Tarot card Emperor interpretation. The meaning of the Tarot card is Emperor. The meaning of the direct position of the card

The Emperor is a card of leadership, often at a high level. She represents stable government, worldly wealth and power, self-discipline and law.

It says that intellect dominates over intuition. A reversed lasso indicates self-centeredness, the need to dominate, immaturity and an obsession with fame and fortune.

The card in both positions has the meaning of a leader, with power and dignity, to one who is a parent. Or an authoritative mature professional who will advise or help.

Keywords

  • External power supply
  • power
  • justice
  • father figure
  • government and secular power
  • leadership
  • moving at high speed
  • self-control
  • acquired through experience
  • safety
  • discipline
  • majesty
  • command
  • diligence
  • traditionalism
  • rationality
  • inflexibility
  • rules
  • agreements
  • masculine energy
  • economic equilibrium
  • strong or dominant father
  • stability
  • honesty
  • money, business success

Colors:

  • Red color - energy, fire, material power and strength.
  • Orange - power, external force, orange mountains.

Straight Emperor

The Emperor represents power and government. The person who is being told fortunes has an iron will. The lasso symbolizes the theological quartet, strength and sovereignty. He says everything is fine, everything is under control. The landscape behind the Emperor indicates a stern, serious nature.

Traditionally, if the card appears in a reading, it indicates self-control and mature authority, a father figure. The modern, more gender-neutral interpretation speaks of dominance and superiority in work, career and business areas.

When the Emperor card appears, it indicates that order, power, and jurisdiction will be brought into effect.

If the questioner is preoccupied with the current situation of conflict, then the Emperor card is a positive omen - you will be justified in your struggle. The authorities are on the side of the fortuneteller, and the card portends a greater likelihood of success.

  • An influential person or government, military forces.
  • High position; founding a new business.
  • A person uses his own initiative, taking responsibility.
  • Passion for adventure.
  • Bravery and kindness will serve you well.
  • If you depend on another person, it can become a burden.
  • Organizer and successful student.
  • Leadership success or big business opportunity.

Reverse meaning

It is extremely important for the Questioner's life right now to be assertive and authoritative. Pay attention to your heart.

To solve the problem, you must bring more affirmation into your life. Activate the Fire energy and its traits to resolve your issue.

Be proactive. The Emperor tarot card can also indicate the overthrow of a power or authoritarian figure in your life. It is possible that someone who was your patron suffered a coup d'état.

The inverted Emperor speaks of dominance over those in power, of the idea of ​​a new world order.

The lasso can also mean strong prejudices that make the fortuneteller want to control others, and in an unfair manner. There is sharpness and bias towards leadership. You need to be more compassionate, kinder and less serious.

  • It is important to be careful to complete one project first before taking on another.
  • Too strict control and useless interference stifles initiative.
  • Control to maintain balance and prosperity.
  • Power is a dangerous thing.
  • Speaks of a dogmatic person, you can stifle your inner development.
  • Unnatural restrictions can stifle forward movement.
  • A leader must learn to be disciplined in front of others.
  • Delayed outcome due to cutthroat competition or government regulations.

Prediction from the Order of the Golden Dawn

Conquest, control of victory, power and stability, reason and desire; problem, victory, new goals, help. The lasso points to a person who must continue to create, build, manage. It is important to move forward and not give in. The card represents the wisdom of sovereignty and beauty and their creator.

Quite often when this card comes up in a reading it represents a Commonwealth country such as England or Canada.

In most questions, the lasso shows power over a situation in which the fortuneteller will have control and success.

The emperor may be a teacher or a father figure. It can also represent a person associated with the armed forces, a businessman, a manager, a dictator.

Affirmation: I empower myself! I motivate myself. I am dynamic.

Card combination

When the Emperor appears in an upright position in front of the Peace lasso, this means a lull in the war, a state of truce. In reverse, it can mean conflict or loss of power or position in the world.

When the Emperor is surrounded by the suit of the pentacle, it denotes the offer of a position of authority, concerned with high finance, which carries onerous or difficult responsibilities.

The Emperor together with the Empress in the tarot depicts strength and dominance.

Nothing serious.

You're tired of everything and you don't know what to do.

There is no money management.

Meetings and new contacts.

Always on the move. New ideas.

Improvement due to new activity.

There is no communication. Break without return.

Delay. Your efforts will not be understood.

Good financial management.

Empress

New woman or girlfriend. News.

Couple working together.

Good news, the money is coming.

Emperor

Serious relationship, wedding.

Stay calm. Help.

Calm and serious.

Lovers

Discouraging relationships. No stability.

You are undecided between two things.

Instability.

Chariot

A strong and stable union.

Responsibility, success, progress.

Good management and savings

Justice

Serious relationship, formalization of the couple.

Make a decision and people will make it too.

Don't be too stingy.

Hermit

Loneliness, lack of communication

Refusal, lack of support.

you're not getting the money you want

Wheel of Fortune

Positive evolution and new encounters.

Movements in the field of work.

Good luck with you

Good understanding.

Responsibility, success.

Financial control.

Hanged

No chance of improvement. Suffering.

You are currently unemployed, or will soon be without one.

Someone robbed you or deceived you. The promised money does not arrive.

Possible separation.

Projects cancelled. Possible dismissal.

Unforeseen expense. Shortage.

Moderation

Sweet, friendly relationship.

Working relationships help you grow.

Calm.

Sex is very important to your partner.

Manipulation and violence on your part.

You really like money.

Violent and violent quarrels.

Unpleasant changes to accept.

Goods or important documents disappear suddenly.

Sincere and harmonious love.

You are listened to and taken into account.

Dynamism and luck.

Thoughts about relationships and doubts about them.

You feel a little lost.

You ignore your current status.

Happy communication that transforms you.

Success that goes your way.

A very good situation.

Harmonious meetings.

Energy and action help you get closer to your goal.

Money will come to solve all problems.

Spontaneity and blossoming of your connection.

Improvement of work.

You are not controlling the flow.

Rituals of the Emperor

On Tuesday, anoint an unlit candle with eucalyptus oil to initiate a new project. Illuminate it by visualizing the desired result.

Add some hot pepper to your food for the next week. This will give you energy and help.

Description of the map

The beard is an ancient symbol of wisdom and endurance, representing the qualities of a great leader. The crown is reminiscent of a military helmet, linking it with Mars, the god of war. The Emperor is only half seated on his throne, mentally ready and poised for action despite his apparently relaxed posture, which is depicted in the shape of a symbolic cross.

The Emperor's shield is mounted near his throne. The Emperor waves his vertical scepter as a gesture of power. The cross is an ancient symbol that predates Christianity. It could be related to hardship, an ancient Egyptian symbol of eternal life. The throne pillars have rams' heads on them, representing dominance over power.

The Emperor wears dark red armor. A jeweled crown is painted on his head. In one hand he holds a scepter, which is his sovereignty, in the other a golden ball, which is his dominion. Behind him is a sky of orange hues. You can also see dry, rocky cliffs stretching across the horizon, perhaps this is a canyon. A small stream of water runs at the foot of the canyon.

Emperor in a relationship

You may meet an older man who will help you a lot. And love him. This person will remind you of your father. He needs a very feminine woman because of his extremely developed masculinity.

In a relationship, such a man is usually the leader. He wants to take control of everything and you will have to submit to him. He has very masculine oriented principles, he believes that a woman should be submissive to a man.

He always thinks he knows what he's doing. He usually doesn't allow people to enter his emotional space, and when he doesn't really fall in love, he can be very aggressive. He can give flowers, find different ways to penetrate the life of his companion. He will call his wife five times a day when she is traveling. The Emperor believes that this behavior is an expression of love, but in reality it is a controlling aspect of existence in a relationship with the Emperor.

Feelings

The Emperor is not sensual. He lives by logic, control and reason. If you are guessing the question “how does he treat me,” then you can interpret it in 2 options, it all depends on the cards that lie next to the 4th lasso. Firstly, he may not have feelings for you at all. He has no romantic feelings for you. Secondly, he has a need to control you. He (or she) feels that they have power in the relationship.

The Emperor as a result in love readings

If you are a woman looking for a man, then the fourth lasso is good map to see the outcome. The card speaks of creating a family, stability and structure. This person wants to build a long-term relationship with you.

Depending on the surrounding cards, the Emperor will mean that the relationship will remain as it is now. This can be both good and bad for you. If there are many swords in fortune telling, this indicates its mental energies, which predominate over the sensory sphere.

Problems

The Emperor card in love readings can indicate agreements, conditions that do not enrich your soul. You can't go back in time and change your mistakes, but you must recognize how your relationship is hurting you in the present moment and work to renegotiate it. Define in love sphere areas where there is a clear imbalance. And find harmony. Learn to give and receive equally. This is true for finances, emotions, verbal support, compromises, and anything else you can do.


You need to focus more on logic rather than emotions. You need to act decisively. Do what you say. Create a to-do list and follow it. Don't let your emotions win. Use your mind. It's time for logical, rational energy.

Emperor in career and business

The Arcanum may indicate that an older man will give you a loan or provide you with mentorship.

In business, the Emperor is usually active. He can be tough. He doesn't give up on his path no matter what. The types of jobs that fit the fourth arcana archetype are any jobs in which a person takes initiative and leadership. Indicates a self-motivated and business-minded person who can be very shrewd when it comes to business.

When the Emperor appears in a work reading, your career is quite significant. You have set the bar with certain goals. And go up. The level of success you are looking for will not happen overnight. You must go through many stages of development before you can realize what you want. In business it means great ambitions and a desire to rise even higher.

About work

This job requires you to have a lot of leadership skills. You must assert your demands to your subordinates, who need to take you seriously and respect your superiority.

You will need to live and breathe the work. This will involve very early starts, late nights and possibly weekend work.

Professions

  • Security Guard
  • Military
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Builder
  • Police officer
  • Armed forces.
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Engineer.
  • Executive Director
  • Politician.
  • Head of the department.
  • Businessman

Zodiac association

The Emperor card is associated with Aries. This is the most passionate, strong, confident fire sign. If you have difficulty fulfilling your dreams, if visualization is simple but implementation is difficult, Aries energy can help you shift spiritual energy into material energy.

Aries energy is the gateway to creating the life you want. As the first sign of the zodiac, it is the first energetic manifestation of astrology. So, meditate on the 4th Arcana or observe the characteristics of your Aries friends or relatives, and you will definitely ignite some of this fire within yourself!

If this card appears in your life, or if you feel particularly drawn to it, then it may be time to work with the solar plexus. Aries also symbolizes childlike energy. Find joy in business. Enjoy.

Realization of plans, stability, power, will, reason, strength, efficiency, reason, goal achievement, male influence, power, rationalism, authority, dignity, wisdom, ambition, reasonable action, leadership and the ability to rule wisely, compassion, protection and support.

The Emperor Tarot card can mean a very strong male influence on a person’s life, leadership and power either of the Questioner himself, or of a person, or of the society around them. The Emperor demonstrates such qualities as self-discipline, organization, stability and action in order to realize one's capabilities. In some readings, the Emperor tarot card shows encouragement or the prospect of obtaining a new responsible and respected position, which requires all of the above qualities.

The Emperor Tarot card means willpower, logical actions, achieving a goal, and the correctness of the chosen path. It can symbolize success, fatherhood, and in some cases stabilization of the situation, legal income. The Emperor may also be saying that you are in search of wisdom or that you should do it. In addition, it can symbolize civil power, perspective, as well as authority, control, strong personality, in which reason clearly prevails over emotions and passions.

The Emperor Tarot card symbolizes fatherly feelings, thriftiness, success, authority and power. Indicates a rational, energetic person with great willpower. For a man, the Emperor is a lucky card. For a woman, it is a sign of strong male influence. It can also portend the achievement of set goals through concentration of forces and controlled aggression.

Inverted position

The plan is not allowed to come true, immaturity, inaction, senseless stubbornness, immature emotions, obstacles to plans, rebellion, confusion, lack of strength, problems with enemies, inability to achieve a goal, waste of energy.

The Emperor tarot card reversed indicates problems with the authority of a dominant male person - probably a father, partner or boss. A person may become resentful and rebel because he feels that others do not recognize his responsibility. But the card also speaks of immaturity and avoidance of responsibility.

The Tarot Emperor reversed means denial of authority, unwillingness to take part in the lives of other people, failure to fulfill one’s duties, ignoring everything legal, orderly, and inability to curb one’s shortcomings and vices. Sometimes, this is a clear dependence on strong, authoritative people. The inverted position of the Emperor can also symbolize that there is someone in your life who has completely subjugated you. You don't have enough energy to even solve minor problems. This position may warn you about failures at work, about the presence of forces that are hindering the development of affairs. A sign of weakness, uncertainty.

Meditation

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
OK. 13:35

Dear unknown friend!

The less superficial a person is - the more knowledge and abilities he has, the greater his power: his authority. To be, that is, to be something, to know something and to be able to do something, that is, to be capable of its implementation - this is the self-foundation of this or that authority, which confers power. More specifically, the magnitude and corresponding sphere of power available to a person is proportional to the extent to which the depth of mysticism, the wisdom of direct knowledge of gnosis and the effective power of magic are combined in him.

Anyone who has this to a certain extent can found a “school”; whoever possesses this in the highest degree receives the power to “make laws.” Power as such is the true and unconditional force of the law. Coercion on behalf of power is appropriate only as a necessary measure to replenish it. It is superfluous where true power is present, where the breath of sacred magic is felt, permeated with a luminous gnosis emanating from the fiery depths of mysticism.

That is why the Emperor of the figure of the Fourth Arcana of the Tarot has neither a sword nor any weapon at all. The instrument of his power is the scepter; he doesn't need anything else. This is the first idea that we immediately encounter when analyzing what is shown on the map: the basis of law is authority. In the context of meditation on the three previous Arcana, this necessarily results in the thesis: the source of all power (and therefore the source and basis of all laws) is the ineffable Name of God.

The meaning of this is that a person who has genuine power, genuine authority, does not replace divine power, but, on the contrary, is himself placed at its disposal; that is, he gives way to her, because the only means of access to her is self-denial.

The figure of the Fourth Arcana primarily expresses the idea that the Emperor, as the embodiment of power, is incompatible with violence and coercion. He doesn't have a weapon. His gaze is fixed on the scepter in his right hand, extended in a commanding gesture; The left hand rests on a tightly tightened belt. Behind the Emperor is a low throne, on which he leans, standing on the ground with one foot; another one is crossed with it; next to it is a shield with an image of an eagle. On the Emperor's head is a massive crown.

In general, what is depicted on the map symbolizes not so much the idea of ​​rejection of violence in general, violence as such, but rather the idea of ​​active self-denial. It cannot be said that the Emperor is in a state of rest: he is not sitting. On the other hand, his pose is poorly associated with any freedom of movement: he leans on the throne, and his legs are crossed, that is, he is deprived of the possibility of both self-affirmation (moving forward) and retreat (moving backward). The emperor, so to speak, is tied to his place, like to a sentry post: here is his throne and coat of arms (an eagle on a shield).

Developing this idea, we can say that the Emperor is the guardian of the scepter, which in this case is not just a sign of power and the corresponding freedom of choice, i.e., its use for its intended purpose: the function symbolized by the scepter is not reduced to just a plan for practical implementation. In other words. The emperor is above any specific action: in his right hand is a scepter, with which he seems to take an oath; the left hand is on the tightened belt. With this belt, the Emperor, as it were, tightens and limits himself, since the belt is something opposite to freedom, something that curbs the impulses of an impulsive and instinctive nature, and in a symbolic sense, it is he who, not allowing them to get carried away, not allowing him to interfere in the course of events, binds the Emperor to his guard post - to his throne.

Therefore, the Emperor's legs - as they are depicted - naturally symbolize something opposite to movement, and hands - something opposite to action. In addition, his head is crowned with a massive crown, the dual meaning of which we have already revealed in meditation on the Third Arcanum - the Empress: the crown is a sign not only of the legitimacy of power, but also of the duty associated with it, i.e., the mission from above entrusted to the one who is crowned with it. Therefore, strictly speaking, any crown is a crown of thorns: the crown is not only heavy, but also forces the strictest, sometimes painful curbing of any personal thoughts, fantasies, passions.

The rays emanating from it - the teeth of the crown - turn into sharp thorns in the inner world of its wearer. They are like nails, piercing and crucifying any thought or image that arises in his imagination. Here every thought, if it is true, every pious thought receives confirmation in reciprocal illumination, and a random and false thought is rejected and returns to nothing. Just as the position of the Emperor's arms and legs symbolizes the renunciation of freedom of movement and action according to one's own whim, so his crown is a symbol of renunciation of the freedom of movement of the intellect.

As a result, it turns out that the Emperor is deprived of all three so-called “natural” human freedoms - convictions, or opinions (in the teachings of Plato), speech and movement. This is inevitably required by the authorities. In addition, unlike the previous Tarot card, where we see a shield with the image of an eagle in the hands of the Empress, on the “Emperor” card the same shield is at his feet. The shield is necessarily present, but here it is an attribute of the throne itself rather than the ruler. This means that the actual purpose of any power, personified by the Emperor, is determined not by any personal motives, but by the throne itself, symbolizing this goal.

The Emperor does not have any personal mission, personal goal; he renounced her in favor of the throne. Or, to use esoteric terminology, he has no name, he is anonymous, since the name - and it is the mission or goal - is the direct prerogative of the throne, in the name and for the sake of which, and not at all for himself and in the name of himself, the Emperor is present here. This is his fourth renunciation - the renunciation of a personal goal, or name in the esoteric sense of the word.

There is a well-known aphorism: “Nature abhors a vacuum” (horror vacui). Its rethinking in spiritual terms gives the opposite picture: “The spirit does not tolerate fullness.” To give the spiritual the opportunity to manifest itself, it is necessary first to prepare for it a natural emptiness - and this is what is achieved through self-denial. It is this fundamental truth that is indicated in the Sermon on the Mount - in the list of the so-called “beatitudes”. The first commandment - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” - should be understood in the sense that the Kingdom of Heaven is inaccessible to those who are “rich” spiritually - that is, whose soul is already filled with the “spiritual kingdom of man.”

Revelation is impossible without a preliminary emptiness - without the space put at its disposal. That is why it is necessary to renounce one's own opinion in order to receive the revelation of truth; from one’s own action - to become involved in sacred magic; from one’s own path (or method) of development - to return to the guidance of the One who is the Lord of all paths; and, finally, from one’s own goal” dictated by personal choice - in order to be worthy of a mission from above.

It was precisely this kind of emptiness with four sides that the Emperor created in his inner world. Therefore, he is the very personification of power, namely authority. He made room in his inner world for its only true, original source and symbol - the sacred Name, YOD-HE-VAU-HE - by renouncing, firstly, personal initiative on the intellectual plane, so that the resulting void was filled with the highest initiative, sacred, first letter of the Tetragrammaton (YOD); secondly, from some personal action or movement, so that the resulting void was filled by the action of Revelation and the magical movement from above - the second and third letters of the Tetragrammaton (HE and VAU); and finally, from a personal goal, becoming anonymous, and the resulting void was eventually filled with power as unconditional authority (the fourth letter of the Tetragrammaton, the second XE), i.e., the one who possesses it establishes law and order, because he gained access to their immediate source. The lasso of power is described in Lao Tzu’s treatise “Tao Te Ching”:

“Thirty spokes are connected in one hub [to form a wheel], but the use of the wheel depends on the emptiness between [the spokes]. Vessels are made from clay, but the use of the vessels depends on the emptiness in them. Doors and windows are pierced to make a house, but the use of the house depends on the emptiness in it. This is why the usefulness of [something] depends on emptiness. “The flawed becomes perfect, the crooked becomes straight, the empty becomes filled, the old is replaced by the new; by striving for little, you achieve a lot; the desire to get a lot leads to delusions.”

Therefore, the completely wise one heeds this teaching, which must be followed in the Celestial Empire. The perfectly wise man does not proceed only from what he himself sees, so he can see clearly; he does not consider only himself to be right, therefore he can possess the truth; he does not glorify himself, therefore he has deserved glory; he does not exalt himself, so he is the eldest among others. He does not oppose anything, therefore he is invincible in the Celestial Empire” for, we add, he has true power - true authority.

God rules the world not by the power of power, but by the power of authority, otherwise there would be neither freedom nor law in the world, and the first three appeals (or petitions) in the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”) would lose all meaning: “Hallowed be Thy Name , may your kingdom come; Let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” After all, the one who offers this prayer thereby resorts to sacred power as authority, but not as force. The Lord, Who is omnipotent - not figuratively, but actually - does not in the least need anyone's petitions for His Kingdom to come and His Will to be fulfilled. The meaning and meaning of this prayer is that God is omnipotent precisely insofar as His power is freely recognized and accepted.

Such an act of recognition and acceptance is prayer. Everyone is free to believe or not to believe. Nothing and no one can force us to believe; neither scientific discoveries, nor logical arguments, nor even physical torture can force us to believe, that is, to freely recognize and accept the power of God. But on the other hand, as soon as this power is recognized and accepted, the weak becomes omnipotent, and then it is as power that the divine power can manifest itself; That's why it is said that a mustard seed of faith is enough to move mountains.

So, in the problem of authority, all four of its meanings are inseparably merged: mystical, gnostic, magical and hermetic. The sacrament of the Crucifixion is closely connected with it - or, in the interpretation of the famous Kabbalist Luria, the “sacrament of departure” (sod ha’tsimtsum). In an attempt to help clarify this issue, here are a few thoughts.

At the center of the Christian world is the worship of the Crucifixion, that is, the image that is the embodiment of an incomprehensible paradox: the omnipotent God descends to extreme weakness. But it is precisely in this paradox that we see the highest revelation of the Divine in the entire history of mankind - the most perfect revelation of the God of love. The “Creed” says: “he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.” The only begotten Son of the eternal Father was nailed to the shameful cross “for us”, for our sake, this is what plunges all open souls into awe, this is what converted even the thief crucified at the right hand of Christ. Such an imprint on the soul is indelible and inexpressible in words. This is the very breath of the Lord, which inspired and still inspires thousands of martyrs, confessors, hermits and virgins.

However, both at the time of Golgotha ​​and to this day, not everyone who turns their gaze to the Crucifixion experiences sacred awe; There are also those whose reaction is the opposite. “And those who passed by cursed Him, nodding their heads and saying: If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

The chief priests, scribes and elders also mocked Him, saying: “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! If he is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and let us believe in him. I trusted in God: let him now deliver Him, if He pleases Him!” This is the very essence of the opposite reaction. In our time, we encounter something completely similar - for example, in radio broadcasts to the West from Moscow. The arguments in these programs are always the same: if God exists, then he must know that we, the communists, have finally overthrown him and, therefore, really do not exist, otherwise why won’t he give any sign, any proof of himself, if not power, then at least existence? Why doesn't he protect his interests? - In other words, the same song: “Come down from the cross - and we will believe in You.”

I cite these truisms because they are based on a certain philosophical principle, which has turned into a kind of dogma, namely: truth and power are one and the same thing; what has power is true, and what is weak is false. In accordance with this principle, which is the basis of modern technical science, force is the absolute criterion and the highest ideal of truth. Only that which has power is divine.

The idol of power (for power as such is not just an idol in its pure form, but the very source of all idolatry) finds open or secret admirers not only in the sphere of science or politics, but also in Christian movements, in general in religious and spiritual circles. I’m not talking about religious (even Christian) or spiritual leaders, politicians who openly seek power, I’m talking in general about the followers of those teachings that in one way or another come down to the assertion of the supremacy of force. These followers are divided into two categories: those who strive for the ideal of the “superman”, and those in whose understanding and faith God is actually omnipotent and therefore responsible for everything that happens.

The ideal of the superman is the explicit or secret goal of the aspirations of many esotericists, occultists and magicians, who, as a rule, thereby pretend to be teachers or, in any case, initiates, showing by personal example the difficult, but noble and inevitable path to its only worthy embodiment. In particular, they are characterized by a certain special exaltation of God - even to the point of being taken beyond the limits of Absolute Abstraction, so that he does not annoy them with His too concrete presence, since against the backdrop of the greatness of the Divinity Himself, these very claims to one’s own greatness look quite ridiculous.

Each of them, in essence, builds his own Tower of Babel, which, as it should, inevitably collapses in the likeness of its prototype, so that its construction ends with a saving fall - a return to earth, according to the law taught by the sixteenth Tarot card. Such a fall, however, is not a fall from a real height into a real abyss; in this case, the “height” exists only in the imagination, and if they fall from it, then only to the ground, thereby receiving a lesson from which the conclusion follows - has the person comprehended everything or does he still have a lot to learn.

The worship of that idol of power - power as force - which is embodied in the image of a superman (and this occurs mainly due to personal identification with him) is comparatively harmless, since it is fundamentally infantile. The situation is different with another category of worshipers of power - those who actually project this ideal onto God Himself. Such “faith in God” depends, in essence, only on His power; If God were not omnipotent, it would not be worth believing. In the understanding of this kind of “believers”, some souls created by God are doomed to eternal damnation, while others are predetermined by salvation.

It is they who hold God responsible for the entire history of mankind, including all the accompanying atrocities. According to them, through wars, revolutions, tyrants, etc., God “punishes” His disobedient children. And how could it be otherwise? If God is truly omnipotent, then whatever happens can only happen by His will or with His permission.

The idol of power has such power over the minds of many that they prefer God, in whom good and evil are inseparable - provided he is sufficiently omnipotent, to the God of love, who rules only by the innate power of the Divine - the power of truth, beauty and goodness - in other words, actual they prefer the almighty God to the crucified God.

We know, however, that the prodigal son in the biblical parable was not expelled from his father’s house, he voluntarily went to a foreign land to lead a riotous life there; on the other hand, his father did not interfere with his care, did not force him to a lifestyle that would be pleasing only to his father. The father only patiently waited for his son to return, and when he approached his father’s house, he went out to meet him. Only the return of the prodigal son did not contradict the will of the father. In essence, this parable contains the entire history of mankind after the Fall.

What we are talking about here is not that “law of involution and evolution according to the divine plan,” which modern Theosophists talk about, but rather an abuse of freedom, analogous to the folly of the prodigal son. And the key formula of human history can be found not in the progress of civilization and not in the process of evolution (or indeed any “historical process”), but rather in the parable of the prodigal son, who said: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you; and is no longer worthy to be called your son; accept me as one of your hired servants."

Does humanity bear full responsibility for its history? - Undoubtedly: for it is not like this according to the will of the Lord - the One who Himself was crucified in the course of this story. And this is quite understandable if we take into account the full significance of the very fact of human freedom, as well as the freedom of beings of spiritual hierarchies - Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Authorities, Forces, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. The existence of all these creatures, including man (in the Kabbalistic name - Ischim), is either real or ghostly. If their existence is real and not illusory, then in this case they are independent entities, and this independence is not only phenomenal, but also noumenal - and this is what we mean by freedom.

In essence, freedom is nothing more than a real and full-fledged, self-sufficient created existence, or the existence of a creature - a being created by God. To be free and to be are synonymous concepts from a moral and spiritual point of view. Just as morality is impossible without freedom, so an unfree spiritual essence - soul or spirit - would not exist on its own, but only as a part of another, free spiritual essence, i.e. one that really exists. Freedom is the spiritual existence of beings.

In the words of Scripture about God’s creation of all living things - all creatures, all beings - the main meaning is that by this God gave each creature that freedom, which is being, “existence” (existentia). And this gift of freedom received from God cannot be returned. Therefore, the beings of the above-mentioned ten hierarchies are immortal. Death is not reduced to mere separation from the body: true death is an absolute deprivation of freedom, that is, the complete disintegration of being given by the Lord. But who or what can take away from a created being the divine gift of freedom, the sacred gift of being? Freedom and being are inseparable, and therefore the beings of the ten hierarchies are truly immortal.

This inseparability of freedom and being can be understood as a priceless gift, as the highest value that can only be imagined, and then it becomes the prototype and threshold of paradise; or as doom to the “inexorable circle of existence” - and then this existence and this freedom become the prototype and threshold of hell. For, like the prodigal son, no one “forces” us to do anything: freedom is not a theater. We make our own choices. Having loved being, we choose heaven; Having hated existence, we choose hell.

Therefore, for created beings, the Lord, in accordance with their original freedom, is either the King (in the meaning of power taught by the Fourth Arcanum of the Tarot), or the Crucified: King - for those who “believed” - that is, freely, of their own free will, accepted His power - and the Crucified One - is for those who abuse their freedom by “creating an idol,” that is, replacing divine power with false values.

Crucified - and He is also the King - this is the secret of Pilate’s inscription on the cross of Calvary: lesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum - “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The omnipotent and the weak at the same time is what made saints perform miracles of healing throughout human history, in the thick of bloody wars and all kinds of disasters. Freedom! Freedom is the true throne of the Lord, and it is also His cross. Freedom is the key to understanding the role of God in history - the God who is the God of love and God the King, and not the one who is blasphemously proclaimed a tyrant, who is blasphemed, doubting His power and His very existence. God is omnipotent in the history of mankind exactly as much as faith in Him is; and just as great is His torment on the cross, to which He was betrayed by those who denied Him.

So, the divine Crucifixion is an inevitable consequence of the very fact of freedom, that is, the real existence of beings of ten hierarchies, if only we are talking about a world governed not by coercion, but by divine power. Let us now return to the idea of ​​tsimtsum - the idea of ​​“abandonment by God,” in the language of the Kabbalist Luria. Tsimsum - in Kabbalah one of the fundamental “three sacraments”: sod ha’jichud, - the sacrament of unity; sod ha'tsimtsum, the sacrament of concentration, or abandonment by the Divine; sod ha’gilgul, - the sacrament of reincarnation, or “circulation of souls.”

Of these, the first and third - the sacrament of unity and the sacrament of reincarnation - will be discussed later, in the following letters (in particular, in the tenth); As for the “mystery of abandonment by God” (or “mystery of concentration”), which interests us now, we are talking about the thesis according to which the world came into being in the only possible way - in a certain act of “compression” of God in Himself; that is, God, so to speak, through a kind of “Self-denial” or “abandonment,” provided a “place” for the world, leaving a certain space in Himself.

“Thus, the primary act of “Ain-Sof,” the Infinite Being, is not any going out, but is a movement inward, a movement of enfolding, withdrawing into Itself, drawing into Itself. It is not emanation that takes place here, but, on the contrary, a certain contraction. The original act, lying at the very source of Creation, is not an act of revelation, but an act of limitation. Only then does God send a ray of His light, laying the foundation for His Revelation,” or, more precisely, self-revelation as God the Creator in the eternal space of Creation.

Moreover: such an act of concentration and renunciation precedes every subsequent act of emanation and manifestation." In other words, in order to create the world “ex nihilo” (“out of nothing”), God had to first create emptiness, and for this He had to go through a certain process of contraction, “abandonment,” i.e., going inside himself in order to create a kind of mystical space devoid of His presence: emptiness. By already thinking this thought, we participate in the birth of freedom; as Berdyaev said: “Freedom is not determined by God, it is in that nothingness from which God created the world.”

Emptiness is the mystical space left by God in the act of tsimtsum; this is the place of the birth of freedom, that is, that existence (“ex-istence”), that being that is absolute potentiality, inaccessible to any definition. It is in this sense that all beings of the ten created hierarchies are children of God and children of freedom, born from divine fullness and from divine emptiness. They carry within them a “drop” of emptiness and a “spark” of God. Their existence (existentia), their freedom is their deep emptiness. Their essence (essentia), their spark of love, is the divine “blood” that fills them. They are immortal, because emptiness is indestructible, and every monad endowed with existence from God is also indestructible. Moreover, these two elements - meonic (“emptiness”) and pleromic (“fullness”) - are not only indestructible, but also form an inextricable whole.

The idea of ​​tsimtsum - the departure of God to provide freedom - exactly coincides with the idea of ​​His Crucifixion in the name of freedom. For God's creation of a space where freedom could be born, and His refusal to use force against the abuse of freedom (within the limits set by Him) are two aspects of the same idea.

Of course, in the pantheistic interpretation the idea of ​​tsimtsum and the idea of ​​the Crucifixion are devoid of any meaning. Pantheism, like materialism, is incompatible with the recognition of the real existence of individuals. Therefore, the very fact of freedom - not just visible, but genuine freedom - is rejected in pantheism and is not subject to consideration at all. For pantheists, as well as for materialists, the question of the departure of God and His Crucifixion is completely absurd. In turn, the Kabbalistic doctrine of tsimtsum is not only the only serious explanation known to me that can be opposed to frank and elementary pantheism, but also a strong link between the Old and New Testaments, which illuminates the cosmic significance of the idea of ​​​​self-sacrifice.

So, as we can see, in the Fourth Arcana of the Tarot (“Emperor”) we find a reflection of the idea of ​​​​the departure of God and His Crucifixion. The Emperor rules by pure power; he rules free beings, not with the sword, but with the scepter. At the top of the scepter is a ball crowned with a cross. The scepter, thus, expresses in an extremely visual form the main idea of ​​the Arcanum: just as the world (the ball) is ruled by the cross, so is the power of the Emperor over the earthly sphere, overshadowed by the sign of the cross.

The Emperor's power is a reflection of the divine power. And just as the divine power is affected by the “constriction” of God (tsimtsum) and His voluntary weakness (the Crucifixion), in the same way the strength of the Emperor is affected by the limitations of his own strength (the tightly drawn belt) and the voluntary immobility (crossed legs) at his post (throne, or throne). Emperor's post. What a variety of ideas related to this concept (the rank of the supreme ruler of the Christian empire, his historical mission, his functions in the light of natural law and his role in the light of divine law) can be found in medieval authors!

Just as the organization of a city or kingdom must be guided by the model of the universe, in the same way the order (ratio) of governing a city must be drawn from the principles of divine government - this is the main consideration put forward on this issue by St. Thomas Aquinas (De regnoXVI, 1). That is why medieval authors could not imagine the Christian world without an Emperor, just as they could not imagine the Universal Church without a pope. For if the world is governed according to a hierarchical principle, then the Christian world - Sanctum Imperium (38) - cannot be governed otherwise. Hierarchy is a pyramid that exists only if it is completely complete. And at the top of the pyramid stands the Emperor. From this top, down the hierarchy follow kings, princes, nobility, townspeople, and peasants. But only from the crown of the Emperor do the crowns of kings receive the royal dignity, and from them the crowns of princes and others are endowed with the power of the crown.

However, the post of the Emperor is not just the last (more precisely, the first) instance of the only legitimate power: initially it was primarily magical, if we understand by magic the actualization of the correspondence between “that which is below” and “that which is above”, i.e. In itself, it was the principle of power from which all subordinate rulers drew not only their legal powers, but also their influence on the consciousness of people, their authority. That is why, following the faded imperial crown, one after another the crowns of the kings faded irrevocably and went into darkness.

Monarchs will not reign long without Monarchy. The kings cannot share the crown and scepter of the Emperor and do not sit as emperors, each in his own country, for they are relentlessly haunted by his shadow - the shadow of the Emperor. And if in the past, from his very idea, the royal crowns lit up with brilliance and splendor, then with the departure of the Emperor, his shadow fell on them and carried him along, and after them the crowns of lower rulers - dukes, princes, barons and others - went into darkness. A pyramid is incomplete without a top; hierarchy does not exist when it is deprived of its origin.

Without the Emperor, sooner or later there will be no kings. There are no kings - sooner or later there will be no nobility. If the nobility disappears, sooner or later there will be neither the bourgeoisie nor the peasantry. This is how it all ends with the “dictatorship of the proletariat” - a class initially hostile to the hierarchical principle, while this principle is nothing more than a reflection of the divine order. It is not surprising that the proletariat professes atheism. The Emperor's shadow haunts Europe. His absence is felt as keenly as his presence was felt in times gone by. For the emptiness of a mental wound cannot remain unrequited; what we lack knows how to remind us of itself.

Napoleon, who witnessed the French Revolution, understood where Europe was moving: towards the complete destruction of hierarchy. And he felt the shadow of the Emperor on himself. He knew that it was necessary to restore in Europe: not so much the French throne - for without the Emperor the kings would not rule for long - but the imperial throne of Europe - and therefore he decided to fill this void himself, making himself Emperor and his brothers kings.

However, then, instead of making the scepter - a ball topped with a cross - the only instrument of his power, he decided to rule with the sword. But “all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Hitler was also obsessed with the idea of ​​taking the empty throne of the Emperor. He believed in his mission - to create a “thousand-year empire” with the sword, which would be an empire of unheard-of tyranny. But it also confirmed the unchangeable correctness of Scripture. No, the post of Emperor no longer belongs either to those who themselves wished to occupy it, or to those whom the people elected. One can ascend to the imperial throne only by the will of heaven; therefore, its occult significance was finally assigned to it. And the crown, scepter, throne and coat of arms of the Emperor are now hidden in the catacombs, where they are inaccessible to tyrants and impostors.

So, on the fourth card the Emperor is alone, without courtiers or retinue. His throne is clearly not located in the chambers of the imperial palace, but rather under open air- in an open uncultivated field, outside the city walls. A bunch of withered grass at his feet - that's the entire imperial court - a witness to his imperial greatness. But the clear sky is open above the Emperor. He is just a silhouette against his background. Alone with the sky - this is the destiny of the Emperor.

The question may arise: why have so many Tarot researchers lost sight of the amazing fact that the Emperor, along with the throne, is under the open (if you like - under the starry) sky? Why did no one note that the Emperor was alone, without courtiers or retinue? It seems because it is extremely rare that one symbol, an image symbolizing a certain idea, can put all the deep meaning hidden in its unique context. For one interpreter, only a little is revealed in it, while another is imperceptibly carried away by his own conjectures, replacing them with the deep content of the symbol.

But the fourth card is very unusual: the Emperor is alone in the open space of an uncultivated field; a tuft of grass is his only companion, except for the sky and the earth. The card teaches us the lasso of the Emperor's power, no matter how anonymous, mysterious, unknown and unrecognized this power may be. Its whole meaning is that guarding the crown, scepter, throne and coat of arms, without having a single witness except the earth and sky, stands a lone man, leaning on the throne and crossing his legs, with a crown on his head, with a scepter in one hand and the other clutching the belt. Here we see the expression of power as such and its simplicity as such.

Power is the magic of spiritual depth, filled with wisdom. Or, in other words, it is the result of magic based on gnosis gained through mystical experience. Power is the second, final HE, of the Tetragrammaton - the sacred Name. But in itself this HE is not yet power; as power, it is meaningful and real only when the full sacred Name manifests itself in it. Thus, it would be more accurate to say that power is the full manifestation of the Name of God. The fully manifested Name of God means at the same time a post, the post of the Emperor, namely a state of consciousness of the complete synthesis of mysticism, gnosis and sacred magic. This state of awareness of complete synthesis is initiation, if it is understood not in the sense of any ritual or mastery of information kept secret, but rather in the sense of a state of awareness in which eternity and the present are one. This is a simultaneous vision of the transitory and the eternal, “that which is above” and “that which is below.”

The formula of dedication is always unchanged: “Verum sine mendado, certum et verissimum: Quod est inferius, est sicut quod est superius; et quod estsuperius, est sicut quod estinferius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.” “True, without any falsehood, certain and supremely true: that which is above is like that which is below, and that which is below is like that which is above, for the purpose of completing the miracles of one.” This unity (“one”), put into practice, fully thought out, put into practice and fully realized, is initiation - initiation, or “sanctification of the name of God in the soul of man”; This is the deep meaning of the first address in the prayer Our Father: Hallowed be your name.

The Emperor represents the power of initiation or the initiate himself. The source of this power is in the full name of God, as taught by Kabbalah, which is the “magical great arcanum,” as taught by magic, and the “philosopher’s stone,” as taught by alchemy. In other words, this is the unity and synthesis of mysticism, gnosis and magic, that unity or synthesis to which we gave in the second letter the definition of “Hermetic philosophy”, a philosophy permeated with a hermetic-philosophical feeling.

Such a philosophy, we recall, is not in any sense derivative, that is, detached from the organic unity of mysticism, gnosis and sacred magic: it itself is a true manifestation of unity. Hermetic philosophy is as unthinkable outside the unity of “mysticism - gnosis - magic”, just as the second HE loses its meaning outside the Tetragrammaton. This is power - a manifestation of the unity “mysticism-gnosis-magic”.

Hermetic philosophy corresponds to the degree of “verissimum” (“extremely true”) of what is “verum, sine mendacio, et certum” (“true, without any falsehood and certain”) in the epistemological formula of the Emerald Tablet. For it represents the sum of all mystical experience, gnostic revelation and practical magic. This is a spontaneous mystical experience that becomes “true” (verum), or is reflected in the consciousness (gnosis) and becomes “credible” (certum) through magical awareness - after which it is reflected a second time (second XE, or “second gnosis” of the name of God) in the realm of pure thought, on the basis of pure experience, where it is analyzed, receives final understanding and thus becomes “supremely true” (verissimum).

The formula “truly, without any falsehood, certain and supremely true” thus proclaims the principle of epistemology (or “epistemology”) of Hermetic philosophy with its triple criterion of truth. This principle can be formulated in different ways; for example: that which is absolutely subjective (pure mystical experience) must acquire objectivity in the consciousness and be perceived as truth in it (gnostic revelation), then prove its authenticity by objective results (sacred magic) and finally manifest itself as absolute truth in the light of pure thinking based on pure subjective and objective experience (Hermetic philosophy). That is, we are talking here about four different feelings: the mystical feeling, or spiritual touch; gnostic sense, or spiritual hearing; magical feeling, or spiritual vision; and, finally, about the Hermetic-philosophical feeling, spiritual understanding.

The threefold criterion of truth of Hermetic philosophy is, therefore, the true value of revelation (“truly, without any falsehood”), its creative fruitfulness (“certainly”) and its harmonious correspondence with previous revelations, the laws of thought and all existing experience (“supremely true”). "). Therefore, in the Hermetic philosophy, that which comes from God is absolutely true, produces results consistent with that origin, and is entirely in accordance with the immutable laws of thought and experience.

Thus, the Hermeticist is at the same time a mystic, a gnostic, a magician, and a philosopher - namely, a “realist-idealist”, since he relies equally on both experience and speculative thinking, both on facts and ideas , since both facts and ideas for him are only two aspects of a single “reality-ideality”, i.e. the same truth. Hermetic philosophy, being the result and synthesis of mysticism, gnosis and sacred magic, is by no means any philosophy standing on a par with other philosophies, or a separate philosophical system among others.

Just like Catholic Church, being Catholic, or universal, cannot consider itself as a separate Church among other separate Churches and consider its dogmas as one of many other religious views or confessions - and Hermetic philosophy, being perse a synthesis of everything that is significant in the spiritual life of mankind , cannot regard itself as one of many other philosophies.

Arrogance? - Without a doubt, monstrous - if such self-esteem were only a product of human invention, and not a revelation from above. But if, on the contrary, the truth is revealed from above, if the acceptance of this truth brings miracles of healing, mental peace and good spirits, - “resurrection from the dead”, if, finally, it provides an explanation for thousands of incomprehensible phenomena - which otherwise cannot be explained, does it remain Is there any possibility of considering this truth as just one of many other views?

Dogmatism? - Of course, if we understand by “dogma” that confidence that is generated by an invaluable, divine revelation; such a revelation, which in practice proves its fruitfulness and creativity and is confirmed by the totality of thinking and experience. If such confidence is based on the harmonious agreement between divine revelation, the interaction of the divine and human principles and the rational knowledge of man, is it possible to pretend that it does not exist, resigning oneself to the “fatal inevitability” of “denying three times before the rooster crows” in order to become to your chosen circle of “free-thinking” and “open-minded” people, basking by the fire that burns at the origins of human creation?

Heresy? Yes, if by “heresy” we mean the primacy of universal revelation, universally recognized good deeds and the ideal of philosophical universality.
Hermetic philosophy is by no means any particular of the many independent and self-sufficient philosophies. The reason for this is that, unlike all others, such a philosophy operates not with unambiguous concepts and their verbal definitions, but with arcana and their symbolic expressions.

To see the difference, it is enough to compare the “Emerald Tablet” of Hermes with Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason”. The “Emerald Tablet” formulates the main arcana of mystical-gnostic-magical-philosophical acts; in the “Critique of Pure Reason” a system is built consisting of unambiguous concepts (categories such as quantity, quality, relation and sequence), which together represent Kant’s transcendental method, i.e. the method of “reflection of the thinking process”, or “reflection reflections."

However, this method, as we will see later, is one of the aspects of the Eighteenth Arcana of the Tarot, which is not without reason called the “Moon”: with its help, teaching is carried out, in fact, the same transcendental method, only, in contrast to the philosophical method used by Kant, in The Arcana “Moon” is taught in a hermetic way. The question arises: does not Hermetic philosophy, in this case, reduce only to symbolism as such, albeit the deepest and extremely clear, and, therefore, does not need the traditional method of scientific and philosophical argumentation at all?

Yes and no. Yes - for Hermetic philosophy is esoteric in nature, that is, it consists of arcana that have a sacramental content and are expressed symbolically. No - because it has a stimulating effect on the philosophical and scientific argumentation of its followers. It is, so to speak, shrouded in an intellectual haze, scientific and philosophical, thanks to the efforts of its adherents, who set out to translate, as far as possible, the arcana and symbols of Hermetic philosophy into unambiguous concepts and verbal definitions.

A process of crystallization occurs, for the translation of polysemantic concepts or arcana into unambiguous concepts is comparable to the transition from a state of organic life to inorganic life. This is why the occult sciences - such as Kabbalah, astrology and alchemy - have their origins in Hermetic philosophy. These sciences may have their own secrets, but the arcana reflected in them belong only to the sphere of Hermetic philosophy. Its intellectualization, as long as it is in the nature of commentary and derivation of consequences, is completely legitimate and even necessary. For in this case, each arcana is translated into several unambiguous concepts - say, three - and thereby accustoms the intellect to think hermetically, that is, through polysemantic concepts - arcana.

But when the intellectualization of Hermetic philosophy pursues the goal of creating autonomous system unambiguous concepts without any formal contradictions between them, then thereby transgressing the boundaries of what is permitted. For instead of helping the human mind to rise above itself, it creates even greater obstacles for it and only binds it instead of freeing it.

Thus - through intellectualization - the occult sciences have their origin in Hermetic philosophy. That is why the symbols - in particular the Major Arcana of the Tarot - should not be considered as an allegorical expression of the theories or concepts of these sciences. For just the opposite is true: the doctrines of the occult sciences themselves stem from symbols - the Tarot or any other - and it is they who should be regarded as “allegorical” designations of the symbols and arcana of Hermetic esotericism.

Therefore, for example, it would be inaccurate to say that the Fourth Major Arcanum - “Emperor” - is a symbol of the astrological doctrine of Jupiter: it would be more correct to say that this Arcanum is revealed, among other things, in the astrological doctrine of Jupiter. The correspondence itself as such remains, but there is a significant difference between these two statements, for the one who proceeds from the first statement remains an “astrologer” and only an astrologer; whereas, based on the second, he begins to think as a Hermeticist, to whom at the same time astrological interpretation is available.

Hermetic philosophy is not reduced to a simple sum of Kabbalah, astrology, magic and alchemy. Although these four branches grow from the same trunk, they do not themselves form that trunk, but rather feed from it. The trunk in this case is a clear illustration of the unity of mysticism, gnosis and sacred magic. There are no theories here; here only experience is present and has meaning, including the intellectual experience of arcana and symbols.

In our illustration, the mystical experience is the roots, the gnostic experience of revelation is the vital juices, and the practical experience of sacred magic is the woody tissue. For this reason, the teaching of Hermeticism - or the "flesh" of its tradition - consists of spiritual exercises; all arcana (including the Arcana of the Tarot) are practical spiritual exercises, the purpose of which is to awaken ever deeper layers of consciousness. These exercises must be accompanied by specific comments, particular conclusions and generalizations that form the “bark” of the trunk.

This is the meaning of the “lost key” to the Apocalypse of St. John. After all, the point here is not merely its interpretation with the aim of extracting any philosophical, metaphysical or historical system. The key to the Apocalypse is putting it into practice, that is, using it as a book of spiritual exercises that awakens the deepest layers of consciousness. The “seven epistles to the churches,” the “seven seals of the sealed book,” the “seven blasts of the trumpets,” and the “seven bowls” signify together a set of spiritual exercises numbering twenty-eight. For since the Apocalypse is a revelation captured in writing, in order to comprehend it it is necessary to develop in oneself a state of consciousness that would facilitate the acceptance of the revelation itself.

It is a state of effortless concentration (as taught by the First Arcanum), accompanied by an intense inner silence (as taught by the Second Arcanum), which turns into inspired work of imagination and thought when the conscious self interacts with the superconscious (as taught by the Third Arcanum). And finally, the conscious “I” suspends its creative activity and immerses itself in contemplation, reviewing everything that has gone before in order to take stock (the practical teaching of the Fourth Arcana). In the mastery of these four actions, symbolized by the "Magician", "High Priestess", "Empress" and "Emperor", the only key to the Apocalypse is hidden.

The Gospels are the same spiritual exercises. In other words, they should not only be read and re-read, but also be completely immersed in their element, breathe their air, participate in them as a living witness, as if being in the thick of the events described - a witness who is full of growing reverence, so that for him everything any “critical approach” is no longer appropriate.

The Old Testament also contains sections related to spiritual exercises. It was in this capacity that it was widely used by Jewish kabbalists - for example, the authors of the texts that compiled the book of the Zohar. Spiritual exercises are the cradle of Kabbalah, its inexhaustible and life-giving source. The only difference between ordinary believers and Kabbalists is that while the former simply study the Scriptures (no matter how reverently and comprehensively), then for Kabbalists it is mainly also an invaluable aid in spiritual exercises.

The meaning and purpose of such exercises is depth. To gain experience and knowledge of deep things and phenomena, immersion in depth is necessary. Symbolism is nothing more than the language of these depths; therefore the arcana, expressed symbolically, are both the means and the goal of those spiritual exercises of which the living tradition of Hermetic philosophy consists.

The community of spiritual exercises forms a certain connection that unites the Hermeticists, not a community of knowledge, but precisely spiritual exercises and the experience that goes hand in hand with them. If three strangers or foreigners were ever to meet, one of whom made the subject of his many years of spiritual exercises the Book of Moses, another the Gospel of John, and the third the vision of Ezekiel, they would meet as brothers, although the first would be a scholar of history humanity, another - master of the science of healing, and the third - a Kabbalist.

A person's knowledge is the result of personal experience and orientation, while the depth and level that he achieves, regardless of the field and volume of knowledge he has acquired, is what he shares with others. Hermeticism, the Hermetic tradition, first and foremost is a certain degree of depth, a certain level of consciousness. And achieving the appropriate level is ensured by the practice of spiritual exercises.

As for the knowledge of individual Hermeticists (or initiates), this knowledge depends on the individual vocation. The task facing every Hermeticist determines the nature and scope of not only knowledge, but also the personal experience that forms its basis. With experience, one can acquire the knowledge necessary to perform only the task to which the vocation of a particular individual entails.

In other words, a person himself knows what he needs to obtain the necessary information and correct orientation in the area to which his individual calling attracts him. Thus, the Hermeticist, whose vocation is healing, will comprehend the connections that exist between consciousness, the system of "lotus flowers", or chakras, nervous system and the system of hormonal glands - in a word, everything about which another Hermeticist, whose vocation is the spiritual history of mankind, will be ignorant - but he, in turn, will know what is unknown to the healer - facts of the past and present concerning the relationships between spiritual hierarchies and humanity, between what happened or is happening “above” and what happened or is happening “below”.

However, this knowledge - to the extent that it is not the subject of the arcana - consists not of theories, but of facts (even if purely spiritual in nature). So, for example, the resurrection from the dead (or, in another way of thinking, reincarnation) is by no means a theory that can be accepted or not accepted. In the theory of Hermeticism, it would not occur to anyone to find any arguments to convince - or dissuade - anyone of the “truth of the theory” of the resurrection from the dead (reincarnation).

For the Hermeticist, the resurrection is a fact that is either verifiable by experience or not at all negotiable. After all, no one will either defend or deny the fact that we sleep at night and wake up in the morning; this is learned from experience. Likewise, the fact of our death and rebirth is a matter of experience - you can either be sure of it or not. But those who have this confidence should know that ignorance regarding the resurrection from the dead often has quite strong and valid reasons related to the calling of a particular person.

When, for example, a person's calling is such that it requires maximum concentration in the present, he may reject all spiritual memories of the past. For awakened memory is not always good; often it turns into a burden - mainly when the calling requires such life position, which would be absolutely free from any prejudice, for example, the vocation of a priest, a doctor or a judge. A priest, a doctor, a judge must be so focused on the problems of the present that any distracting memories of previous lives are unacceptable for them.

On the other hand, one can work miracles in oblivion of the experience of previous lives, as was the case with the venerable vicar of Ars (see Letter III), or one can work them in the full memory of this kind of experience, as Philip of Lyons did. For reincarnation is not a dogma, that is, a certain truth as an unconditional guarantee of salvation, but also not a heresy, that is, something opposite to such a truth. Reincarnation is simply a factual experience, just like a dream or heredity. In itself it is neutral; everything depends on its interpretation, “interpretation.”

It can be interpreted as a genuine hymn to the glory of the Lord, or it can be interpreted in such a way that it turns into blasphemy. For example, when they say: to forgive means to give the opportunity to start over; after all, the Lord forgives more than seventy times seven, always leaving the possibility of renewal, for such is His infinite mercy, this will be an interpretation (“interpretation”) for the glory of the Lord. But when they say that there is a mechanism of endless evolution and the existence of man is morally predetermined by his previous lives; that there is no grace, there is only the law of cause and effect - this is a blasphemous interpretation, in which God is reduced to the role of a designer of something like a human machine, endowed with a conscience.

Reincarnation, or the resurrection from the dead, is by no means a special example or exception to everything that lends itself to double interpretation. In essence, any fact related to this topic lends itself to it. So, for example, heredity can be interpreted in terms of absolute determinism, thus excluding all freedom and thereby morality; or it can be explained as the possibility of a consistent improvement of the organism, an improvement aimed at making this organism a more suitable instrument for the “fulfillment of the promise in posterity.” Did Abraham not receive the promise that the Messiah would come to his family? Isn't this what was promised to David?

However, whatever the personal interpretation of a fact, it remains a fact and must be known in order to satisfactorily navigate the relevant field of knowledge. Therefore, the Hermeticists have knowledge of various facts, each in accordance with its calling, although the Hermetic philosophy itself is not reduced to the sum of knowledge acquired by individuals, but is a complete organism of arcana, expressed with the help of symbols, which are both spiritual exercises and the specific abilities they reveal.

These abilities develop in accordance with one or another Arcana, used for a long time as an aid to spiritual exercises. The Arcanum itself does not give the student knowledge of new facts, but prepares him to perceive the relevant knowledge when the need arises.

Initiation is nothing more than the ability to navigate any field and acquire knowledge of the relevant facts in it - the “key facts”. The initiate is the one who knows how to acquire knowledge, that is, the one who knows how - according to the Gospel saying - to ask, seek and receive (and then put into practice) the means necessary to achieve success. And it was spiritual exercises that taught him this, because neither doctrines nor theories, even the most brilliant ones, can give anyone the ability to “know how to know.”

Spiritual exercises teach the Hermeticist practical feeling (and there is simply nothing else in Hermetic philosophy) and the immutable effectiveness of the lasso of the triple unified effort, which lies at the basis of every spiritual exercise and every arcana; This is what the Gospel says: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). Thus, Hermetic philosophy teaches not what is the subject and chain of faith as the essential comprehension of “God, man and Nature,” but actually how to inquire, seek and knock - in order to come to mystical experience, gnostic insight and magical influence this goal of striving to know God. man and Nature.

And only after a person has asked, sought and knocked - and after he has received what he was looking for, found it and gained access to it - only then will he know. This type of knowledge - the reliability of mystical experience, gnostic revelation and magical influence in their synthetic perception - is the Emperor, that is, the practical teaching of the fourth card of the Tarot.

We are talking here about the development and application of the fourth spiritual sense, that is, the Hermetic-philosophical sense, which follows the development and application of the mystical, gnostic and magical senses. Its characteristic feature is the ability to “know how to know.” Earlier (in the second letter) we defined this feeling as the “sense of synthesis.”

Now we can give it a deeper definition, namely: it is the “sense of initiation,” or the sense of orientation in mastering the knowledge of the basic facts in each field. What is its essence? First of all, it should be noted that it is not identical to what is usually defined as a “metaphysical feeling,” for this kind of feeling among metaphysicians is their taste for abstract theories and complete satisfaction with them, an ineradicable preference for abstractions, while the Hermetic-philosophical feeling is a consequence of orientation towards concreteness - spiritual, mental and physical.

If the metaphysical feeling operates with the “concept of God,” then the Hermetic-philosophical feeling is oriented toward the living God—to the spiritual, concrete fact of His being. “Heavenly Father” in Christianity, “Ancient of the Ancients” in Kabbalah are not abstract concepts, not abstract concepts, but beings.

The metaphysical sense operates for the purpose of deducing - by abstraction - the laws governing facts, and then comprehending the principles underlying the laws. On the contrary, the Hermetic-philosophical feeling (or the feeling of initiation) through these facts comprehends the essence of the spiritual hierarchies, and through them the living God. For the sense of initiation, the space between the “supreme Principle” and the empirical world is filled not with “laws” or “principles,” but rather with living spiritual beings, each endowed with its own name, behavior, image, voice, manner of communication.

For the sense of initiation, Archangel Michael is not a “law” or a “principle”, but living creature, whose face is invisible, for it is eclipsed by the face of God. That is why his name is MI-KHA-EL, i.e. “He who [MI] is like [KNA] God [EL].” No one can behold Michael, for he is “KHA-EL,” that is, “like God.”
The Hermetic-philosophical feeling, the feeling of initiation, is a feeling of specific spiritual realities. The Hermeticist explains real facts not so much by laws derived from abstraction, still less by principles derived from finite abstraction, but by following from abstract facts to more concrete entities in order to arrive ultimately at “that which” is most concrete in everything the universe, to God.

For for the sense of consecration God is “that” which is most real and thus most concrete. Strictly speaking, of all things that exist, only God is truly - namely, absolutely - concrete and real, while the reality and concreteness of all created being is entirely relative; and what we define by the concept of “concrete fact” is in fact only an abstraction generated by the Divine reality.

This does not mean that the Hermeticist is incapable of abstraction and ignores laws and principles. He is a man, due to which he is endowed with a metaphysical sense, which he uses like everyone else; however, it is precisely the Hermetic-philosophical feeling that makes him a Hermeticist - in the sense that the “Emperor” symbolizes; that is, he can be considered a Hermeticist only to the extent that he is endowed with and uses this feeling, while the metaphysical feeling in itself is not yet the key to true Hermeticism.

How tragic is the figure of Rene Guenon, who, possessing a highly developed metaphysical sense, but being deprived of a hermetic-philosophical sense, always and in everything sought to find concrete spirituality. And in the end, tired of the world of abstractions, he pinned his last hope on freeing himself from the tyranny of the rationalizing mind by dissolving in the spontaneous religious impulse of a crowd of Muslims in a Cairo mosque.

The last hope of a soul thirsting for mystical experience and languishing in the shackles of the intellect? If so, may Divine mercy grant him what he so passionately strived for. It is appropriate to note here that this desperate step by Guenon, that is, his hope of finally finding truth and consolation in the ingenuous faith of the common people, is in its own way completely justified. For the Hermetic-philosophical feeling has more in common with naive and sincere faith ordinary people than that of abstract metaphysics.

For the ordinary believer, as well as for the Hermeticist, God lives - and this is the most important thing. The believer turns to the saints and angels in firm hope for their answer and help; to the hermeticist they are just as real. A believer believes in miracles; the hermeticist lives next to miracles. The believer prays for the living and the dead; The Hermeticist devotes all his efforts in the field of sacred magic to the benefit of the living and the dead. The believer reveres everything that is sanctified by tradition; The sealant does exactly the same thing.

What should I add here? Is it just that the Emperor owes the power that vests him not in his power over the destinies of people - open or secret power - but rather in his intercession for them before God. And he has power not because of his superhuman nature, but because he is too human: he personifies everything human. King David was more humane than all his contemporaries. That is why he was anointed by the prophet Samuel at the command of the Lord, and for the same reason the Eternal One gave him a promise to establish the throne of his kingdom forever. For this reason, the throne, this post of representative of humanity before God, will never collapse. This is the post of the Emperor; this is true power.

The Hermetic philosophy also has a human ideal, which it strives to achieve. Her spiritual exercises, her arcana, have the practical goal of creating a master, a “man-father,” that is, a man who is more humane than all others, a man who is worthy of the “throne of David.”
The human ideal of practical Hermeticism is not the superman in the teachings of Nietzsche and not the superman in the teachings of India, immersed in the contemplation of eternity; not a superman-hierophant, as Gurdjieff imagined him, and not a superman-philosopher as the ideal of the Stoics. No, his ideal is a man so humane and full of everything human that he is worthy of the throne of David.

But where is the place for the Divine principle here?

Practical Hermeticism is alchemy. The ideal of Hermeticism is essentially the ideal of alchemy. Simply put, the more human, the stronger the manifestation of the Divine principle underlying human nature, which is “the image and likeness of God” (Gen. 1:26). The ideal of abstraction invites humanity to end its human nature, to become dehumanized. The ideal of alchemical transformation in Hermeticism, on the contrary, offers a way to realize true human nature, which is the image and likeness of God.

Hermeticism is a return to the humanization of all elements of human nature, that is, a return to their true essence. Just as all base metals can be transformed into silver and gold, so all the powers of human nature can be transformed into “silver” and “gold,” that is, into what they are when they represent the image and likeness of God.

But first, these elements must undergo a process of sublimation. This process is the agony of the cross for everything that is base in them, but also the flowering of everything that constitutes their true essence. The cross and the rose, the ROSE-CROSS - this is the symbol of this process of realizing a truly humane person. This is why the “Emperor” of the Tarot renounces the four arbitrary human freedoms, which is his torture on the cross. And the real symbol of the emptiness created as a result of renunciation is his wound.

It can be said that to be an Emperor is to be one who suffers from the four wounds. It is with these four wounds that the similarity of human nature to the image of God is manifested in him. But if we are talking about the manifestation of the Divine principle in human nature, then what can we say about God Himself who surpasses it?

To penetrate this secret, another wound is needed. This is what the next card teaches us - “The High Priest”, the Arcana of the manifestation of God, who with five wounds surpasses human nature.

Surprisingly, the Emperor placed his throne in the lap of nature, in the fresh air. Behind him rises a majestic mountain range and a river flows.

Perhaps for the first time in the Waite-Smith deck, such clear and numerous indications of parallels between the Emperor and the sign of Aries appear. Unlike the Marseille Tarot, there is armor underneath its toga. Perhaps in this way Waite wanted to emphasize the meaning of the Emperor Tarot card as belligerence, his penchant for forceful decisions, determination and inflexibility.

Keywords

  • Power
  • Authority
  • Man
  • Patronage

Key Ideas

  • The predominance of reason over passions
  • Success in worldly affairs
  • Take control
  • "I am responsible for everything"

Basic meaning

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Some cards have absolutely self-explanatory names. And the Emperor is one of them. A clear, unambiguous image with a stable associative series. Arcana 4 ideally combines intelligence, strength, responsibility, and courage. He is not afraid to make decisions and the consequences of those decisions. He is not inclined towards mysticism, but relies on reason. He knows people well, knows how to organize and manage them. At the same time, the real Emperor is gentle and merciful. The image of an ideal ruler, ruling his empire with a firm hand.

Meaning in relationships

The meaning of the Tarot card The Emperor in a relationship is a leader. And those who enter into a relationship with him must take this into account. The ideal relationship with him is unconditional recognition of his leadership. He can enter into a forced alliance with an equal and will not tolerate attempts to subjugate him.

Usually the card is perceived as something bright, kind, positive, as a kind of protector and patron. But it also contains dark side. He is accustomed to relying on his own strength and has great difficulty enduring resistance and insubordination.

Open-hole card

The emperor does not allow anyone inside himself, with the rarest exceptions, and draws everyone around him into the orbit of his affairs.

Relationship intensity

What is going on inside the Emperor is almost never clear until he begins to rage. Emperors are usually outwardly motionless. They sit at the center of their big or small worlds, ensuring their stability. But for the elements that form these worlds, the closer to it, the higher the intensity of the states and processes that they experience.

Map as a scenario for relationships: love, family, relatives, work

If the Empress is the Mother, then the meaning of the 4th Arcana of the Tarot is the Father. First and only, he is a leader, a dominant, a patriarch. Actually, there are only three scenarios for relationships with the card. Either you obey him, or you fight with him for power, or you are an Emperor just like him, and occasionally pay each other courtesy calls. The emperor is the master in love relationships.

When building relationships with the 4th Arcana, you should remember that if you agree to entrust control of your life to him, then it will be very easy to interact with him. If not, sooner or later he will get rid of you, seeing you as a potential competitor.

The matter for the Emperor is more important than cup relations. An increase in the cup component in a relationship (favorite) has a destructive effect on the Emperor, and subsequently on the empire.

In combination with the Major Arcana


  • Emperor in combination with a Tarot card: A very harmonious combination
  • Emperor combined with Tarot card: Lack of strength and will to achieve results
  • Emperor in combination with a Tarot card: Reliable, decent partner
  • Emperor combined with Tarot card: Strict control of parents or gods
  • Emperor combined with Tarot card: Grand success

Psychological state

Huge margin of safety. Stability like a pyramid, one of the most stable structures. Self-confidence, a huge reserve of strength and the ability to manage and use these forces.

Two aspects that exist simultaneously. On the one hand, good nature and condescension. And literally there is rigidity, reaching the point of cruelty.

The psychological stability of the Emperor is akin to the stability of a pyramid, a figure that is very difficult to topple. Self-confidence, a huge reserve of strength and the ability to control these forces with filigree precision.

Now let’s look at the combination of the Emperor card with other Tarot cards...

In combination with the suit of Wands


  • S: Make a decision without looking at anyone, taking into account only your own interests
  • S: Too heavy a load of responsibility and responsibilities
  • S: Be honest with yourself and others

Importance in health matters

This is a man in the prime of his life. Excellent health. Power, strength. But at the same time, he overestimates his capabilities and underestimates the difficulties he has to face. The Emperor, like a real man, gets sick according to the principle “Medicines are for weaklings, they should go away on their own.” But with a temperature of 37.2, he clearly understands that he has exactly five minutes left to live and begins to write a will.

In combination with the suit of Cups


  • S: Your tough stance offends others and their actions disappoint you.
  • S: Achieve everything I wanted
  • S: Too much attention is paid to the external environment

Business and finance, professional activities

He is a top-class master, manager and organizer of the highest level. There are no unsolvable tasks for him. Money for him is not a goal, but a means to achieve a goal. He is not afraid to make decisions, including unpopular ones, and performs well both in peacetime and during a crisis. There is no business in which he could not succeed. There is no goal that he cannot achieve.

Stability, controllability, controllability

Control and management as they are: very controlled. The meaning of the Emperor Tarot card for the situation is stability. For the Emperor, the usual level of control is much higher than that of the Empress.

This is global thinking. Strategy. If the Empress is focused on details, and the Magician can only fulfill one of the eight conditions, then the Emperor is able to see the whole picture. And calculate the long-term consequences 8-10 moves ahead.

The power of Arcana 4 is so powerful that you can use it while in its field, under its influence. He literally radiates confidence and you are protected by it.

Ways to Increase Income (Key to Increasing Income)

Think and act like an Emperor. First of all, this means taking a dominant position in the group. Don't listen to others and don't look back at others. When making decisions, focus on strategic goals and do not waste time on trifles.

If you yourself do not reach the level of a super-master, an extra-class expert, hire him. Let him take power into his own hands and reconfigure the entire working system. Do not disturb him, even if it seems that he is suppressing you.

Any resistance to his power increases the force of opposition a hundredfold. So isn’t it better to resonate with this inevitable huge wave and use it for the good of the cause?

Trade winds and monsoons; When you know where the wind is blowing from, you save a lot of time and energy.

General state of finances and trends of changes

Excellent, stable condition. This card is not about money, like coins in your pocket, but about capital, usually non-cash. These are both his own funds and those belonging to everyone who is under his command. Funds in the required quantity always appear on demand. An irreplaceable million. The map is rich in resources, both material, which is natural, and moral and mental. 4 Arkan is not afraid of problems, he is not afraid to solve them. He has no limitations in the form of fear of losses and failures.

It's hard to imagine what would change this perfectly stable state.

Positive and negative impact of the card on income

However, there is a catch in the Emperor's habit of considering himself stronger than the system, or at least treating it as an equal. Once or twice the situation bends under the pressure of the Emperor, but it can also spring back with enormous force. He deliberately ignores written and unwritten laws, convinced only that he is right. Lacking flexibility, he goes ahead towards the goal, confusing the personal with the public. It benefits me, it benefits everyone.

He uses the same qualities of the 4th Arcana to his advantage, for example, maximum concentration, adherence to principles in making global decisions, but excessive pressure can cause serious opposition.

If we talk about this card as the help of influential, not always material, forces, then this is a good sign - there is something that is stronger than you, and it helps, supports, patronizes. Indicates a favorable solution to the issue.

In combination with the suit of Swords


  • With the card: It's time for decisive action
  • With card: Even the strongest can have heart pain
  • With the card: Managing others makes it impossible to live for yourself

Be firm, decisive and consistent.

Card of the day Caution

You may face a power greater than yours.

In combination with the suit of Pentacles


  • S: A top-class master who loves his work
  • S: You should take care of the rear and appoint a reliable deputy
  • S: Don’t cut rashly, make informed, thoughtful decisions

Questions to ask when drawing the Emperor card

  • In what situation can I be a leader?
  • Do I want to be an emperor for my surroundings?
  • What leadership style do I prefer?
  • What am I an expert in?

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The major arcana dominate the ancient deck. They reflect the essence of things that are eternal for society and the individual. The younger ones are considered to complement and diversify them. The Emperor (Tarot) has a global meaning. It reflects tradition in the broadest sense of the word. The structure of any society is based on certain rules. It is them that the Emperor lasso (Tarot) reflects. The significance is difficult to overestimate, it is so deep. Let's look at its essence and impact on various layouts. Each card plays its own role in the combination and reflects part of reality. If you understand the meaning of the arcana, you can put together a very detailed picture of the past and future.

Emperor (Tarot): meaning and essence

It is curious that maps were invented in ancient times, when flights to the stars, computers and other modern things were not even imagined. However, the Tarot deck, having passed through millennia, still gives the most correct and detailed predictions as before. Why does this happen? Have you ever asked yourself this question? In reality, humanity has not changed that much. Scientific progress does not cancel the deep foundations laid down in the arcana. This is the level of the subconscious, encoded in energy-informational structures that are inherited.

The head of the family (father) always provided his children with material goods. They respected and obeyed him, obeyed and were afraid to contradict him. This order was necessary so that the clan would not die out and would continue in the future. The Emperor (Tarot) meaning in the deck is similar to the head of a strong family, organized according to the traditions of the ancestors. He personifies power in a broad sense, not modern democracy, but patriarchal force that does not tolerate self-will. This is a kind but strict father, caring for those who depend on him. He took full responsibility for the clan upon himself and demands unquestioning obedience.

Nowadays there are few families arranged in this way. This is the spirit of the times, everyone, emerging from childhood, is able to provide for themselves. But it is very simple to schematically imagine the meaning of the Emperor lasso (Tarot), the meaning of which we are discussing. His energies are embodied in the structural structure of large and small corporations. There is a president, strict rules and initiative. Employees are obliged to obey the manager and work for the benefit of the enterprise, but have a certain freedom, limited by instructions and internal laws. This is security and security, for which they pay with their own will. This is roughly how you can illustrate the Emperor in a Tarot spread to feel her spirit. It reflects order and tradition.

The meaning of the inverted Emperor

Layouts take into account both the position and orientation of the cards. Therefore, it is necessary to understand what the Emperor Reversed (Tarot) represents. The meaning of the lasso will be well illustrated by our previous example. Let's return to the structure of the corporation. The case described above is when it is managed by a responsible person who has a good education and understands what is happening, that is, a specialist. But this doesn't always happen.

Imagine that a small-scale personality has broken through to the helm, thinking only about power and the bonuses that come with it. This person will inevitably begin to be suppressed by more talented and intelligent subordinates. Authority is only initially determined by the position, but it is very easy to lose it by making and imposing destructive decisions. The manager will have to figure out how to limit overly active and proactive employees who have more knowledge of business organization. The method was invented many centuries ago: tyranny. The boss turns into a despot, punishing those who surpass him in understanding the process. He has no other choice, he needs to put pressure on everyone who is head and shoulders above him. This is the energy that the Emperor inverted (Tarot) transmits. Its meaning in the scenario is destructive, destructive. This is a fool who has achieved unlimited power and uses it to destroy progress.

Direct Emperor (Tarot): meaning in relationships

In a love scenario, our lasso demonstrates the subordination of partners to traditions. People behave according to the rules instilled in them from childhood. They tend to hide their feelings, which does not contribute to creating an atmosphere of openness and sincerity. The need to keep up appearances and control words and emotions makes relationships predictable but boring. The Emperor (Tarot) has a positive meaning in relationships; we are talking about stabilizing the partnership. Most often, the lasso speaks of the subordination of people to a common goal. They started a family and now consider raising children, accumulating property, and creating an image of the “ideal family” to be the most important things in life. Romance is gradually leaving their world. It is more important to make the “right impression”. In addition, one of the partners dominates the other, his form in the reading is the Emperor (Tarot).

The card has an important meaning in relationships and cannot be ignored. The lasso is good for fortune telling for couples with experience. He talks about the stability of the situation, the absence of serious conflicts. People have developed the rules of the game and obey them completely. One of the partners is appointed “manager”, the second voluntarily submits to him. There may be dissatisfaction here, but it is suppressed. The meaning of the Tarot "Emperor in a love reading" is often emphasized by the surrounding arcana. They talk about subtleties and nuances. The Emperor speaks of established rules that satisfy both. In addition, there is a distribution of roles in a couple. For example, a man earns money, a woman arranges her life and raises children.

The influence of the inverted Emperor on the love situation

The prediction of our arcana depends on the accompanying cards. The fact is that the inverted Emperor reflects the opposite side of order - chaos. People just can’t find common ground; they don’t understand each other at all. Something has subtly changed, their paths diverge, although they are still clutching at their former happiness, trying to return everything to its previous course. The Emperor Tarot card completely reverses its meaning when reversed. Not only does the situation lack an internal structure of rules and laws, its prospects are unclear. In combination with favorable, optimistic cards, the Emperor predicts a sharp turn. Those who are in a quarrel will make peace, misunderstandings will be clarified, and so on.

With exactly the same probability the outcome may turn out to be negative. The fact is that the meaning of the Emperor card (reversed) in the Tarot is diverse. Chaos gives birth to a different reality, what it may turn out to be depends on the partners, their conscience, worldview, ability to sympathize, and the like. In a situation influenced by our lasso, someone is trying to seize power without any reason to do so. The second partner does not agree to obey. If they are able to discuss the problem openly, they will find a way out together; no - they will separate forever.

The meaning of the Emperor card in a relationship scenario, if it describes outside influence, is slightly different. A curious, unscrupulous despot, who wants to turn everything his own way, brazenly intrudes into people’s lives. You should get rid of this and not allow it close to the tender sphere of love.

How to read a card in short layouts

The choice of the number of arcana in a combination directly depends on the level of the question. Specialists know many layouts, and everyone also comes up with their own. Ordinary people use the described combinations to avoid confusion. It is often easier to pull out just one card that describes the situation and development prospects. Otherwise, it is not difficult to get confused in the interweaving of the meanings of the arcana. What to think when the Emperor (Tarot) appears? The meaning of one card in a relationship is as follows: the lasso characterizes the tension point and describes the essence of the problem.

The Direct Emperor says that the situation is stable, but has hidden negative trends associated with the abuse of power. One of the partners or both are oppressed, dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. People lack romance, going beyond the established rules of communication. On the other hand, partners do not have the strength to break out of this vicious circle. This requires courage, since by destroying the established world, they will lose their sense of security. The desire for new sensations, which cannot be realized without risk, is foreshadowed by the Emperor (Tarot).

The significance of the inverted lasso in love affairs is not so great. As a rule, it speaks of a temporary crisis, bad mood, conflict, or the predominance of selfishness in one of the partners. As they say, a person will release the accumulated steam, and everything will return to its previous course.

Interpretation of the lasso in a business scenario

Arcana, where the Emperor is depicted, is 4 in the Tarot. The meaning of this position is order and earthly power. In a business scenario, the card indicates a certain government structure, boss or influential person. Major events will be associated with this institute. For example, you will have to turn to those in power with your problems. If the Emperor falls in an upright position, then you will receive a satisfactory answer; in the opposite situation, you should not hope for support. In general, our lasso demonstrates the growth of the fortuneteller, his realistic attitude to what is happening. A person realizes his strengths and works on his shortcomings. Youthful illusions no longer cloud your brain. He understands what rightfully belongs to him and is not ready to settle for less.

The Emperor Tarot card, whose meaning is power, indicates that the individual is ripe to take responsibility. In a practical sense, this may be dismissal on one’s own initiative due to the fact that the position is not satisfying, does not bring in enough money, or does not offer growth prospects. Or, conversely, offering a new place where talents and abilities are most fully realized. If the card says external environment, which means that the situation is influenced by a person in power. It helps (straight lasso) or harms (inverted). It is impossible not to take his opinion into account at the moment. We will have to react based on the current state of affairs. In a career scenario, the Emperor foretells support for young people in their plans. If it appears upside down, then it is too early to start your own business; you need to gain experience and knowledge.

The meaning of the card in the layout for the situation

Whatever the question concerns, at this time everything that happens is controlled by a wise and strong person. The Emperor describes a tough realist, capable of managing, understanding the thoughts and feelings of others, able to find a balance, force, if necessary. This is the kind of person involved in the situation. He is reliable, but quite domineering. If this person opposes you, go to negotiations. This is not a tyrant; with him you can come to a consensus that satisfies both sides. In addition, a clash with law enforcement officers or other government agencies is foreshadowed by our lasso. You will have to limit yourself, take into account the interests of others - this is the essence of what the Emperor (Tarot) means.

The situation can be favorably influenced by a person significantly older than the fortuneteller in age or wisdom. Involved in it powerful forces who have their own ideas about how and what should happen. Arcana's advice - act based on tradition, now is not the time for risky experiments. Another interpretation: the one who can prove his usefulness to society, structure, clan will win.

The Emperor is a patriarch in a sense. It requires fidelity to duty, dedication, and a responsible attitude towards common interests. If it falls out in a straight position, then you have to obey, receiving a pleasant bonus. There is no need to fight the system, it is stronger. Step back from what you have planned for a while, trying to get involved in the overall process. This behavior is more profitable and promising than war with windmills of pride.

Interpretation in the scenario for desire

The Emperor reflects all aspects of power. It shows the involvement in the process of structures responsible for order, control, even suppression of resistance. If the question concerned the implementation of a specific matter, the appearance of our lasso in the upright position is very positive. He encourages you to focus on achievement. A person has enough strength to grab his star from the sky and enjoy happiness. That is, the desire will definitely come true, but not without appropriate steps on the part of the person asking. There is no need to wait for a miracle. In addition, the lasso recommends looking around. There is a person nearby who has influence and who will be happy to help. You need to find him and ask for support. Oddly enough, this person is closer than you think. As a rule, it turns out to be a close person, a loved one, a relative. Just open up to those around you and tell them about your cherished dream. They will definitely support you.

It’s a different matter when, in fortune telling by wish, the Emperor appears in an inverted position. This suggests that a person has his head in the clouds and has no solid ground under his feet. A dream is not only unrealistic, it is destructive. The personality strives for its destruction. That is, you want something that will be harmful and bring disaster. Don't ignore the warning. You need to think about what is in store. Most likely, you will understand why realizing your dreams is difficult. Fulfilling your plan will bring a lot of grief either to you or to those around you.

Decoding in the health scenario

Order has long been considered the key to good health. Life was structured in such a way that young people would not harm themselves by pursuing their dreams until they prolong the family line. This idea of ​​the lasso should be the starting point when deciphering the health plan. It is necessary to follow a regime and adhere to the traditions of our ancestors in order to get rid of the problem. It is impossible to solve it quickly; systematic, fundamental work is required.

If asked about treatment methods, the Emperor advocates traditional medicine. You should not turn to alternative methods of treatment, they will not be beneficial. The inverted Emperor often reveals laxity and disorganization of a person. The illnesses were a consequence of his lifestyle. It is necessary to return to traditions, sleep and eat according to the schedule, and not overexert the body. Otherwise, deterioration in health is inevitable.

If the Moon lies next to the inverted Emperor, they speak of damage. But she is not being treated with medication. You should ask how they work with energy-information problems. The fact is that the Emperor is responsible for family ties. Inverted, it reflects their loss. Man has lost contact with the ancestral source of life-giving energy. This causes problems, including health ones. If the question concerned surgical intervention, the Emperor recommends not to refuse. Just choose a medical institution with a good reputation and highly qualified staff.

The lasso in the upright position foreshadows a measured, calm, comfortable life. The fortuneteller has a patron who cares about his well-being, leading to prosperity and happiness. However, he does this out of his understanding of how Paradise works. This real or Supreme patron, of course, takes into account the interests of the ward, but cannot fully understand it. He cuts off some options for the development of events at his own discretion. That is, the Emperor is talking about restrictions. Some people are quite happy with this state of affairs. Why look for adventure? As the parrot Kesha said: “They feed us well here too.” For others, such gentle pressure strains, upsets, and pushes them into depression.

Arkan Emperor recommends trying your hand, making decisions on your own, consulting with intuition, that is, growing and developing. A person cannot be looked after until he turns gray. Sooner or later the time will come to become a patron of the young. That is, you need to gain your experience by hitting the bumps, experiencing euphoria from achievements.

The second tip of the arcana is the ability to understand what power is. While you are being limited, learn not only to do the same, but also remember the mistakes of the “tyrants”. The life of a clan is a constant overcoming of obstacles, correcting what the ancestors misunderstood. The Emperor hints at the need to adopt and improve the experience of elders (or stronger ones). This is the duty of every adult.

The third recommendation of the arcana is understanding how chaos develops into order. To be responsible for yourself and others, you should navigate the processes, be able to identify them and direct them in a positive direction. This is wisdom, which is not given from above; it must be cultivated within oneself. And, of course, it will not come if you only philosophize and study theory.

The fallen Emperor shows that the person is ready to work on understanding and developing his wisdom, and the first (or subsequent) step is the situation for which the alignment is fulfilled. So, you will gradually gain power to the extent that is necessary to feel in demand, a real person - a support for your loved ones.

The Emperor is a very good, positive card. She, like an affectionate father, guides, gives support, teaches and cares. Good luck!

ASTROLOGICAL MEANING:

The Sun is in Capricorn, representing a sense of responsibility, order, structure, as well as security, consistency and perseverance.

Straight position:

The EMPEROR symbolizes the power of spirit, order and reason; the implementation of the ideas of being, based on the enhanced work of the mind. Symbolizes Affirmation, Denial, Discussion, Decision. The card means that you are in search of wisdom, reason prevails over passions. Try to get support from someone stronger.

Reverse position:

An inverted card means: anarchism, dependence on strong, authoritative people; there is no energy to solve problems or set goals.

4. Emperor (upright position)

General value:

In rare cases, it can symbolize fundamental knowledge (including magic) Fundamentality, the basis in all senses (especially in the material). Authority, material success, achievements

Plan:

1. Financial support. Patrons, incl. from the authorities, the law. Well-paid permanent job. A dictatorship that one can agree to based on material gain. Patronage of the boss.

Getting a position.

2. Good health.

3. For a woman - a close friend, partner, husband. Not always favorable, because means tyranny. Map of home, solidity, financial stability.

For a man, he feels like a master, an emperor in the house.

Marriage, including civil marriage.

Intolerant of other people's opinions; does not understand other people's experiences. But it is not necessarily cruel. Can show mercy within the limits of expediency.

5. Contact an influential person, the law. Less often - advice to use your power, to insist on your own. Think about the family (financial side of things). Go through health procedures. Pull yourself together and think about everything logically.

6. “Yes” May indicate being caught in a “cage”, a system from which it is difficult to escape.

4. Emperor (reversed position)

General value:

disturbed world order (opposite – Tower)

Plan:

1. Change of leadership (also for politics) Financial crisis, bankruptcy, loss of influence. It's a deplorable situation.

Job loss, demotion.

2. Dangerous situation: injuries, seizures, sudden deterioration of the condition.

3. For women - the loss of a close friend. (If it is in the “advice” position in the scenario for personal relationships, the advice is to squeeze everything you can out of a man by any means, including a scandal) Quarrels, misunderstandings - until a breakup. Division of property.

4. A person who is inclined to quarrel. Destructive emotions.

5. The situation will escalate and you need to be prepared for a fight.

General value:

The Emperor, the Master, is a structure-forming element; it symbolizes our desire for stability, security and consistency. This is our desire for independence from the conditions of existence of Nature and our own nature, which are often unpredictable. Thus, it corresponds to our desire for civilization, thanks to which we build our houses, install heating and air conditioning in them to protect ourselves from heat, cold and damp, create cars and airplanes to reduce distances and make travel more comfortable, and we open schools to improve the level of education. Even the fact that much is done too persistently does not cross out for us those positive aspects, which this often allergic card has. The owner combines not only the desire for order, a sober mind, discipline, a sense of responsibility and pragmatism, but also their extremes - stubbornness, inertia, the desire to “improve” everything ad infinitum, the thirst for power and despotism.

Job:

This card means that we first of all strive to restore order and fulfill our long-standing desires, intentions and plans. The owner is a clear concept, discipline, perseverance, determination and willingness to take responsibility for his decisions. At the same time, we will have to work conscientiously, because no one will give us anything (or almost anything) or give us anything, so the success of the business depends entirely on our own efforts.

Consciousness:

In terms of consciousness, the Master indicates realistic thinking, a pragmatic approach to business, methodical adherence to the plan and a sober course of reasoning. This is the period when unsteady, vague dreams are ordered and gain structure. Wishes become concrete plans, are subject to critical analysis and can be accepted for implementation. At a deep level, this card can mean a conflict between different sides of the father’s image: on the one hand, a protector, a giver of benefits, on the other, a cold, unapproachable despot.

Personal relationships:

The period when our relationships strengthen, become reliable and durable. The sober, critical aspect of the Master's card may mean the loss of previous illusions. At the same time, his desire for maximum stability and security can lead relationships to a dead end, limiting them to only the most necessary.

In a love relationship

The Emperor openly proclaims the principle: “I’ll show you who’s boss,” which, depending on the quality of the alignment, will have a negative and positive character. In a good alignment, the Emperor is the one who makes decisions and solves problems or acts as a patron. In For a young woman, this may mean that she is looking for a “daddy” type partner. In difficult scenarios, there will be a struggle for power, a tendency to dominate and impose one’s will, especially if the Force, the Pope, is nearby. If the Hanged Man is on the opposite side, then we can say that the relationship will be built on the master-slave principle. Relationships - I'm the boss - you're a fool will be where the Jester and the Emperor appear in the scenario. The most successful relationship will be where the Empress and Emperor fall on opposite sides of the Gebo layout. The appearance of the Emperor with the Devil or the Tower is an indicator of despotism, a predisposition to jealousy, as well as moral and physical violence. The Emperor with the Chariot can also be a variant of a rude person, but in a more softened form or with a tendency to release aggression through sports, professional activities or personal hobbies. If the layout has an inverted Emperor or Emperor and Hanged Man (Moon, Tower, Devil), then we can talk about the negative experience of a relationship with the father of the family that the person in question had. Young people whose girlfriend has the Emperor in their chart should inquire about her relationship with her father, since he may become a competitive figure in the future. Or this card will indicate the likelihood of an unfinished relationship with the father, which will be projected by the young lady onto her lover.

IV. The Emperor in combination with other Tarot cards

With the “Magic” card - show your abilities.

With the “High Priestess” card, a woman will gain power over you.

With the “Empress” card - reforms leading to results.

With the “Hierophant” card - adherence to etiquette and moral standards.

With the “Lovers” card - making firm commitments.

With the Chariot card, circumstances will prevail over order.

With the “Strength” card there is a riot.

With the Hermit card - the breakdown of a family or team.

With the “Wheel of Fortune” card - a change in the routine; changing the structure of the team.

With the “Justice” card - a desire for justice and adherence to hierarchy.

With the Hanged Man card, a rigid view of things slows down life.

With the “Death” card, life requires a new order of things.

With the “Moderation” card - moderate conservatism.

With the “Devil” card - apparent order, behind which chaos is happening; shadow structure.

With the "Tower" card - dismissal.

With the "Star" card - a reward.

With the Moon card - powerlessness, giving rise to uncertainty.

With the “Sun” card - a thriving business; loving family.

With the “World” card, a business is expanding its horizons of influence.

Wands

With the “Ace of Wands” card - an expansion of the project.

With the “Two of Wands” card - business fragmentation.

With the Three of Wands card, things are gaining momentum.

With the Four of Wands card - putting things in order, repairing the house.

With the Five of Wands card - quarrels in the house, at work.

With the Six of Wands card - promotion.

With the Seven of Wands card, a business is going through hard times; challenge to paternal authority.

With the Eight of Wands card - a deal.

With the Nine of Wands card, there is a need for security for a business or home.

With the Ten of Wands card, a project that is on its last legs.

With the “Page of Wands” card - news in the family, at work.

With the “Knight of Wands” card - let off steam associated with work and family.

With the Queen of Wands card - a creative project.

With the “King of Wands” card - a new type of activity.

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