POSTED UNDER Tarot

IV, The Emperor

January 27, 2011 by Barbara Moore 2 Comments

After the abundance and creation of the Empress and the Threes, The Emperor and the Fours come into the picture to help organize and stabilize everything.

Fours represent structure and stability. And, interestingly, out of all the Majors we’ve looked at so far, the Emperor is the first one whose modern interpretation really stays true to the historical and literal idea of his name–his meaning has remained stable. Like an Emperor, this card represents experience, wisdom, skill, ability, and leadership. It is a card of vision and seeing the bigger picture.

The Emperor creates systems to make the best use of all resources available and to meet as many needs as possible.

Unfortunately, too many people associate the Emperor with government or authority (over them) and consequently have a negative view of this card. I think reversed or ill-dignified, this card would represent someone who is control or power-hungery, who bosses around others just because he can, or who takes advantage of the work of others. But in its upright position, the Emperor helps create stability so that we can lead peaceful, enjoyable, and productive lives.

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Written by Barbara Moore
The tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore’s personal and professional lives for over a decade. In college, the tarot intrigued her with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, and history. Later, she served as the tarot specialist for Llewellyn Publications. Over the years, she has ...