Rider Waite Card Meaning - The Emperor

IV - The Emperor - Power and Status

The Emperor sits on a massive throne set high above a river. The Emperor commands the heights and sits solid and firm in his place of power. The long white beard and long gray hair conjure images of Moses and the Biblical patriarchs decreed to rule by God’s own word. The Emperor describes traditional masculine power; he is the father, the ruler, and God’s own representative in the realm he rules. His authority is absolute and binding.

The presence of the Emperor shows that there is an extremely powerful entity in the picture, and he is well-disposed toward and able to help the questioner. In a woman’s reading, he represents a father figure, husband, or boss. Circumstances improve through the aid of this man. He is strong and in a good position to be of assistance.

Reversed, the Emperor speaks of conflict with power and authority or an individual who is overbearing and controlling. It can also mean that the questioner is living in conditions of tyranny. Freedom of movement is hampered by the control of another.