Tarot Card Interpretation & Meaning - (4) The Emperor Reversed
General: When you draw the Emperor in reverse, an older man, likely to be dark-haired, may be rubbing you the wrong way now. Try to look beyond his exterior and consider what it is that he may have to offer you that can be of use. Don’t get too irritated if he is trying to tell you what you “should” do; take the parts of his advice which are useful and ignore the rest.
Work: The reversed Emperor can indicate that you are not much in the mood for structured, formal work right now. However, obviously, you may not have a choice. Do the best you can to exhibit the structure and order that your job requires of you, but make sure to give yourself at least little mini-breaks to help yourself cope, if necessary.
Love: Organization or lack thereof can become an issue when the reversed Emperor shows in a reading. If you consider yourself to be an orderly, methodical person, you may have fallen for someone who is not (or that could be about to happen.) Consider where or how compromises can be made. If you don’t the relationship has next to no chance of working.
Finances: If you struggle with finances and you have drawn the Emperor reversed, you may well need to seek outside assistance. Look for someone who is good at logic, order, and being methodical in terms of setting up budgets, dealing with taxes and cash flow, and so on. You cannot afford to take a haphazard approach when this card appears in this context.
Health: Again this card in reverse points to a need to get outside advice and to be logical, methodical, and orderly about how you are managing your body and your health. Increased self-discipline may be helpful. If you are struggling with a health issue, insights may come if you take the time to write down your symptoms, track them, and then see if anything in your life corresponds with how you are feeling.
Spirituality: When the Emperor appears in reverse, it can be a signal that a helpful spiritual advisor, (likely to be male and older than the querent) is nearby. One must be cautious when accepting spiritual advice from a “guru.” No human being is perfect, and it’s important that you listen to your own thoughts and intuition no matter what others say about a guru or teacher who is in, or who will be coming into your life. Learn from this teacher, but do not discard yourself in the process.