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Divination & Tarot:
The Illuminated Journey:
Half Begun or Half Over – It’s the Tarot Year of the Emperor
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by Beth Owl's Daughter |
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As you may know, one of my favorite areas of the Tarot is how the numerology of your birthday, or of any date for that matter, corresponds to the cards. In particular, these numbers may be associated with the traits of the Major Arcana (the trumps). Using this system, we can learn a great deal about ourselves (particularly our soul’s mission, which I will discuss in future columns) as well as the general patterns that can be anticipated for a given year.
This year, being 2011, reduces to the number 4 (2+0+1+1=4). Card number Four of the Major Arcana is The Emperor, making 2011 the Tarot year of The Emperor.
Who Is the Emperor?
Contemplate thy powers, contemplate thy wants and thy connections; so shalt thou discover the duties of life, and be directed in all thy ways.
~ Pharaoh Akhenaten (1380-1362 BCE)
First, let’s be honest. A lot of people don’t much like the stiff-necked looking authority figure that appears in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. I can understand this. After all, in Pamela Colman Smith’s rendering of the Emperor, he scowls at us from his throne carved with the rams’ heads of the sign of Aries. The same symbol also appears upon the left shoulder of his robe.
Aries, of course, is the God of War, and is the first sign of the zodiac, coming at the Vernal Equinox, initiating the astrological new year.
So the Emperor represents force, aggression, and the awakening of the life force in the Spring.
Another indication of the Emperor’s Aries/Mars warrior energy is evidenced by his red cloak and tunic. His landscape is rocky, austere, and Tarot scholar and artist Robert Place calls him “the martial” Emperor, as his sits upon his stone throne in full battle armor.
The Emperor does not look particularly happy in most traditional decks. But is he really a tyrant? Yes, it’s true that under his cloak, he is still in his armor, ever vigilant for battle. After all, emperors only get to be (and remain) emperors by subjugating kingdoms.
But I think he is unfairly disliked. Really, there is so much more to him!
Many years ago, though a trance journey, I spent time getting to know the Emperor. (I can highly recommend this technique as a way to connect more intimately with the Tarot).
As a result, I now experience him as far more rich, complex and multidimensional than he is often perceived. He is not simply an Alexander, Caesar, Sun Tzu, or modern-day combatant who climbs to the top through war, scheming, conflict and domination.
I also understand him as an Arthurian archetype – the visionary leader who would unite petty kings and warring factions in order to hold the peace and build prosperity for all. He is “might for right” – with all the weighty responsibility and worldly care that such a role brings. He understands how the real world of ego, power and politics works, and so uses that system to bring about the greater good.
Despite the severity of his countenance in the R-W-S deck, I believe that at heart, the Emperor is an idealist. But he cannot indulge in being the beautiful dreamer that is The Fool (who he is in fact connected to, through the numerology of the Major Arcana).
Like the quote by Henry David Thoreau, he has not only built his castles in the air, he has also built the foundations beneath them. Thus, he must maintain and defend them.
The Emperor represents establishing, building and doing. He uses force if necessary to uphold the law. He makes the rules, forms, structures, and institutions of worldly power. And he insists on excellence, starting with himself.
The Chain of Command
Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish.
Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.
~ President and General Dwight D. Eisenhower
One of my favorite interpretations of The Emperor is from the Osho Zen Tarot® deck. He is much more dashing and dynamic, and he is named, “The Rebel.” Yet he is not a Hollywood stereotype of the alienated teenage rebel, nor is he recalcitrant for its own sake.
He is simply so sure of his authority that he is incapable of humble obedience, especially if he is ordered by a hierarchical “chain of command.” He bows to no one.
While he can be fundamentally conservative, he will not hesitate to break the laws of convention if they seem arbitrary or a hindrance to his goals. He lives by his own rules and if he sees himself as superior, it’s because most of the time, that is the simple truth.
However, this can be challenging in a partnership. He can tend to be bossy and imperious. He likes to call the shots, he has big plans, then leaves it to you to see to the details. And he is not always generous about who gets the credit.
If the Emperor is not in the limelight of leadership that he craves (and, usually, fully deserves), he can become sour and nit-picky.
But he is not selfish or mean; quite the contrary. As Emperor, he is vast, expansive and tireless. He knows what he likes, what he wants, and he goes for it. His motto is, “It is easier to apologize after the fact, than to ask permission.”
In addition, the Emperor represents fathering energy. This applies to both how we experienced our fathers, and how we share the qualities of fathering as we generally understand them – the protector, provider and disciplinarian for our families and for ourselves. At his best, his fatherly leadership is a service of love.
Like the Good Father, when he teaches us, or lays down the law, he never asks for anyhing he would not do himself. He expects us to be our best. And he knows that structures and boundaries are the loving tools that build ultimate success.
The Global Influence of The Emperor
Last year was an Empress year and was lush with fertile, creative Mothering and nurturing. In an Emperor year, we can expect a more patriarchal energy and less emphasis on women’s roles.
We may see many of the same patterns that occurred in the most recent Emperor year we had, which was in 2002. Of course, the big story in 2002 was that the United States and its NATO allies went to war with Afghanistan. And they were making a case for war with Iraq, for reasons that turned out to be illegitimate.
Let us hope that the bellicose Mars/Aries God of War does not have the upper hand in the Emperor’s influence again this year.
So far, however, it has not been a peaceful time. In fact, there has been a strong backlash against those whose power has for decades seemed so absolute as to make them modern-day emperors. The revolutionary fervor that has spread across Tunisia, Thailand, Krygystan, Ivory Coast, Haiti, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen this year cannot be ignored. Egypt toppled its entrenched Emperor-like despot without civil war; Libya has not been not so fortunate.
In an Emperor year, the focus is very likely to be on establishing authority, security, power, rules and top-down command, as well as when and how to use physical force. So we can expect that corporate and political power structures and struggles will be even more important than usual. Watch for closing ranks, consolidation of power and alliances for a common goal.
I also find it fascinating that in this Emperor year, the royal family of Great Britain has once again been in the limelight. Whether you love or hate the idea of a monarchy in the 21st century, the April wedding and recent royal road trip of the newlyweds Prince William and Kate Middleton grabbed the headlines and imaginations of celebrity fans everywhere.
Of course, Prince William is next in line to the throne of the British Empire (not a politically correct term anymore, of course) after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth and his father, Prince Charles.
Emperors are concerned with the “Big Picture,” and long-term strategies. Their own mortality often weighs heavily on them (more about this next month!), so they may expend copious time and treasure to create a legacy that can continue beyond their death. As a result, they are usually well aware that they are laying the groundwork for the generations to come with every choice they make.
So we might hope that under the influence of the Emperor, our leaders will step up, with less hubris and more compassion and personal responsibility. This is an opportunity for those at the forefront of industry, finance and politics to make their decisions with an awareness of the long lens of history, rather than the short-term gains for themselves or their party.
Next month, I’ll have more to say about how The Emperor year may be affecting us on a personal basis, and how to take advantage of its energy while we still can.
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Beth Owl's Daughter,
Internationally recognized author, teacher and leader in the Tarot community.
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For nearly four decades, Beth Owl's Daughter has been a practicing seer and guide in the non-ordinary realms. After being fascinated by the I Ching and astrology (calculating charts by hand, mind you, and with a life-long aversion to math!), one day in 1972, Beth stumbled upon the first Tarot deck she had ever seen: the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot.
It was love at first sight, and evidently the feeling was mutual, because ever since, the Tarot has been a profound, lifelong friend and guide for her and for those with whom she shares her gifts.
Beth Owl's Daughter [http://www.
owlsdaughter.com]
* is a member of the American Tarot Association, Tarot Professionals and the Tarot Association of the British Isles.
* is an internationally recognized author, teacher and leader in the Tarot community. She has published many articles, reviews and columns about the Tarot, served as ethics columnist for the debut issue of Tarot World Magazine, and has been featured in many radio interviews and podcasts.
* serves on the Board of Directors for Cherry Hill Seminary, the world’s first and only graduate-level education for Pagan ministry.
* is founder and organizer of one of the world’s oldest and largest Tarot social groups.
Beth is a trained, full-time intuitive, an Usui Reiki practitioner, and an eclectic Witch practicing in the Reclaiming and Faerie traditions of the Craft. She is also an award-winning blogger: http://www.owlsdaughter.
com/owls-wings .
She has extensive "real world" business experience, having worked for many years in management, career development, information technology, and as a professional writer. For this reason, she is passionate about teaching people to use the tools of ancient wisdom for practical, modern applications.
She offers readings readings and workshops for motivated, creative people who are reaching for high standards of personal excellence and who understand that to live deeply, joyfully and in balance is a form of spiritual service.
Beth Owl's Daughter will spark your sacred wisdom and connect you to your heart-centered power and vision.
Awaken your dreams, focus your creativity, and manifest your vision.
Web:
www.owlsdaughter.com
Email: beth@owlsdaughter.com
Blog:
www.owlsdaughter.com/
owls-wings
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