Conquering Your Destiny: Aries and the Emperor Card

ARIES - The Ram - March 21- April 19

Welcome, Aries, to the Tarot card that is all about you - The Emperor! 

In many Tarot decks, The Emperor is shown seated on a throne that is decorated with ram’s heads. This is a visual hint that lets you know that the Emperor card belongs to Aries.

And that makes sense, because your fiery personality and willingness to face off against all that oppose you make you and this card a perfect match.

Aries are natural strategists, so I suspect you are already planning to use this information to help you better understand yourself and to perfect your plans to achieve your goals. The information provided below will highlight your strengths, provide insight into your weaknesses, and give you tips about how you can further develop your natural abilities.

The more you learn about yourself, the more easily you will be able to identify situations that suit your temperament and areas in which you can excel.

Why pairing The Emperor with Aries makes sense

Aries, you are often an instigator, initiating action and setting events into motion. Your Star Sign propels you towards natural leadership roles, enabling you to inspire others. At your best, you help fan the spark of interest into flames, helping yourself and others to get fired up about getting things done. You lead by doing, and your dedication to getting things done draws others to get involved. The Emperor card is an illustration of this style of leadership at its best. The Emperor does not represent someone leading from behind, but an engaged and dynamic person who is willing to march in the front line and get his hands dirty. He expects his troops to follow behind, learning from his example.

Your passions drive you, Aries, and you often find yourself grappling with strong emotions. These feelings can push you to great heights or great depths, depending on how you manage them. It is difficult for you to dedicate yourself to a cause that you can’t get excited about. Though your sense of duty is strong, you perform at your best when your emotions are fully engaged with what you are doing. In its perfected state, The Emperor card represents someone who has learned to channel their powerful emotions constructively. He uses his instinctual drives to create order and to fuel his reason. He does not allow impulsivity to sway him from his established plans.

Courage is one of your key traits, Aries. You rarely back down from a confrontation, especially when you feel as though you are in the right or when you are acting in the defense of people who can’t defend themselves. At times you secretly crave conflict because it calls upon you to do take advantage of some of your most important skills - logic, decision making, and strategy. The Emperor is the master of strategy in the Tarot deck. His planning skills are beyond compare. He has a special knack for making the best use of what is available. He identifies and remedies weaknesses in his plans before putting them into action.

The Emperor Card and Your Aries Strengths

As an Aries, you are a fount of energy. What makes you an effective and dynamic personality is your ability to express that energy in a creative yet orderly way. You often find yourself at the leading edge of events, being an early adopter or one of the first ones in a new scene. Aries are known for opening their arms to new experiences, unflinchingly leading the way without hesitation

Your independent spirit inspires you to forge new paths without a lot of concern about standing out from the crowd. This lack of concern about the opinions of others allows you boldly approach new situations with your complete attention. You don’t spend time or energy trying to figure out what others think about you or your decisions. You are too busy evaluating your own perceptions and assessing your own reactions. This level of focus and freedom can be very compelling to others, and they are often drawn to you by it.

An understanding of The Emperor card can help gain a deeper understanding of your natural tendencies and pinpoint areas that you can continue to develop. At his best, The Emperor is the archetype of a compassionate and capable father. He is aware of his own authority and is comfortable with it. He doesn’t shy away from leadership roles or responsibility. However, he expects others to commit to their own obligations and fulfill them. The Emperor represents the urge to provide for others, giving them what they need to be happy and healthy. There is an importance given to adhering to rules and following orderly systems. He is a natural expert who understands how things are done and can easily navigate orderly systems.

Emulate The Emperor to play to your strengths and make the best of your natural abilities.

The Emperor Card (Reversed) and Aries Weaknesses

All your fire and energy can drive you to great accomplishments, Aries. However, if that energy and power is misapplied or not used to its full advantage it can be destructive rather than constructive.

Your drive to accomplish can easily deteriorate into impatience and impulsiveness. Though your motto may be “the sooner, the better,” it is important to remember that not everyone will be prepared to act when you are ready. Also, overconfidence in your abilities might cause you to act before you fully understand a situation.

The Aries tendency to not back down can also slip into competitiveness and the need to win at all costs, which can damage your relationships and reputation. Also, it can’t be denied that your fiery personality can lead to short temperedness and angry outbursts.

When The Emperor is reversed in a reading or is a position that puts it in its detriment, it represents the incorrect application of power. It can indicate someone taking charge when they shouldn’t or forcing others to comply with their wishes. The card can also highlight times when your thinking is too rigid and can be an indicator of stubbornness getting in the way of progress.

The Emperor reversed is authority turned on its head, an abuse of power sweeping others along in its wake. It also can indicate a selfish leader that is less concerned about the wellbeing of those under their care and more interested in their own best interests. It is a warning sign to pay attention to your behavior and keep your emotions in check. It is also a reminder to consider the wellbeing of the people under your care and in your vicinity before you act.

The Emperor Card and Problem Solving

For an Aries, obstacles and problems are opportunities. You immediately want to rise to the challenge. Just like the Emperor, you choose to meet the issue head on. Your analytical skills spring into action so that you can begin to fully understand the issue and seek out the truth lurking beneath the surface. You don’t just feel an urge to figure out what is going on, but to also understand how the issue fits in to everything else that is happening. Though you feel highly motivated to find a resolution, The Emperor represents your tendency to seek the solution in an orderly and structured way.

Since you are constantly analyzing, you are often the first person to identify that a problem exists. Your attention to detail allows you to notice slight changes or alterations, and your ability to connect the dots shows you how those changes could cause problems later. When you raise the alarm and notify others of your concerns, it could be misunderstood as criticism or complaints. The Emperor is a reminder that you need to take advantage of your leadership abilities at these times, guiding others to understand why your concerns are valid and aren’t just the result of nit-picking or perfectionism.

It is important to remember that as an Aries, you are a natural leader and others will tend to look to you for guidance. Though you might be ready to instantly jump into problem solving, the people you are working with might need time to get started. Make sure you don’t leave others behind due to your enthusiasm and dedication to seeking a solution. A healthy leader like The Emperor ensures that no one is left behind. Make sure you emulate The Emperor by making sure everyone has the same understanding of the issue and has access to the materials and information they need to fully participate in the problem-solving process with you.

The Emperor Card and Your Work Life

It should come as no surprise that as an Aries you feel quite comfortable in roles that allow you to take the lead, organize others, and make decisions. However, the boldness and confidence that come along with the sign also might lead you into professions that others consider risky, like being a police officer, serving in the armed forces, or being a surgeon. Your boundless energy also might guide you into a field that requires physical exertion like being an athlete or physical trainer.

No matter what profession you find yourself in, The Emperor card is a strong indicator that you will have the opportunity to rise into a leadership role and act as an inspiration to others. To improve your chances of success, focus on the positive lessons of the card – orderliness, positive leadership, and attention to detail. Curb your impulses and selfish tendencies. Don’t leave your team behind as you explore creative solutions.

The Emperor Card and Your Relationships

Aries, you are a magnet for people who admire those who take decisive action. Your bravery and willingness to take risks make you a beacon to others. And you don’t have a problem approaching others to express your interest in them. In fact, some people may find you a little overwhelming as your energy level could far exceed theirs.

When it comes to finding compatible friends and lovers, The Emperor card is a reminder that following your instincts and behaving as you naturally would is the key to attracting people who appreciate you. Give others the space to approach you. Learn patience when building new relationships because not everyone (except another Aries or impulsive Gemini) will be as quick to jump into a friendship or relationship as you are. When you are in a long-term friendship or romantic partnership, be prepared to fully assume the role of The Emperor, if necessary. Be a thoughtful, compassionate leader who is willing to work for the benefit of your partner.

The Emperor Card’s Guidance for Aries

Work with the imagery of The Emperor card to deepen your understanding of your personality and behaviors. It only takes a few moments of self-reflection to reap the benefits of this powerful card.

When you have some quiet time, glance at an image of The Emperor card. Pay attention to whatever symbol or image jumps out at you. Then close your eyes and picture that symbol. Pay attention to the ideas, feelings, and memories that arise. Are the feelings you get positive or negative? Are you proud of the memories that present themselves? Work through the internal landscape that the symbol evokes. What lessons can you take from what appears?