If we look at the picture of the Emperor card, we will see an old man (with a very white beard) sitting on a throne. Tall, harsh mountains surround him. And they have absolutely no greenery. The Emperor sitting on the throne wears a red colored dress, and has armor beneath it. An orange-red glow suffuses the card. The very little river flowing at the base of the mountain depicts the only sign of some emotion!
The Father Archetype
The Father Archetype typically represents the way fathers, or fatherly people are depicted or perceived in the world around us. Such people usually are very harsh, strict, and have a very disciplined and systematic approach towards life. They are the ones who go out there and work hard and ‘bring in the bacon’ so to speak. And when they are at home, and in their territory, they are the absolute rulers.
The Father Archetype Around Us
All around us in myth, literature and art, we find many different examples of the Father Archetype. And many of these representations show the father figure as a strict and disciplined person, who likes to set down rules for others to follow.
Time is often referred to as Father Time – because he is the one who rules the process of change and transformation in the world.
In mythology, Father figures also include the Greek God Zeus, the Father of all Gods, and the Roman God Jupiter, the King of he Gods.
Naturally, a good connection to summarize all of this is our own fathers, who were often strict, and had very disciplined approaches.
The Father Archetype in Tarot – The Emperor Card
In our Tarot card deck, the Emperor card is the one that effectively represents the Father Archetype.
With the ‘devoid of trees’ landscape, the picture easily conveys an image of a person who most certainly does not have an emotionally motivated approach towards life.
With all the red and orange colors, we see a lot of energy and heat – someone who can go out there and work hard in the ‘sweltering heat of the day’.
The Emperor sits with an orb and an Ankh in his hands – thus representing the fact that he has the power of giving life to his world, his territory.
The white haired beard represents wisdom and age, and of course, the wisdom that comes with age.
And the armor represents the capability and readiness to fight, if need be, to protect his kingdom.
Thus, put together, this card is the perfect representation of the Father archetype – a person who takes care of the kingdom with a no-nonsense approach, and who if required can fight to protect it, and at the same time, he is wise and therefore strict and disciplined about the way he does things in his territory.
Your Turn / In Conclusion…
What do you think? Does the Emperor card effectively convey the concept of the Father archetype? Are there some elements that I might have missed out on? What is your take on this archetype?
Please do add your thoughts in the comments section below.
Let me ask you…
Do you want to learn how to leverage the power of the powerful Tarot Archetypes to figure out the tough (and sometimes not so tough) parts of your life?
Would you like to have your own personal Guide / Guides in the form of these powerful Archetypes that you can reach out and connect with, and ask your questions any time you want to?
If yes, then my Ask the Tarot Archetypes course is just perfect for you!
Ask the Tarot Archetypes
Ask the Tarot Archetypes Web Course is designed to familiarise you with the core archetypes present within the Tarot Card imagery. Then, you learn the different methods to access their wisdom and insights. This web workshop is designed to be short, to the point, and informative for those of you who are looking to form & deepen your special bond with your Tarot Cards.
