Authority, "The Headmaster". Paternity, firmness. Listens to advice but makes up own mind. Stability, wealth. Reason triumphant. Dominant male.
Reversed, immaturity, subservience.
The Emperor is the Head; of State, of a school, of a family. He is in charge, he's the boss. He has authority and is secure in the knowledge that he knows best and as long as he's in charge you had better by-God do as he says! He is Will imposed on others, but he is fair and willing to listen to the opinions and advice of others. He will make up his own mind, however. In his own dominion his word is law, but he is not all powerful outside his home, school, or country. All the same, he didn't get where he is today by letting others walk all over him ; don't think you can get away with ANYTHING!
Reversed, he has no power. He is a puppet who must do as he is told, the headmaster who is afraid of the students and whose authority is a joke. Authority is largely a state of mind, you know; if you think you'll be obeyed you will. And you don't get unquestioning obedience by being conciliatory or timid.
A series exploring the Tarot, beginning with interpretation of each card
Sunday, 7 February 2010
3. The Empress
Fertility, motherly virtues. Feminine progress. Level ~ headed and practical. Mother Nature, the all-mother. Pregnancy, Nest-builder, the faithful wife. Reversed, poverty, over-protectiveness. Delay. Unwanted pregnancy or barrenness.
The Empress is the mother. She makes the home and keeps it comfortable. She lets her husband deal with The BIG issues, like what to do with Foreign Policy, while she sees to it that the family has clean clothes and food and that the fire is going. She is a source of comfort and discipline. Her children tun to her when they are hurt or sick or in trouble, and she soothes and cares for and helps them. She is Vesta, Hera, and Demeter.
Reversed, she is Demeter mourning for Persephone. There is no comfort at home; the fire is out, Mother has left. Fertility is absent; no babies will be born. She is no longer the faithful wife, but the whore. Children are unwanted. Alternatively, she ties her children to her, becomes a smother- mother. She will not let them become independent. Of course children grow up but, she says, hers are only babies still. Why, the youngest is only 30- much too young to leave home!
The Empress is the mother. She makes the home and keeps it comfortable. She lets her husband deal with The BIG issues, like what to do with Foreign Policy, while she sees to it that the family has clean clothes and food and that the fire is going. She is a source of comfort and discipline. Her children tun to her when they are hurt or sick or in trouble, and she soothes and cares for and helps them. She is Vesta, Hera, and Demeter.
Reversed, she is Demeter mourning for Persephone. There is no comfort at home; the fire is out, Mother has left. Fertility is absent; no babies will be born. She is no longer the faithful wife, but the whore. Children are unwanted. Alternatively, she ties her children to her, becomes a smother- mother. She will not let them become independent. Of course children grow up but, she says, hers are only babies still. Why, the youngest is only 30- much too young to leave home!
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