View Full Version : The Emperor
MystiqueMoonlight
28-01-2003, 06:13
"Use all Thine energy to rule thy thought: burn up thy thought as the Phoenix" - Aleister Crowley
Correspondences;
- Colour: red
- Herb: eucalyptus
- Astrology: Aries
- Rune: Ansuz, voice of the Gods. Skill involving language, persuasion by spoken word. Expect the unexpected, transformation, enthusiasm. An answer (seek advice). The power to effect others with the spoken word.
Hebrew: Tzaddi (fish hook, value 90) A symbol of womanhood in a social sense. Indicates movement towards an end or solution. The mind penetrating into the mysteries of the feminine (nature) and drawing rational ideas and concepts from the source.
Analysis:-
The globe with the Maltese Cross is an indication of the united wisdom and world mastery. The throne has the rams which iss indicative of the astrological influence to this card. His sceptor also reflects this (a symbol of power and adventurousness). The reclining lamb with the peace flag is the other aspect of Aries. That of humility and submission to the cosmic law, as well as dynamism and power. The double headed eagles are a symbol of inner and outward changes brought by the creative energy of the Sun. He marks the beginning of an enterprise or new phase in life. Just as the turned away head of the Empress expresses the subliminal dliemma of being able to deal with the inner instincts, the head of the Emperor turned in this manner reveals the ego's will to hold onto a rational view of the world for fear of not being a match for external situations. As the glance of the Empress takes in the dove (legacy of the Priestess), the ram of the Emperor incorporates the magic of the Magus (Mercury an Aries symbol) and it originates in the intention of asserting itself in this world.
lawguy51
03-02-2003, 14:25
Hi MystiqueMoonlight: Thanks for the tip about this study group. I'm going to try to catch up over the next few days and try to get involved in this. I've got three books coming from Amazon on the Thoth deck, I believe the same ones that everyone else has referred to. I've just finished reading Pollack's books on the Haindl deck. I really like that deck so I think I will be drawn to the Toth deck as well. I am a little bummed that I bought the large US Games version after reading about the differences re: colours between the various publishers. Maybe I'll pick up the small one as well. The big one is a bit unwieldy. OK, got some homework to do.
Lawguy51
isthmus nekoi
11-02-2003, 18:41
A few quick observations:
The Emperor is holding the Maltesse cross globe whereas the Empress is crowned by it. Perhaps coupled w/the Emperor's Aries energy, this suggests taking action.
Both where clothes adorned w/bees (?) and swirls although the Empress' swirls close in on themselves whereas the Emperor's end in barbs. Again, this seems to indicate to me strong Mars/Aries energy.
The way the Emperor's legs are crossed is interesting. Could this (as well as the lamb) be a foreshadowing of impending sacrifice symbolized in the Hanged Man?
MystiqueMoonlight
11-02-2003, 21:46
Clever observations. :)
The beauty of the Thoth deck is that it is open to all new interpretations. With it's eclectic mix of Pagan, Egyptian, Greek, Hebrew, Helenic etc symbolism the reader has a very unlimited resource at hand.
I'm not convinced that the Emperor's legs are really a foreshadowing of the Hanged Man, but I definitely think there's a connection. They both form a 4, which is the number of social stability...the Emperor embodies it, the Hanged Man turns it on its head.
My question is about the Hebrew letter...Crowley said he switched it because, while receiving the Book of the Law (of which I'm not a big fan, to say the least), he asked if his Kabbalistic attributions were correct. He received the answer, "All these old numbers in my book are aright, but the Star is not Tzaddi." After some experimentation, he switched it with the Emperor. Now, Crowley's is the only deck I've seen that does this...is there another, more quantifiable reason for it, or should we just put it down to eccentricity?
coldsuns
02-03-2003, 05:06
You guys so great at observing! I should ask more questions since you guys are so great at solving it! Why there are 2 moons in the empress card and 2 suns in the emperor card?
Originally posted by MystiqueMoonlight
"Hebrew: Tzaddi (fish hook, value 90) A symbol of womanhood in a social sense. Indicates movement towards an end or solution. The mind penetrating into the mysteries of the feminine (nature) and drawing rational ideas and concepts from the source.
.
Where did you get this information?
I think it is wrong.
another observation about his position...
if you look at the relative position of his arms and legs, he is representing the alchemical symbol for 'sulpher', a triangle with a cross below.
in an earlier version of this card, Lady Freida had the sun radiating from behind the emperor's head. but i like this version better, as it shows the light coming down upon him (from Tiphareth?), showing that the Emperor's power is bestowed from above.
the bees represent the qualities of leadership of the masses, and can also be found on the Empress (Atu 3) and Art (Atu 14).
to me, this card is decidedly masculine, and represents structure above all else, even over 'authority'. the number four is also representative of this, and a cool correlation can be seen between this card and the 4 of Discs ('Power'), an almost perfect depiction of structure.
however, the structure of authority and power must be able to bend without breaking, and i think this can be seen in the shield where the two faces of the eagles are facing each other in a position of 'self-examination' (if you will), a desirable quality in a balanced leader... structure without rigidity.
one interesting quote i saw somewhere regarding this card (but i can't remember where, unfortunately) is...
"I rule by serving,
I serve by ruling".
a few years ago i had the good fortune to 'play' this card during a four day long 'tarot ritual' at a local festival.
if anyone is interested, i'll post more about it when i get home from camping.
see ya!
Originally posted by Alobar
another observation about his position...
if you look at the relative position of his arms and legs, he is representing the alchemical symbol for 'sulpher', a triangle with a cross below.
look at this simbol a cross below a triangle: 4
in an earlier version of this card, Lady Freida had the sun radiating from behind the emperor's head. but i like this version better, as it shows the light coming down upon him (from Tiphareth?), showing that the Emperor's power is bestowed from above.
no no no it is not from to tipheret but from nezach[ eternity] [7] to yesod [foundation][9] This is a major break from earlier tradition [linking the emperor with TZADIKand not with HE]. However in the book of thot crowley "makes a mistake" in the decription [ I thing it is a mine put there for beginers only, and for others to defuse]:
"His authority is derived from Chokmah, the creative Wisdom, the Word, and is exerted upon Tiphareth, the organized man."
a few years ago i had the good fortune to 'play' this card during a four day long 'tarot ritual' at a local festival.
if anyone is interested, i'll post more about it when i get home from camping.
see ya!
A wonderful experience please tell more
Originally posted by rom
look at this simbol a cross below a triangle: 4
yes, that does look like a '4', and that's quite appropriate for the Emperor.
but Crowley's intention for having Lady Frieda depict him in this particular pose was to symbolise sulpher.
from the 'Book of Thoth' (page 77)...
"The Emperor is also one of the more important alchemical cards; with Atu II and III, he makes up the triad: Sulpher, Mercury, Salt. His arms and head form an upright triangle; below, crossed legs represent the Cross. This figure is the alchemical symbol of Sulpher (see Atu X). Sulpher is the male fiery energy of the Universe... "
no no no it is not from to tipheret but from nezach[ eternity] [7] to yesod [foundation][9] This is a major break from earlier tradition [linking the emperor with TZADIKand not with HE]. However in the book of thot crowley "makes a mistake" in the decription [ I thing it is a mine put there for beginers only, and for others to defuse]:
"His authority is derived from Chokmah, the creative Wisdom, the Word, and is exerted upon Tiphareth, the organized man."
i think that this 'deliberate blind' arguement is pushed too far in many arguements, certainly those regarding Crowley.
S.L Macgregor Mathers was notorious for doing this to keep vital information from the "uninitiated". but in fact AC seems to have tried to undo alot of these misdirections.
from 'An Introduction to the Golden Dawn Tarot' by Robert Wang (page 22), regarding this exact subject...
"... But Crowley was essentially a rational man who, while maintaining the essence of some of his oaths of secrecy about the Golden Dawn, seems to have felt great righteous indignation about those who purposely distorted high principles under any circumstances."
an admirable trait, to be sure. especially from a man of AC's moral character!
in any case, one of the reasons i love this deck is exactly that i believe he felt it to be his 'magnum opus', as it were, and i think his research and the way it is applied to this deck are genuine. no 'mines' are necessary here, or tolerable!
as far as the sephira, you may have misunderstood me, and i probably wasn't clear on this.
yes, i agree that the 'authority' of the Emperor is divinely inspired, and must therefore originate from Chokmah. and yes, according to Crowley, the path of the Emperor is switched with that more commonly associated with the Star (tzaddi), and does indeed connect to Netzach.
however, in the painting the Emperor is bathed in the rays of the Sun, which is most definitely Tiphareth!
my interpretation of this is that the Emperor is (of course) mortal, and therefore unable to relate directly to Chokmah (or anything from the Supernal!). this 'power' is focussed on him through Tiphareth (the Sun) by way of Netzach (Victory).
i think that had Crowley meant for Netzach to have a more significant role in the interpretation of this card then we would have seen something representing this... Nike, or a crown of laurels, or something. he certainly wasn't shy about symbolism.
but what we DO have is a card that is absolutely inundated with the rays of the Sun. and this cannot be coincidence!
A wonderful experience please tell more
okay then, i will!
but i'm totally wiped out from my waterfall trip, so it will have to wait for another day (and a different forum).
i'll try to post something soon. it was an incredible experience for all involved.
and thanks for the discussion!
boy, can i kill a thread or what?
isthmus nekoi
05-07-2003, 18:08
Pls don't feel bad Alobar - it's great to have someone who knows a thing or two about kaballah posting. I've been following w/much interest, but don't have anything kaballistic to add!
But alchemisitically (sorry, I know that's not a word), Sulphur represents the solar father, Mercury the lunar mother, and Salt the child which unites the masculine acid and the feminine alkaline. The gender associations are pretty loose though- Mercury is a male god afterall, and Crowley writes in the book of Thoth that the Empress represents salt.
Originally posted by isthmus nekoi
But alchemisitically (sorry, I know that's not a word), Sulphur represents the solar father, Mercury the lunar mother, and Salt the child which unites the masculine acid and the feminine alkaline. The gender associations are pretty loose though- Mercury is a male god afterall, and Crowley writes in the book of Thoth that the Empress represents salt.
no, that makes sense.
mercury is also called quick-silver, and silver is a feminine correspondence. and something as malleable as mercury would never do to represent the Emperor, i think.
however, now i have to 'make a long arm' for my Book of Thoth to check his reasoning for that Empress reference, as that does seem a strange correspondence (grabs his Wang on the way!).