Hebrew Name: Heh (window)
"A window admits light (knowledge) and air (Life-breath, spirit)
into the house (Beth) of personality. It also permits outlook, survey,
supervision, control, and so on. Architecturally, windows are derived from
doors. Furthermore, since they permit a survey of persons approaching a house,
they enable the inhabitants of the house to decide whether to open the door to
admit friends, or to bar it against enemies." 1
As a window allows one to see out, the letter Heh also corresponds to the faculty of vision, both physical sight and the inner vision of sound reason.
Qabalistic Intelligence: The
Constituting Intelligence
To constitute something is to author it, name it, define it. A
constitution is a document setting forth the laws and principles by which a
society is to run its affairs. Reason defines and sets forth boundaries
and rules in accordance with laws and principles. The Constituting
Intelligence is that aspect of consciousness which defines, establishes
boundaries, and sets forth order. It is the supreme authority in any
organization.
"Our personal definitions of the meaning of our experiences constitute
suggestions which are accepted, without reservation, by our subconsciousness.
Thus, in a sense, every man makes his own law, writes the constitution of his
own personal world, and finds that his life-experience is the reproduction of
that constitution through the working of subconscious responses." 2
Astrological Correspondence: Aries
"Heh is the first of the twelve "simple" letters of the
Hebrew alphabet, so called because each has but a single pronunciation. To
it is attributed the first sign of the zodiac, Aries, the Ram. Aries is a
fiery, cardinal sign. [...] Astrologers say Aries represents rulership,
government, guidance and leadership." 3
Number: 4
The number 4 is symbolic of "Order, measurement, classification,
recording, tabulation"4
Color / Note: Red / C
Symbolism:
(Summarized from "The Tarot", by P.F.Case)5
The Scene: An older man is seated on a stone throne.
The Emperor: He is the definer, the law-giver, the regulator. The Ancient of days, the grand architect of the Universe, the supreme reason, the constituting power. The Emperor is essentially the Magician after his union with the High Priestess has transformed her into the Empress and made him the father of her children.
The Armor: Steel, the metal of Aries and Mars. The truth is his armor. Seeing things as they are eliminates error, and is a means of protection.
The Helmet: The red helmet of Mars which rules Aries and the head.
The Red Globe: Symbol of dominion.
The scepter: A gold ankh, meaning the the power of regulation is derived from the sense of sight and the mental vision of Emperor.
The Mountains: Barren, the represent the sterility of mere reason, unless
there is something vitally alive and fruitful to be organized.
The challenge is to consciously apply the principle of Reason to everyday life:
 | Order: You establish order in your life by seeing things as they really are, setting boundaries and standards, and by destroying those things (mental images, ideas, beliefs, relationships, etc...) that are unhealthy or in error. "Those who would remake worlds, must begin by smashing them to bits." |
In "Living
the Tarot", Amber Jayanti
provides some suggestions for integration and application of The Emperor:
| The Imagery of the Emperor can be used to: [Establish order and to maintain personal standards and boundaries.] |
| Ask yourself the following questions:6 In what area of my personal or professional life could my vision benefit from expansion? What would I like to see more clearly? What plan or project needs to be thought out more clearly? Who has been unreasonable towards me, and how do I feel about this? How might I hold my ground or boundaries more successfully? What area of my life needs ordering or reordering? |
Illustrations from the Universal Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of
U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright ©1990 by U.S. Games
Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.