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For an overview of and foundation for this series, see HERE
Part 2 is HERE
In this article, we look at the main test or challenge of the first row, which is represented by The Emperor. The flanking cards, The Empress and The Hierophant, show the energies the create or intensify the challenge.
Many people think of the Emperor and the Empress as a pair, representing opposing forces or opposite sides of the same coin, so it is confusing why in this case the Emperor stands alone as the crux of the challenge and the Empress is essentially “paired” with the Hierophant.
The basic issue of the row is how you relate to and experience the world, which is shaped (in childhood) by home