The classic Tarot card  depicting the Emperor shows him sitting on a throne decorated with ram’s heads, which are the symbols for the gods Aries and Mars.

In one hand, he holds an ankh, the Egyptian symbol for life. In the other he holds a globe, representing his control of the physical world. When the Emperor shows up in a reading, he represents authority and self-control, particularly regarding that which is concrete. If the subject’s goal was based on something solid, it will be achieved, says the Emperor.

When this card appears, it means that what comes the subject’s way ought to be accepted as it will bring great success.

Reading the Tarot can help us to get to know ourselves better, and to understand why we do the things that we do. The Tarot isn’t magic – it’s a tool that helps us to tap into the greater consciousness and to understand human nature through a combination of symbiology and psychology.

I don’t believe that any of us should make important life decisions based solely on Tarot cards, or I Ching, or numerology, or any of the other tools that people use to divine their past, present and future. These tools only give us guidance, allowing us to see patterns or possibilities. But if we believe that there is truth in Tarot readings, then perhaps we’re opening ourselves up to guidance from a higher source. After all, why do the cards fall the way they do? If they have an uncanny knack for zeroing in on our secret foibles and dreams, then why does that happen? Is it the universe answering our questions, or are we subconsciously influencing the way the cards fall?

The why is less important than the fact that it works (although those are interesting questions to ponder). The cards can be used as a powerful counseling aid when trying to make tough life decisions – so long as you remember that you still have free will, and that your choices are still your own.

In this article, you can learn how reading the tarot cards can help yourself or others identify and resolve problems.

With its mystical ability to tap into the accumulated wisdom of the universe, I’ve found that Tarot can be a powerful tool when counseling others. It’s more than just predicting the future – when I sit down with someone who wants me to read the Tarot for them, the process is as much about my listening to them as it is about reading their cards – I need to really hear what they need, what they want to know, and what their problem is, so that we can use the Tarot together to find an answer.

The first, most important, goal as a counselor – whether it be Tarot or otherwise – is not to make the client happy. It’s to be of help to them, and that means sometimes telling them truths that they may not want to hear. Because of this, I’ve found that it’s important to have many of the same qualities of any other counselor. You’ll need to be patient, and to know how to deal with someone who’s in a crisis state of mind. And you’ll need to be confident in your abilities.

Aces are powerful tarot cards that deserve a little extra time to read and interpret

While each card in the tarot has meaning, there are most certainly some cards that carry more weight than others.  The major arcana cards obviously bring a lot of strength with them to any reading they show up in.

The ace cards also bring a special strength to a reading and will often signify an important step that is about to take place or is already coming into fruition.

The Four Aces

The Ace of Cups signifies feeling.  Although other cards may indicate feeling, the Ace means a pure and strong force of feeling.

The Ace of Swords indicates a pure and strong form of thought and the Ace of Wands means pure, strong energy.  The Ace of Pentacles indicates the pure and strong form of earthly matter.