Title: The Emperor
Alternate names: King Arthur, PAPA JOE, Jupiter, Ancient of Days

Also: Constituting Intelligence, "He who sets in order," The Creator, Divine Father, Sun of the Morning, Chief among the Mighty

TRADITIONAL MEANINGS OF CARD UPRIGHT: Stability, worldly power, protection, realization; a great person; aid, reason, conviction; also authority and will. Accomplishment, confidence, wealth, indomitable spirit, attainment of goals. The head ruling the heart. Leadership, business or government, kingship. Dominating type, logical, intellectual, mathematical. A strict but solid, dependable person who runs a smooth ship. Mathematics, computers, logical systems. One who creates order out of chaos.

The Emperor can represent an encounter with authority or the assumption of power and control. As the regulator, he is often associated with legal matters, disciplinary actions, and officialdom in all its forms. He can also stand for an individual father and archetypal Father in his role as guide, protector, and provider.  

TRADITIONAL MEANINGS OF CARD REVERSED: Benevolence, compassion, credit; also confusion to enemies, obstruction, immaturity. Lack of strength, ineffectiveness, indecision, inability, feebleness, failure to control petty emotions, seeing only what you wish to see. Domineering. Vision clouded. Breaking the rules. Weakness of character. Immature male. Poor leadership. Destruction. A control freak. Dominating male who is an aggressive "know it all." Refusal to listen, or listening when it is too late. Immature. Egotist, insensitive, rigid thinker, war maker. Closed mind leads to disaster.

COLORS: orange, scarlet red--stimulates the physical body to respond with direct action.Strength, courage, steadfastness, health, vigor, and sexuality.The color red is extremely vitalizing and stimulating and can assist in overcoming inertia, depression, fear or melancholy. Red is power, dynamic and tenacious.
TIME: late winter (winter solstice to Candlemas/Imbolg), i.e. January

BIBLICAL: For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; for it is God's minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God's minister, an avenger to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad.--Romans 13:3-4
MYTHOLOGICAL: All father deities: Jupiter, Adonai, Agni, Zeus and Angus, Marduk
ASTROLOGICAL: (1) Leo--loyalist; (2) Mars--energy, action; (GD) Aries--initiator

ANIMAL/INSECT: Ram, eagle, June bug
PLANTS/TREES: Oak is for stability, steadfastness and protection.
OILS: pine

MUSIC: The King and I; Sousa
PUBLIC PEOPLE OR EVENTS: King Arthur--discipline and law, the good of society, taking precedence over personal feelings and desires. Also, S.L. MacGregor Mathers.
OCCUPATIONS: executive, politician, government official
DRAWINGS AND ARTWORK: Lincoln Memorial; William Blake's >Ancient of Days

PEOPLE OR SITUATIONS IN MY LIFE: My father--I resented my father's authoritarian personality, especially as a teenager. It wasn't until he discovered that he had terminal cancer that we really began to communicate and try to understand each other. And now that I am older, I can really appreciate his efforts and struggles (though not necessarily his methods) as the leader of a tribe of seven children. His stability and control were vital in such a situation. Affection from him was rare, but *his* upbringing was such that a father showed love by providing for his family--food, shelter and discipline. That was his responsibility, and he fulfilled it. Perhaps it didn't please me, or make me feel good, but where would I have been otherwise? These days I regret that I can no longer profit from his wisdom and guidance.

My husband--They say you marry your parent. Responsibility is not my thing at all. I'm grateful that I have a mate who is reliable and looks after the "important" stuff. Sometimes his tendency to be a 'control freak' irritates me, but without his strength, where would I be? (Certainly not in Switzerland!) He is not only responsible in everything he undertakes, but also shoulders much of my burden as far as adjusting to life in another country, especially the legal aspects. My head is in the clouds and his feet are on the ground, so together we've got it covered!!!

OTHER: North, Air, White, Swords, Father

TaRoma: For authority, building, organizing, asserting and fathering.

The Voice

Chief

The Vision

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