In the beginning, there was the Fool; and the Major Arcana plays out the rest of his tale. “The Fool’s Journey” is a fascinating and important concept for both beginners and tarot pros alike. Come along with me as I revisit this journey through 22 cards from 22 different decks.
The Emperor: The Father Will Have Order
As the Fool ventures beyond the Empress‘ nurturing arms, he discovers that there is still a sense of natural order within the chaos of the universe and all its sensorial stimuli. Through this, he starts feeling the commanding presence of the Divine Father, as depicted by the Emperor. This father archetype offers protection and guidance as he helps the Fool navigate the rules, traditions, and structures that exist in the world. He teaches the Fool that his actions have consequences, which are not always pleasant or in his favor. When he started out on his journey, the Fool was going his merry way without much thought for his actions. Through connecting with the Emperor, he begins to appreciate the necessity for structure and discipline through his father’s eyes.
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Yoshitaka Amano‘s Emperor is an imposing figure indeed, with a stern look on his face and an equally stern-looking bird of prey by his side, both watching every movement with sharp eyes. Like the Empress in the previous post, this Emperor is dressed in opulence — but with more structured drapes, a few sharper edges and patterns, and even a jeweled dagger at his hip. He holds a sphere in his right hand, with his fingers in an interesting position: as if he is carefully calculating how to address a chaotic problem that brought to his attention at the imperial court.
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What do you think of when you see The Emperor? Does this card resonate with your own journey at the moment? Feel free to share your thoughts in a comment below!
Originally posted on Instagram.
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