Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Fours Part 1

This article continues my series examining the trumps of the Tarot de Marseille, adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Fours: The Emperor and Death

Trump IV, L’Empereur, or the Emperor, is a card often overshadowed by more flamboyant trumps. What is there to know? Is the Emperor merely a symbol of masculine authority or the father archetype? Does he speak of status and worldly success? Or is he simply the overbearing manager determined to control every aspect of our lives? As is so often the case, the truth lies somewhere in between.

The traditional eikōn of the Emperor is remarkably consistent throughout the classical tarot tradition. An enthroned ruler sits in profile, crowned and armoured, holding an oversized sceptre as the emblem of his authority. His legs are traditionally crossed and a large shield rests at his side. Everything about the image communicates stability, power, and command. Unlike many of the other trumps, the Emperor is not engaged in any obvious activity. He has already secured his position and now concerns himself with maintaining it.

The essence of the Emperor is control; his function is to manage. The card therefore speaks of structure, order, responsibility, and authority. The Emperor understands that ambitions, resources, and people require direction if they are to achieve anything worthwhile. Whilst the Empress brings people together through interaction and communication, the Emperor takes responsibility for ensuring that things are done.

Unlike the Empress, the Emperor does not meet our gaze. He has little interest in conversation for its own sake. His attention is directed towards the affairs of his realm. He is concerned with leadership, administration, and practical results. Where others discuss possibilities, the Emperor asks what must be done and who will do it. The Emperor’s authority should not be understood as privilege alone. It is also a burden. Someone must maintain order, make difficult decisions, allocate resources, and accept responsibility when matters go wrong. The Emperor therefore signifies stewardship as much as power. His concern is not merely obtaining authority, but exercising it wisely and ensuring that obligations are met.

For this reason, the Emperor is often a favourable card in a reading. It frequently points towards a successful outcome, particularly where discipline, organisation, and sound judgement are required. Yet success brings responsibilities of its own. The Emperor reminds us that achievement is not merely a matter of obtaining something; it is also a matter of maintaining and protecting it.The card frequently appears when success ceases to be an aspiration and becomes a responsibility. Acquiring a home, accepting a promotion, starting a business, or becoming a parent all bring obligations that cannot be ignored. The Emperor therefore asks not simply whether we can attain our objectives, but whether we are prepared to bear the burden of what follows.

At other times, the Emperor appears because the querent must assume responsibility themselves. The card may indicate that matters have drifted for long enough and now require firm direction. Decisions must be made, standards enforced, and leadership shown. Whatever is under consideration cannot be left to chance. The Emperor demands that someone take control of the situation and steer it towards a satisfactory conclusion.

General: The successful conclusion of an undertaking and the attainment of a position of stability, authority, or influence. The Emperor brings structure, order, and permanence. What has been built is now established, but with success comes responsibility. The card frequently signifies leadership, accountability, and the need to maintain what has been achieved.

Love: Relationships under the Emperor are built upon strong foundations and characterised by stability, loyalty, and long-term potential. The card may indicate a partner who is reserved, pragmatic, and reluctant to discuss their emotions openly. Nevertheless, their feelings are usually genuine and expressed through actions rather than words. For those who are single, the Emperor often points towards a relationship arising through work or professional connections. Such relationships tend to progress quickly towards commitment, although the card cautions that one partner may prefer to take charge. Whether this dynamic is desirable is a matter for the querent to consider.

Career: The Emperor is associated with positions of authority, management, leadership, corporate governance, and politics. It frequently appears in connection with senior appointments, business ownership, administration, and executive roles. For women, the card may signify employment within traditionally male-dominated professions, such as construction, engineering, mechanics, or other skilled trades. More generally, the Emperor promises favourable career prospects, advancement, increased responsibility, and improved remuneration.

Finance: Financial circumstances are generally secure and well managed under the Emperor. The card signifies stability, careful planning, and the accumulation of assets. However, it often suggests that money could be employed more effectively. Investments, pensions, property, and other long-term financial arrangements may warrant attention. The emphasis is not merely upon preserving wealth, but upon managing it wisely so that it continues to grow.

Health: Anatomically, the Emperor is associated with the spine, back, and heart. It may indicate cardiovascular conditions, including hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, hypotension, angina, and cardiac arrhythmias. More broadly, the card is associated with andrology and illnesses more commonly encountered in men, including heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and lung cancer. In positive contexts, it signifies resilience, stability, and the ability to manage long-term health concerns effectively.

Essence: Control.
Function: Manage.
Polarity: Neutral.
Astrological Association: Leo.
Timing: August.

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])

28 July, 202627 July, 2026

When the Emperor Goes to War: The French Cross

Le tirage en croix, or the Cross Spread, is among the most widely practised methods of tarot reading. It appears in the majority of French tarot literature and has long been favoured for its elegance and directness. One of the principal reasons for its enduring popularity is its capacity to provide a clear and decisive response to a question—indeed, it may even yield a simple affirmative or negative where appropriate.

For some practitioners, the notion of using the Tarot to obtain a “yes or no” answer is considered rather objectionable. However, among most continental readers, such an approach is entirely de rigueur. After all, do not many questions, when properly distilled, come down to a straightforward affirmation or refusal? I have always found myself more sympathetic to the continental tradition than to the somewhat diffuse sensibilities of the modern Anglo-style New Age approach. When one consults an oracle, one does so in pursuit of clarity, not greater confusion. A tarot reading ought, in my view, to address the question succinctly; otherwise, one may fairly ask what purpose it serves.

The Cross Spread

Like the Celtic Cross, the Cross Spread exists in a variety of forms. The version presented here is both standard and the one I personally employ:

Card 1 (Left): The querent, and their manner of approaching the situation.
Card 2 (Right): The situation itself, including external influences, whether favourable or adverse.
Card 3 (Above): Advice and guidance.
Card 4 (Below): The outcome.
Card 5 (Centre): The synthesis.

Unlike the first four cards, the fifth is not drawn but calculated. One adds together the numerical values of the four cards already laid, using the Major Arcana, and reduces the result to a number not exceeding 22.

For example, should one draw the Fool (0), the Devil (15), the Star (17), and the Hermit (9), the calculation is as follows:

0 + 15 + 17 + 9 = 41

As this exceeds 22, one reduces it further: 4 + 1 = 5. The resulting number corresponds to the Pope (or Hierophant), which serves as the synthesis.

It should be evident that this synthesis card is not to be read as an additional outcome; that function is already fulfilled by the fourth card. Rather, the synthesis reveals the underlying dynamics—the deeper currents and governing principles at work within the matter under consideration.

A brief note should be made regarding the Fool. When it appears among the first four cards, it is assigned the numerical value of 0 for the purposes of calculation. However, the matter is treated somewhat differently in the case of the synthesis. Should the final total reduce to 22, the Fool is taken as the synthesis card. In this way, the Fool retains both its numerical absence and its symbolic primacy: it is at once nothing and everything, the beginning and the end. This dual function is entirely in keeping with its role within the Greater Arcana, and it serves as a subtle reminder that, even in the most structured of methods, the Tarot admits of paradox.

On Method and Practice

Some years ago, I encountered an argument—during a rather spirited exchange on Facebook—that while the Cross Spread is well suited to the Tarot de Marseille, it is ill-matched to decks such as the Crowley-Harris Thoth Tarot. The objection rested largely upon the use of the Greater Arcana alone. According to this view, such practice runs counter to the philosophy of certain decks, wherein the Greater and Lesser Arcana are intended to function in close interdependence. It is further argued that the Greater Arcana, taken in isolation, cannot adequately address more mundane concerns.

I must confess that I do not share this opinion. Throughout much of my own practice, I have regularly made use of the Greater Arcana alone. It is true that I feel most at ease with the Marseille tradition; however, I have also worked extensively with the trumps of both the Thoth and Rider–Waite–Smith systems in isolation. At no point have I found these cards incapable of speaking to matters on the material plane. After all, what one is doing in any reading is nothing more than interpreting cards’ essence within context, be it exoteric or esoteric.

Since completing the colouring of my first Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.) deck, I have taken considerable pleasure in working with it—including in the context of the Cross Spread and Astrological Wheel, employing only the Greater Arcana. What follows is an example of such a reading.

Sofia’s Reading

The reading below was conducted during the summer of 2025 for a colleague. Sofia had met her husband whilst at university. They became engaged shortly after graduating and had been married for eleven years. Sadly, the relationship had been under strain for some time. Despite attending relationship counselling and making sincere efforts to begin afresh, the same difficulties persisted. Sofia was increasingly concerned, not only for the marriage itself, but also for the effect the situation was having upon their two young children.

Question: Can this relationship be saved?

The cards drawn were as follows:

The Emperor (4)

Death (13)

The Devil (15)

The Tower (16)

For the synthesis:

4 + 13 + 15 + 16 = 48 = 4 + 8 = 12

The synthesis is therefore the Hanged Man.

I said to Sofia, “Yes, but only if you’re prepared to sacrifice everything and live with ghosts.”

Sofia is signified by the Emperor. In Book T¹, one of the attributions given to the Emperor is “war,” and it is clear that Sofia was prepared to fight for her marriage. The Emperor does not readily accept defeat, and the failure of the relationship would feel, at least in part, like a personal failure.

Opposing the Emperor is Death. The image is striking. Sofia is prepared to struggle against forces that have been acting upon the marriage for many years. In relationship readings, the second card often describes either the partner or the relationship itself. Here, Death suggests that time, experience, and changing circumstances have altered the marriage fundamentally. What once bound the couple together no longer operates as it once did. The relationship has reached a point where it must either find a new basis upon which to continue or come to an end.

The advice position is occupied by the Devil. Here, I read the card in terms of material ties and practical obligations. After eleven years of marriage, Sofia and her husband have built a shared life: a home, finances, and the responsibility of raising two children. Should the marriage end, there would be considerable practical consequences. The Devil reminds Sofia to consider not only the emotional realities of the situation, but the material ones as well. From this perspective, the status quo can be retained albeit at a price.

The outcome is the Tower. Rather than a sudden calamity, I see it here as a structure that can no longer support the forces acting upon it. The marriage has changed, but the couple continue to relate to it as though it were the same relationship they entered into eleven years earlier. The Tower suggests this is no longer possible. The structure of the marriage has shifted and can no longer accommodate its present dynamics. What was has gone and cannot be restored.

Yet the reading does not conclude with the Tower. The synthesis is the Hanged Man, which reveals the underlying dynamic of the situation. The card does not suggest that the relationship cannot be saved. Rather, it indicates that it can continue only through sacrifice. Sofia would need to relinquish her expectations for the future and accept the uncomfortable reality that the marriage she once knew no longer exists. The relationship may endure, physically and materially, but only if both parties are prepared to let go of what was and make their peace with what remains. Otherwise, it will be a time-bomb.

Ultimately, the reading is quite simple. Sofia has the grit and determination of the Emperor to preserve the bonds of marriage represented by the Devil. Yet that marriage has been fundamentally altered by Death, and, as the Tower suggests, old bones (all that remains) make poor building blocks. Whether the relationship is worth preserving under such circumstances is the question posed by the Hanged Man. The marriage may survive, but only as a ghost of what it once was.

Sofia and her husband split six months later.

This example also illustrates a point often overlooked in discussions about tarot methods. Whether one is working with the Tarot de Marseille, the Dark Goddess Tarot, the Thoth Tarot, or a B.O.T.A. deck, it is perfectly possible to obtain direct and unambiguous answers. The key lies not in the artwork or even the system itself, but in keeping a firm eye on both essence, function and context. The cards reveal the essential nature of a situation; the reader’s task is to understand that essence within the context of the question asked. Do that consistently, and the Tarot rarely lacks clarity.

Footnotes:

Regardie, I. (1989) The Golden Dawn: An account of the teachings, rites, and ceremonies of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (Stella Matutina): A complete course in practical ceremonial magic. Saint Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications. ↩︎

26 July, 202626 July, 2026

Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Threes Part 4

The Threes: The Empress, the Hanged Man and the World

Let us now consider a different style of reading.

This example uses the tirage en ligne, or linear draw, a common feature of the French cartomantic tradition. Unlike the previous examples, there are no fixed positions. Instead, the cards are read sequentially, each developing the story told by the previous card.

The reading was conducted for Patricia. Her husband, Kevin, was a self-employed carpenter who had begun to experience difficulties obtaining sufficient work. As both were now in their early sixties, Patricia was understandably concerned that a prolonged decline in business could affect their retirement plans.

Her question was:

“What can be done to increase the business?”

The cards drawn were:

The Hermit – The Juggler – The Empress

The Hermit describes Kevin’s current approach. Like the Hermit, he relies upon experience, reputation, and the quality of his work. There is a sense of prudence and discretion here. Existing customers value his skills, but the card also suggests a reluctance to promote himself or adapt to changing circumstances. The Hermit carries a lantern rather than a banner. He seeks to be discovered rather than noticed.

The Juggler introduces the necessary change. Whereas the Hermit is discreet, the Juggler actively attracts attention. He understands presentation, visibility, and differentiation. The card suggests that Kevin must identify what distinguishes him from the many other carpenters operating in the area. What particular skills, services, or experience set him apart? The Juggler asks him to define his unique selling point and make it visible to potential customers.

For example, Kevin may possess specialist knowledge in restoration work, bespoke cabinetry, traditional joinery, or some other area in which he excels. Such expertise has considerable value, but only if potential customers are aware of it. The cards suggest that he should stop marketing himself merely as a carpenter and begin promoting whatever makes his business distinctive.

Having identified those strengths, the Empress shows how they should be used. The Empress is a communicator and network builder. She spreads information, makes introductions, and ensures that people know what is available. The card therefore advises greater emphasis upon marketing, referrals, networking, local advertising, social media, and recommendations from satisfied customers. It is not enough to possess expertise; others must know that expertise exists.

The three cards form a natural sequence. The Hermit possesses knowledge and experience. The Juggler packages that experience into something distinctive and memorable. The Empress then communicates it to the wider world. The problem is not a lack of skill, but the failure to move through the latter two stages.

It is also worth noting that the reading begins with the Hermit and concludes with the Empress. Symbolically, this is a movement from privacy towards visibility. Kevin’s experience remains his greatest asset, but the cards indicate that he has become too discreet. The knowledge that serves him well must now be brought into the public eye.

My conclusion was that Kevin’s difficulty did not arise from a lack of ability or experience. The opposite was true. The Hermit suggested that he possessed valuable skills developed over many years. The problem was visibility. Those skills first needed to be defined and differentiated by the Juggler, and then communicated by the Empress. In short, Kevin did not need to become a better carpenter; he needed to become better known.

This example illustrates an important principle of the tirage en ligne: each card develops the action of the previous one. The cards do not merely provide three separate answers. Together, they tell a story.

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.