A wizened man with a strong gaze and a long white beard orders us to take notice – indeed, it is the Emperor who sits comfortably on his throne in this classic Tarot card. A throne adorned with the heads of the immovable and determined ram. We also see the fiery astrological sign of Aries sitting on the top of the Emperor’s crown. He holds an ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life and immortality, in one hand, and a golden globe in the other, which he holds much like his control over the material world. Rugged cliffs rise behind him – impenetrable. He is a fortress onto himself. Beneath his robes, he wears a suit of armor – revealing his strength, his power, his ability to defend his domain and his readiness for action. Despite being in his older years, his authority still reigns. Beneath the trappings of leadership and age, the Emperor is a warrior at heart, prepared for challenges and conflicts, ready for battle.
When the Emperor is introduced to us, we are probably struggling with personal boundaries, and we are being reminded of how important it is to voice our own needs and preferences. Let us confront conflicts head on. The presence of the Emperor may also represent someone who is exacting a lot of authority over us – perhaps a super controlling boss or family member. The Emperor calls on us to be courageous – may we defend ourselves, our territory or our rights against those who would seek to dominate or subvert us. His appearance in a reading can also signify an era of stability and order in our lives in which we might be able to open up creatively or become very productive. Regardless of the scenario, the message is the same. It is time to take charge. Strategic decisions are emerging in our horizons. To make the right choices we need to establish clear rules or systems of operation so that we may successfully accomplish our goals or overcome our adversaries. Ambition, hard work, discipline, organization, competitive thinking and commitment helped the Emperor to become king of his domain. If we follow his lead, so shall we become the ruler of ours.
The Four Thieves Blend is a balancing antidote to the authoritarian Emperor. The story of this oil blend starts in the 15th century with a band of thieving spice traders who found that when they doused themselves – from their clothing, their hands, ears, temples, to their feet and even around their mouths – with an herbal concoction they had made, they were able to protect themselves from the bubonic plague. This enabled them to loot the bodies of those who had died of the disease without catching it themselves. According to the legend, at their trial, they revealed the formula in exchange for a lighter sentence. This formula combined cloves, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary oils. Recent research has now revealed that clove oils contain immune boosting and antiseptic properties. Lemon is a well-known cleansing astringent. Cinnamon is antimicrobial and helps to balance blood sugar. Eucalyptus cleans out the respiratory tract, while rosemary stimulates the movement of blood and is also antimicrobial. The blend has shown impressive antibacterial activity in recent studies likely due to the it’s high content of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde terpenes, which can compromise bacteria, affecting their cell activity and survival.
The Emperor is dressed for combat but his wisdom, experience and age result in strategic choices rather than impulsive, aggressive action. Don’t underestimate his ability to accomplish his goals or react to dangerous situations however – tempered by the Four Thieves Blend, he is indestructible. A true force to be reckoned with. May he inspire us to also be the hero or leader in our own personal stories.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
Admin. “The Secret of the Ankh.” Historicaleve.com, 2nd January 2020. https://historicaleve.com/ankh-means/
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. San Francisco, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2007. P48-52
Przemysław Siejak, Wojciech Smułek, Farahnaz Fathordobady, et al. “Multidisciplinary Studies of Folk Medicine ‘Five Thieves’ Oil’ (Olejek Pięciu Złodziei) Components.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 14 May 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8155914/
Mallappa Kumara Swamy, Mohd Sayeed Akhtar, Uma Rani Sinniah. “Antimicrobial Properties of Plant Essential Oils against Human Pathogens and Their Mode of Action: An Updated Review.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 20 December 2016. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5206475/