tarot.
Why Is The Emperor Card Connected to The Father Figure?
The emperor tarot card is connected to the father figure because he is a symbol of an older person with authority. When you’re young, your father is the ultimate authority in life.
Parents to a child are akin to gods of their realities, dictating when they eat, sleep, what they can and can’t do, taking full responsibility for their lives. With most of the popular religions of the world naming god as an archetypal father figure, this puts an extra emphasis on dad. His rulership over his child (or lack there of) has a huge impact on the rest of the child’s life. This is why the archetypal father & mother (emperor and empress) come at the start of the major arcana, their power and authority impacts the rest of the deck.
The Empress Tarot 