It is Tarot Tuesday yet again, my darlings! After two consecutive weeks of delving into our feminine energies and tuning in to our creative, nurturing sides, we are now ready to look at the other side of the coin; The Emperor. He is our masculine energy, both a father figure and firm but fair hand to lead us. He demands respect and finds comfort in structure. He walks the fine line between benevolent protector and tyrant. Being in balance with The Emperor is to know your worth and demand respectful treatment, to protect those in your charge, and teach as much as you learn. He is associated with the Greek and Roman god Ares, as well as the planet Mars.
Upright, The Emperor is unafraid of confrontation, and won’t hesitate to protect those he cares about. Like him, you must listen to the counsel of others, but make up your own mind in the end. Whatever situation you are facing, you need to embody the Emperor’s established rules and regulations. You can create calm from the chaos by breaking it down into its parts and mapping out the actions needed to resolve it. He signifies expertise and a worldly knowledge, and much like a father, wants you to impart your knowledge and expertise to others so that they may be as wise and powerful as you are. You know your boundaries and aren’t scared to hold them against the pressures put upon you by society, friends, family, whoever may challenge them. He is patient and disciplined in his endeavors, marching steadily toward his goals. However he is also flexible. He asks that you understand that change is a part of life and that adapting to bumps in the road or downed trees is a way of life. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture and keep moving. You will reach your destination.
Reversed, The Emperor warns of an excessive amount of control. Check in with your relationship to power and authority. Are you hoarding power? Abusing the amount of control you have in a situation? You don’t need to take power from others or give it away, it can be distributed equally. Perhaps you are facing the lack of power in a situation He may encourage you to stand up to authority figures. Perhaps your motivation and discipline to move steadily to your goal has waned. Check that your plan and routine support reaching your goal, and dedicate yourself to seeing it through. You may need to get tough with yourself and do the uncomfortable work you’ve been avoiding. It can be unpleasant, but it is necessary. There is also the possibility that The Emperor reversed speaks to an unhappy relationship. Perhaps you or your partner has become overbearing and possessive. If you feel your independence and freedom have been taken away, the power imbalance is putting strain on the relationship and you must confront it to regain a balanced flow of energies between you.
Our masculine energy wants us to take charge. It wants us to stand our ground and connect with those around us to reach a greater good. Becoming friendly with confrontation is a challenge for most. We don’t want to rock the boat. We don’t want to make waves. We want to let change find us, but the Emperor is our sign to be our own advocate. We are powerful. We are capable. We can be understanding and still stand our ground on our boundaries. When the going gets tough, we can dig in our heels and brace for impact. You are stronger than you think, my darlings. And it can be scary to tap into that power, but it is exhilarating to take away the power that fear has over us. Breathe, assess, and keep your eyes on the horizon!