Emperor as Love Outcome (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

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 Love Outcome

If you are asking about what is the outcome of a relationship, and you draw the Emperor, that means that your person is very protective of you. They love you almost unconditionally, and would do anything to defend you, if necessary. The Emperor is astrologically associated with the sign of Aries. This person wants to be the “main” person in your life, they are determined to beat any competition. The sexual attraction of off the charts with this one! This is also the energy of pridefulness. Your person takes pride in being able to provide for you and give you the best of everything. If you want children, this person can be an excellent parent.

The Emperor as love outcome is a sign of a stable and structured relationship. This is not a “situationship” – the Emperor’s energy will ensure that you know what it is and what it’s not.  They feel secure in their feelings about you, and they want you to feel security in the relationship. They also like relationships to progress in a structured way. There are steps they take before making a commitment. But once they do commit, expect loyalty. This person is not the most emotional or sentimental. They could feel most comfortable expressing feelings physically. Your person could prefer to show love sexually, through acts of service, or gifts.

If you are wondering about a potential relationship, the Emperor as love outcome means your person is very serious about you. This person is prepared to do whatever it takes to win your approval. Dealing with this person is pretty straightforward. They are not here to play mind-games. This is a very rational and ambitious person, they don’t have time to play games. They also expect clarity, so be sure to be direct with how you feel about this person.

If you are in a new relationship, the Emperor as love outcome means the relationship will be built on a strong foundation. The Emperor is all about structure, stability, and security. This person will make it very clear that you are their partner, they will not keep you a secret. Once your status is established, they will do what it takes to keep you comfortable in this partnership. They admire your rational side and know you can be their rock during the hard times. In return they shower you with love, even though they may not express it in a poetic way.

If you are in an existing relationship, the Emperor as love outcome means stability and a secured future with your person. Your relationship is grounded and built on a solid foundation. All you need to do is keep building upon that foundation and protecting it. Your person has seen how you contribute to their wellbeing during the course of this relationship. They are confident they’ve found their ideal partner in you. This person is already thinking in “parent mode”. They’re thinking of a higher level of commitment and maybe even wish to start a family with you.

If you are currently in separation with each other, the Emperor as love outcome means your person is strong on their convictions right now. If they’re determined to reconcile, they’ve already devised a master plan to get you back. If they’ve convinced themselves that you’re not right for each other, they’ll strictly shut you out. There is no budging this person’s position. If they do want to give the relationship another try, they will work hard to make it work this time. If you have a family with your ex, they are focused on creating a stable environment for their kids.

Emperor Reversed as Love Outcome

If you are asking about what is the outcome of a relationship, and you draw the Emperor reversed, that means that your person could have control issues. They could be overly inflexible. Everything is their way or the highway. There is a risk of being in a relationship with a hyper-controlling individual. They could be prone to irrational anger and jealousy. Make sure you learn what an abusive relationship looks like so you can identify one when you’re in one.

The Emperor reversed as love outcome is a sign of a relationship where one or both parties have control issues. This could also indicate authoritarian tendencies. Your person could have a bad habit of using situations or money to exert power over partners. They could’ve adopted this behavior from watching paternal figures or role models in childhood. This person could be easily triggered into jealousy and rage. Their behavior can be unpredictable and you never know what might set them off. Unlike the structured Emperor in the upright position, the reversed Emperor can be irrational. Love yourself and know when to walk away, you deserve to be happy.

If you are wondering about a potential relationship, the Emperor reversed as love outcome means lack of stability or structure. This person may have been hellbent on “claiming” you as their partner. They could have seen you as a “trophy spouse” they could show off to their peers. However, once they’ve made their claim, they do little to maintain the relationship. Alternatively, they could keep you loosely committed with no progress to a higher level of commitment. They rarely show affection in any way, shape, or form as they assume you’re going to stick around regardless. This person could believe that you are as obsessed with status as they are. 

If you are in a new relationship, the Emperor reversed as love outcome means you are dealing with a person who will not take “no” for an answer. This person will be very persistent and they will do whatever it takes to woo you. While this might flatter you at first, you might end up feeling trapped once they show their true colors. This person could have a temper and try to control you, or even micromanage your life. They could also use manipulation tactics to get you to do what they want. But deep down there is a wounded child that needs healing. You can try to help them heal, but know when to walk away for the sake of your own wellbeing. Take it slow with this person before agreeing to move in or commit.

If you are in an existing relationship, the Emperor reversed as love outcome means a relationship where you feel restrained and overly controlled. Your person needs healing from a distorted masculine or paternal figure from their childhood. Perhaps they learned from watching their parents’ toxic relationship. Behind their controlling behavior, deep down they may feel anxious, depressed, and unworthy. This person could have underlying “Daddy issues” that need to be dealt with. The Emperor is astrologically associated with the sign of Aries, the baby of the zodiac. Behind their authoritarian mask, they could be immature. They may insist on a “grown-up” relationship and rush into marriage when they’re unprepared for marriage.

If you are currently in separation with each other, the Emperor as love outcome means your ex is obsessed with you. They are going to win you back at all costs. This might sound like good news to you if you want a reconciliation yourself. However proceed with caution. The Emperor in reverse can be an unstable energy. Their obsession may manifest in stalking and other risky behavior. Take things slow if you intend to reconcile with this person. Learn how to identify unhealthy relationship dynamics and karmic cycles. Know when to acknowledge you’ve learned your karmic lesson, and walk away. You deserve to be in a stable, loving, caring, healthy relationship.

Conclusion

For love readings, 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.