Guest Author - Leslie Fulger
The Emperor comes to us with a little different approach. Instead of relying on his intuition he is more of an intellectual, he rationalizes things and represents stability. He is disciplined, confident in his abilities, as well as, authoritative. The Emperor is assertive, organized, self sufficient and often times depicted as a father figure.
In some cases, this may represent a person within one's life that is controlling also. The Emperor is a dual card that has several interpretations but it really depends on the person you are doing the reading for as to what really applies to that person imparticularly.
On the other hand, it can also depict a person who is having difficulty standing up for themselves, especially if the card is reversed. This may indicate an individual who is having issues within their life in which others are being controlling or have strong influences within their life that tends to dictate their actions.
The person in this situation may be having some personal complex issues within their lives such as feeling unworthy, incompetent and generally tend to have a poor self image. They may be avoiding their responsibilities or obsessed with security.
The important thing to keep in mind when doing a reading and The Emperor turns up is that depending on the other surrounding cards, which quality seems to be most prominent? Is there an overall positive flow with the overall reading or are there some negatively aspected cards supporting this particular card? This will help determine what is likely to be the most accurate assessment of the qualities of the Emperor.
Although I provide some common qualities and associations for the cards, please always use your gut instinct or intuition to make the best assessment of the situation. Not every interpretation will be the same for each individual. The person's energy, mood, thinking and feelings play a major role in the outcome of the reading. What may apply to John, may not necessarily apply to Mary. There may be similar qualities but the overall interpretation is dependent on that specific individual at the given time.
No book can provide an exactness to the true interpretation. That only comes through allowing the intuition to guide the process and allow the story to unfold before you. Our minds speak the language of symbols so it is only natural for us to be drawn to them. Each card tells a story of the journey for each person. It is a unique and different path for each person but ultimately it is that distinguishing depiction that shows individuality, uniqueness and provides a grasp for the overall persona, traits, qualities and attitude of the person receiving the reading.
This card is often times utilized as a Significator card or representing the prominent authoritative male figure within the querent's life. It is a wild card basically and can be interpreted in various ways depending on the current circumstances and information gathered from other surrounding cards supporting it's position within the reading.
To Your Divinatory Success!
Leslie Fulger
Tarot Site Editor
BellaOnline.com
