IIII: The Emperor

[Mistress Lovely]

 

A scepter in one hand. The other engaged in self-restraint. His throne has been carried outside. He leans without fully standing or sitting.

 

There is no sword.

 

Compulsion is a stopgap for lack of authority.

 

Where authority is present, compulsion is unnecessary.

Authority is a relational state of being, not imposed leverage, or a conferred rank. 
 

Deep into power exchange, mutual shifts in consciousness take place.

 

The person in authority remains a fixed point, an anchor to reality. The more fully they inhabit it, the further their partner may venture into territory inaccessible alone. This is never risk-free.

 

Need collapses upon disappointment.

 

Authorship survives, which makes failure safe.

 

Where failure is safe, so is risk.

[risotto]

In the theme, my favorite card is "strength."  I feel that the Emperor is a touch brittle. 

Strength holds open the lion's jaws, but not by force.  The strength makes the lion submit, but it is not physical strength.

[AioriaRegulus]

5 hours ago, Mistress Lovely said:

 

A scepter in one hand. The other engaged in self-restraint. His throne has been carried outside. He leans without fully standing or sitting.

 

There is no sword.

 

Compulsion is a stopgap for lack of authority.

 

Where authority is present, compulsion is unnecessary.

Authority is a relational state of being, not imposed leverage, or a conferred rank. 
 

Deep into power exchange, mutual shifts in consciousness take place.

 

The person in authority remains a fixed point, an anchor to reality. The more fully they inhabit it, the further their partner may venture into territory inaccessible alone. This is never risk-free.

 

Need collapses upon disappointment.

 

Authorship survives, which makes failure safe.

 

Where failure is safe, so is risk.

Well put Mistress… the anchor also pins the arcana in place keeping it grounded. Thus utmost care is needed… as there is a risk when venturing too far out into the unknown that the anchor tethering both partners to reality can also twist the arcana on its anchor point and reverse it.