The Emperor

• authority, throne, horse
• conservative, traditional, rational, rigid
• mythological - mars, zeus
• fury
• crossed legs (4) like hangman
• stability
• reliability

• ginger
• chili peppers
• stinging nettle
• horseradish
• alfalfa

• red
• golden yellow
• brown

• masculine authority, a hero, conqueror, father and provider

The emperor is an invasive herbaceous weed, able to conquer any environment at high speed, without much effort. As it grows, it creates a poisonous network of deep red roots. Multiple plants can sprout above ground from one root, creating a massive army, burning and stinging anyone who dares come too close to it. On hot days its leaves burst into flame, and the plant sucks the heat downwards to its roots, to make them swell, harden and expand. The whole plant is covered in nearly invisible sword-hairs, that easily pierce even the thickest of skins. In winter the hairs thicken into furry shields, giving the emperor a protective winter coat. The plant grows tall, elongating a thick phallic stem, always kinked around the middle, so the plant it sits comfortably on an invisible throne. At the top-end of the stem there is always a thick brush of small golden-yellow flowers, the emperor's fiery crown. The flowers are filled with pollen that is easily carried by the wind and able to pollinate any plant (and sometimes even non-plant entities) and spread the emperor's mighty genes.

note: work in progress for PARN. not general reference

major arcana