Tarot Reflections: The Emperor.

The Emperor from Witches Tarot Companion by Ellen Dugan. Illustrated by Mark Evans. Photo by @fraterralph

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From The Empress we move to The Emperor. Here we deal with authority and the ruling of political power. As with The Empress we can see this power expressed on both inner and outer levels. The Emperor can choose to rule focusing only on external power, as in material and worldly force and gain. Or The Emperor can choose to focus also on internal Spiritual power, as in Natural Law and ethics which transcend human law and governance. When The Emperor focuses on both the Earthly Realm and the Spiritual Realm, he can find balance and exercise political power with wisdom. But he should not get side tracked into focusing too strongly upon the esoteric, as his role is more aligned to dealing with the matters of the physical.

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The Emperor can also represent other forms of authority besides that of the political realm. He can represent power structures within the family, schools, and other organizations. And The Emperor can represent either male or female leadership. He or she is the authority figure that others look up to for guidance, support, and sometimes protection. The Emperor is the one entrusted with keeping things on track, without letting their power go to their head.

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In reflecting upon The Emperor, these questions come to mind:

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In what ways am I called upon to act as an Emperor in my life?

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Am I comfortable laying down the law when needed, or do I tend to want to go with the flow and try to make everybody happy, even at the risk of harming a certain project or organization?

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Do I tend to let power go to my head? Do I enjoy being seen as an Emperor just to satisfy my own ego rather than out of a sincere desire to help others? Where do I find the balance.

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Some people seek power as a way to help others and to make the world a better place. Others seek power only for powers own sake; the common good be damned. Few people are either devil or saint. Most are a rather complex mixture of both. Only by seeing both sides of our nature can we seek to find balance between the two extremes. Upon honest self reflection we plant the seeds of future growth.

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