Category: Tarot Tuesday

The Emperor’s Call to Stand Tall

A story by Calista Moon on .

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! 

Mother Empress

A story by Calista Moon on .

Happy Imbolc! If you haven’t taken the time to read my post about Imbolc, and would like to know a bit more about it, have a look and see how you can celebrate the first signs of spring!


Today marks a month of Tarot Tuesday, my darlings. Last week, I mentioned how we would be getting more into the balance of masculine and feminine energies, and this week we continue the feminine energy with the fourth card of the Major Arcana, The Empress. She is elegant, sensual, and necessary for creating balance within oneself regardless of gender. Like a mother, she nurtures us and encourages our growth. She’s associated with the planet and Roman goddess Venus, and the Greek goddess Aphrodite, bringing in a feel of love, beauty, and grace. 


When she appears upright, she is urging you to venture out into nature and ground your energy. Remember through this connection that you are surrounded by the abundance of life, and to find gratitude for the bounty you are given. Express yourself creatively and be in flow with Mother Earth and all that she gives. She can suggest pregnancy or birth, whether a literal childbirth or the rooting of a new idea or project. Like a supporting and compassionate mother, she encourages this new endeavor. She encourages caring for others in a healthy and balanced way. A wise mother knows when to step in and when to let her children do for themselves. 


The Empress reversed is a sign that you aren’t taking care of yourself. You’ve left your cup empty far too long and need to refill it with self-love and self-care before you can continue to give to others. This can mean you may have taken your caring for others too far, becoming overprotective or controlling. Perhaps you are the codependent party. Either way, retreating from this relationship to care for yourself may cause backlash from the other parties that are accustomed to your attention and focus. Don’t bother with what they think right now. Shift your focus from a mother/child type of relationship to an adult/adult relationship through cultivating independence and trust. Replace the controlling or overprotective aspects with loving compassion. She may also speak to a block in your creative flow or debilitating thoughts around body image. Learn to love your body. Give thanks for your curves, your bumps, your hair, your seven trillion cells all working in glorious harmony to keep you alive. Shine your unique light brightly. Express yourself, your beautiful, strong self, creatively. Spend time on yourself, with yourself.


In today’s world, it is common to neglect ourselves. We are praised for working ourselves to the bone, for working a full time job and three side hustles. We’re shamed for resting. But the Empress, our spiritual mother, knows the importance of rest. The entire world rests for several months out of the year before blooming again in spring to thrive and grow. Burnout is not equal to the pursuit of happiness. Remember that while you are getting that bread and working for everything you’ve got, that if you don’t rest, spend time doing what sparks joy in you, your cup will run dry, and you’ll have no more to give. And to that end, self-care is not an easy thing. 


Social media portrays it as a glass of wine the size of your head and a bubble bath, or a wild night on the town, but I’ve found that my self-care looks far more like repotting plants that I’ve neglected. It looks like forcing myself to sit down and read a book I’ve been putting off. It looks like practicing one of the many instruments I’ve brought into my house, or taking a difficult hike outside far away from town with my pup. That’s not to say a bubble bath has ever put me in a bad mood, but sometimes it doesn’t spark my inner light. Experiment with what sparks yours. What’s something you used to love doing that you put down a long time ago because you didn’t have the time, or people judged you for it, or whatever reason? Spark your light, and refill your cup, my darlings! Momma said that it was okay.