The authoritarian Emperor rules with a firm hand. This card stands for imposed stability, structure, control. He is strong, alert and determined like the ram - but also stubborn like a ram. He maintains law and order. He builds solid foundations. This is a mindset that can work very positively; sometimes we need to be disciplined and goal-oriented, we need to lead. But the Emperor can also be overly conservative, rigid and inflexible.

 

It's interesting that the ram is a symbol for Mars, the Roman god of war. War is destructive and destabilizing, but on the other hand, the Romans used agressive military power as a way to secure peace. Mars was seen as a father of the Roman people. He also had an affair with Venus (a.k.a. the motherly Empress).

 

As the fourth card in the Major Arcana, the Emperor is connected to the Fours in the Minor Arcana. They illustrate both the positive and the negative aspects of the Emperor's influence.