If we are to know The Emperor, we must first know The Empress. There is an obvious contrast between the two; in a way, they complement each other. The Emperor sits seriously and upright on a comfortless granite throne, while The Empress lies leisurely on a soft and comfortable seat. Lifeless rocks fill the background of the card. He holds a glass ball in his left hand and an ankh cross in his right. A crown on his head shows his authority. The Emperor is law and rationality, knowledge and consciousness. He is a more mature version of The Magician. Where The Empress and The High Priestess have rich symbolism, the symbolism of The Emperor is actually very simple. While The Empress focuses on her feminine side, creativity, wisdom and the subconscious, The Emperor brings all of that into the conscious realm and enforces structure and control. The granite and the rocks behind The Emperor signify a solid, fixed state. The Empress card is full of plants, life and fluid lines; it is all about change, growth and progress. The Emperor is constant. His card signifies the law, and true laws are not subject to change, they are eternal. The two work together, one representing Nature and the other representing civilization, structure and order. The Empress is shown as always young and caring, The Emperor as ancient, strict and wise. The Emperor brings stability and endurance, but also the danger of stagnation. The two rams at his side show authority and masculinity through the astrological sign of Aries. There is a glint of dictatorship in this picture, a thirst for war and power. The Emperor is about control and accepting control for the higher good, or changing circumstances against all odds. It is no coincidence that this card is numbered four, the number of the material world. This card signifies the methods and ways of getting things done in the material universe.
On the card
The Emperor is the older, wiser version of The Magician, sitting firmly on his throne. The throne has a distinctly blocky character. Manifested in the conscious realm of the material universe, the four-sided throne clearly symbolizes our human perception of and interaction with the world. We know of the four corners of the world, the four elements and the four winds. The four corners of the world echo the card's number four. His throne is also decorated with rams' heads. The significance of the first astrological sign, Aries, is obvious. The strong male principle is the leitmotif of this card. The big granite throne gives us a sense of immutability. The laws that this card signifies are not easily changed. These are not petty human rules for day-to-day life; they are the higher laws of this realm. The sceptre in his right hand is an ankh, a symbol of life. In his left hand he holds a glass ball, representing the world and his rule over it. He is obviously somewhere in the mountains, in rather lifeless surroundings, indicating seclusion from the realm he controls. The explanation may lie in the Hebrew letter of this card, Heh, which stands for a window: through a "window" he sees and controls the world outside his abode. On a personal level it can be understood as the window of perception that every one of us has and uses to experience life. If you look carefully, you will notice a subtle indication of a river, the same river that appears in The Empress card. This is a strong message that there is no separation between nature and the higher law.
Upright
The Emperor is very clear. It is all about authority, power and discipline. Self-control is needed to show power and attain goals. Mind over matter. Base your decision on a firm foundation. Maybe some conflict is needed for victory? Maybe some leadership is needed to resolve a situation? A man of authority might help you and stand by you in your endeavours. This card has the potential to manifest authority, so if it appears in a reading, there is a good chance that you can resolve the situation by your presence alone.
Reversed
Failed ambitions or abuse of power. Sometimes it indicates that plans are falling apart, distraction from greater goals, loss of discipline or struggle with authorities. Also, try to make decisions on sound principles, review your plans and modus operandi, and be realistic.