The Emperor card The Spacious Tarot deck.png — Timely Tarot: Embarking on New Adventures with The Emperor Card

by Lisa De La O Wyman

Spring is finally here! Seeing nature rebirth itself in a burst of color and bloom is such powerful medicine to our weary souls. Winter seemed especially long and took many of us to emotional places that were very trying. If the transition from early March in watery, introspective Pisces to fiery, pioneering Aries feels a bit rough, that’s natural. It’s a big shift in energies and can take some time adjusting. The good news is that you have a chance to start over and plant new seeds of hope, progress, and achievement. The zodiacal wheel turned towards Aries on the Spring Equinox, inviting us all to reclaim our vitality, independence, and vision for a brighter tomorrow. Aries is a maverick spirit, the individual seeking out new territory to explore and goals to accomplish. Tarot deck creator M.M. Meleen says that Aries energy reminds her of the Star Trek mission statement, “To boldly go where no man has gone before!” It’s an initiatory drive, that feeling that you want to start something, create what doesn’t yet exist, and express your will through empowered action. The Emperor card is the perfect companion for this journey, teaching us to step into our power with confidence, enlightened leadership, and accountability.

Ruled by the warrior planet Mars, Aries is a cardinal Fire sign. As the first sign of the zodiacal year, its nature is young and vibrant, like a new life that has just been born. It cries out loudly and lustily with eagerness, curiosity, and a desire to explore the world around it. They embody the phrase “I AM.” Associated with the ram, it’s a yang energy of virility and assertion. The ram is a symbol of Amun-Ra, king of the gods in Ancient Egypt, as well as the ram of the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology. While Aries is named after the Greek god Ares, epitome of war and destruction, Aries as exemplified in The Emperor card more closely resembles his Roman identity as Mars. The Martian face of Aries is a strong but fair leader, skilled military strategist, and protective guardian of his people. Also associated with Ares and Mars is the ram, the powerful beast that scales new heights and boasts an aggressive, head-on combative behavior.

However, rams also exhibit a dedicated paternal leadership of their flock. Legendary actress and Aries Bette Davis declared, “My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose.” Evolved Aries energy balances the ambitious drive to seek new horizons and fight for what they want with a concern for the underdog and a desire to guide others in their vision for a better way. Their taste for adventure leads them to take risks others may not dare. That surge of adrenaline and headstrong desire to forge a new path often makes them the first to try something new, to light the path, and to take a few bumps and bruises as they go along. Aries enjoys a challenge, a bit of competition, and going after what they want with gusto. They are inspiring!

The Emperor card traditionally depicts a kingly figure on a throne in royal robes, often barely concealing the battle armor of a warrior underneath. Their attire and throne are adorned with ram heads and the Aries zodiacal glyph, which also forms the shape of a ram’s head. The color red is shown in a variety of shades, exemplifying passion, strength, and the vitality of blood that powers life. He often holds a scepter, orb, or ankh in one hand to represent his rulership. The Emperor card is number 4 in the Tarot deck, representing firm foundations, structure, and stability. He is the framework upon which new dreams and goals can be solidly built. In a lower form, 4 can also suggest stagnation or reaching a plateau in which momentum has pooled and ceased to progress. I’m sure we can all look back in history at rulers who reached the zenith of power but failed to evolve into benevolent, civic-minded leaders. Conquering new heights is just a first step; once you reach the peak the dream must expand to benefit more than just yourself. The Emperor has the vision of conquest, building a new reality of some kind, and the perspective to develop a strategy and establish structure. Conquest means that you’re going to have to rule and take on the responsibility of leadership. Can you see that challenge playing out in your own life? We all want things, but once we achieve them can we act with maturity, consideration, and ethical behavior? Are we prepared for the accountability that comes with achievement and power?

The Emperor card invites you to be confident and take up space in the world. Don’t hide or dim your light! You have a right to assert yourself and be the unique and independent individual you are with something special to offer. The Emperor encourages self-sovereignty and an ease with personal power. Are you comfortable with being in charge? How do you feel about the idea of power? What does it mean to you? If it has always represented something negative and oppressive, can you change that? Power is neutral; consequence depends on how it is expressed.

What if you were powerful and utilized it in healthy ways that helped others and increased your own hope for the world? What about the idea of authority? What does authority mean to you? Rejecting it wholeheartedly means sacrificing agency and leaving it for others to take up and potentially abuse. Are you okay with that? What if you could be an enlightened leader to those around you, even if it’s just your immediate family or friend group? Your sphere of influence could create ripples of inspiration, guidance, and positive action. After the trials of the past year, we all want change on many levels. We probably won’t get very far if we wait for someone else to swoop in and somehow fix everything. If we each did our part to create the change we wish to see, we’d have much greater success. Every one of us has something unique to offer, a will and a vision that can contribute to shared progress.

When a client pulls The Emperor card, they are usually being invited to step into their power and develop more confidence in something. New change and possibility are on the horizon and it’s time to say YES. It can also mean becoming your own boss, or taking on a leadership role either at work or on a creative project. It may also suggest that you develop greater independence and assertiveness in your relationships. The Emperor gives you permission to take action, be bold, and take charge of yourself and your choices. It asks you to affect change and to be prepared to take accountability for it. Taking action on ideas and aspirations requires more than enthusiasm to bring them into material reality. Organization, structure, planning, responsibility – this is what enlightened leadership requires. If that seems like too much, delegate! Ask for help. Spring is fully here - it’s time to start believing that you can move mountains and forge new paths of possibility. If not now, when? If not you, who? Take your rightful place as a harbinger of positive change in this world.

Lisa De La O Wyman is a Tarot reader and writer based in Redondo Beach. At Tarot for Empowerment she works with individual clients, private parties, and special events. Through her work she seeks to connect people with their innate power as well as encounter the mystery in everyday life. She can be reached via Instagram and Facebook at @tarotforempowerment.

Timely Tarot: Embarking on New Adventures with The Emperor Card by Lisa De La O Wyman

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