Emperor as Feelings in Love & Relationships (Upright & Reversed)

The Emperor is the card of leadership, authority, power, and stability. He is Mars personified, in control of everything and everyone around him. He sits upon his throne, holding the ankh in one hand, symbolizing life, and an orb in the other, symbolizing the world. He is energetic, driven, objective, and fearless. 

The Emperor is full of masculine yang energy. As the father of all creation, he believes in protecting everyone around him. He shows love by providing for his loved ones. Underneath his tough exterior, he is still an emotional being, but only shows that side to the ones he trusts the most.

Upright Emperor as Feelings

If you are asking about how someone feels about you, and you draw the Emperor, that means this person feels protective of you. He values you deeply, almost in a fatherly way. He would do anything to defend you and stop someone from hurting you. Unlike the Empress who approaches love from an emotional perspective, the Emperor shows his love at a physical level. Providing for you excites him. He wants to make sure that you are taken care of, starting with the finances. He doesn’t just want to put food on the table; he wants to treat you to fine dining. He doesn’t just want to put a roof over your head; he wants to take you on vacation in the most luxurious five star hotels. Of course, he wants to ensure that your sexual desires are sated as well. He feels deeply attracted to you.

The Emperor as feelings means that they feel secure with you. They feel that you ground them and bring an element of stability into their life. They feel that you are their “rock.” They deeply respect your opinion on everything, and they look to you for advice and guidance when something isn’t going well in life. They admire you for your levelheadedness and your ability to navigate difficult situations with tenacity. They feel reassured by your presence, and you help them become a more confident person overall. 

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, the Emperor is a sign that someone sees you as significant and wants to step up your relationship to the next level. They feel very seriously about you, and this is a great sign for anyone who is looking for a more committed relationship. They feel protective about you, and they are ready to do whatever it takes to win your affection and approval. Although they may not speak the language of emotions and beautiful words of affirmation, they deeply desire to show you their love for you in their own way. Understand and appreciate this, and you’ll be set.

For existing relationships, the Emperor symbolizes a familial feeling. They feel that you are like their family, and they will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. It may be a sign that they are ready to take your relationship to the next level of commitment, especially if you are at the point where you might be considering engagement, marriage, or kids. They want to show you their love and commitment through their actions, whether that’s mowing the lawn or taking out the trash. Be aware of their love language and let it speak to you. 

If you are asking about an old flame or an ex’s feelings about you, the Emperor can symbolize a renewed desire to win you back. The Emperor takes what he feels is rightfully his by force—or rather, his own initiative. It is possible that he will reach out soon. Sit tight, and let him come to you. He is driven to succeed in all things, and a potential relationship with you is no different. 

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, the Emperor as feelings is a great sign. The Emperor is a father and family-oriented card. They feel ready to commit. They feel that your relationship is strong and stable, and they are ready to take it to the next level. This person loves you and trusts you deeply. They feel confident with you by their side. They want to build the foundation of their future with you. 

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Emperor Reversed as Feelings

Reversals often have positive characteristics in overdrive. When the Emperor is reversed, it indicates a feeling of protection and control that has gone overboard. This can mean that they feel protective of you to the point of irrational anger and jealousy, where you are constantly walking on eggshells. This often comes out of attachment issues caused by an absent or abusive, hyper-controlling father. What is their relationship with their father? Do your best to understand where these feelings are coming from, but also understand that abusive behavior does not have anything to do with you. 

On the other hand, they may feel overly controlled, dominated, and bullied by you or your father. They feel like they are always saying the wrong thing, and that nothing they do will ever be good enough for you. They feel anxious, depressed, and unworthy. They constantly wonder, if they never receive positive affirmation and praise, what is the point of trying so hard for you? This makes them become withdrawn and uncommunicative. If this resonates with you, take a hard look at yourself and what actions on your side of the table have contributed to this relationship dynamic.

The Emperor reversed is often indicative of feelings caused by attachment issues in relationship dynamics. Unlike the Empress reversed which has feelings associated with maternal attachment issues, the Emperor reversed has feelings associated with paternal attachment issues. In plain speak, these are Daddy issues. Some of these feelings include detached apathy, lack of commitment, the need for absolute control, rage and jealousy, and the sexual objectification of people as conquests. If any of these things ring true for you and your relationship, understand that childhood attachment issues cannot be resolved in the present. They can only be broken by radically accepting what has happened in the past. If it is their attachment issue, understand that you have no power over it at all. Solving it is not your responsibility. Instead, focus on correcting the imbalance by inviting the positive aspects of the Emperor into your life.

For singles and those in new relationships, the Emperor reversed as feelings may indicate your love interest’s lack of commitment. While they are wildly attracted to you, they may see you more as a trophy to be conquered rather than as a person to be loved and cherished. The Emperor reversed can also symbolize communication issues between the two of you. If so, it’s time for an open and honest discussion of your needs and expectations. 

For those in committed relationships, the Emperor reversed means that you need to take a hard look at your interpersonal dynamics. Are there attachment issues at play here? Are you experiencing a push-pull relationship where one of you is constantly chasing the other, only to pull away at the first hint of intimacy? Do you keep fighting the same fight over and over again (and you know that this fight isn’t just about the dishes)? If you’re looking to move past this and grow into a healthier relationship, the two of you need to have some honest conversations with each other, and maybe even some therapy. 

If you are asking about an ex’s feelings about you, the Emperor reversed means that they have blocked off their feelings for you. They feel happy to hook up with you and keep your relationship transactional, but they do not want to commit to a reconciliation. The problems that you had before you broke up are still there, and they know that getting back together won’t resolve those issues. You have both been reckless with your emotions, and they have responded to that by blocking off their emotions entirely. Unless that blockage is addressed, they are unlikely to pursue a true reconciliation. 

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, the reversed Emperor as feelings denotes a decisive lack of commitment. Though they care for you, they are not emotionally ready. They may not be in touch with their inner emotions much at all. They hope that by ignoring problems, they will go away. If you are not getting straight answers from them on commitment, and if you have a suspicion that you are being led on, listen to your gut. They may be more interested in playing the field right now. It’s true, there may be many emotional issues that they have to work out before they are ready to commit, but you might not be the person to do that for them because any lasting change must be self-directed. It must come from within. 

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Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, The Emperor takes a very masculine approach. Though it is different from the feminine approach of the Empress, it does not make the Emperor’s love any less valid. This card reminds us to take a close look at intentions and relationship dynamics when evaluating a relationship. If a person’s love and intentions come from a good place, give them the freedom to express it how they choose.

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.