With father’s day coming up I feel reflecting on father figures in Tarot to be a good idea.

The Emperor, Major Arcanum 4 is the essence of fatherhood.
He represents stability, order and authority. He is the one able to restore order where there is chaos. He sets up clear rules and boundaries. He builds things that last. He enforces the rules, he will protect his family and his kingdom. When the Emperor is on your side you can relax and feel safe.

On a day to day base we can look at the four kings to see fathers in action.

Let’s start with the king of Wands.

He rules the element of fire. He is passionate, creative, active, bold, a force to contend with.

As a father he would motivate you, inspire you, challenge you and drive you a bit crazy.
He is extremely confident. He has big ideas. He is a natural leader, always on the go and surrounded by people. He is fun, makes the most far out dreams seem possible. He is always busy promoting something, motivating others into action and looking for the next idea.
You look up to him, you also fight for his attention and his time. Conversations with him can get heated real fast. He lives so intensely that his proximity can drain you if you are not careful.

The king of Cups.

He rules the element of water. He is caring, calm, artistic, a good listener. He needs to do a job that not only pays his bills, but also feeds his soul. He is romantic, a dreamer and his calm is contagious.
As a dad he will inspire you to play an instrument, paint and appreciate beauty in general. He will be there when you are sad. He will hold a quiet space for you to explore your emotions. He will not offer you solutions, just his patience and quiet support. When you mess up he will hear you out. You will not fear the consequences he will dole out, but you will hate to disappoint him.

The king of Swords.

He is the ruler of air, analytical thinking and communication.
He likes to observe life in a detached , objective way. He sees things as they are. He likes technology and science. He likes rules and order. He aims at perfection. He is all about strategy, precision, always being two steps ahead and moving fast.
As a dad he will teach you the importance of being prepared and always do your best. He likes a clean and quiet house. He wants you to follow his rules. With him you know where you stand. Go to him for facts, knowledge and the right contacts, but when you need soothing for emotional pain go to someone else. When you mess up, be ready to face him with an objective defence for your actions. Don’t waste his time with emotions and motives. His scolding will be mild, but there will be fair consequences. You can count on it.

The king of Pentacles.

He rules the element of earth.
He is reasonable, hard working, practical, methodical. He likes to spend time in nature. He understands the importance of balance. He values intelligence as well as a strong body. He works hard, but he takes time to have fun. He also knows that quality takes time. He values stability and security.

As a dad he will be a good provider. Giving you a safe home and good food on the table will be his number one priority. Family, customs and traditions are important to him and he will pass them on to you. He is not much for adventure and innovation. He will encourage you to play it safe, pursue traditional careers, build a solid family and don’t stray too far from home.
He will try to help you, always. When you mess up, talk to him honestly. Listen when he talks, show him respect and he will come up with a reasonable consequence.

What kind of gifts would you give to these fathers?

For the king of wands, I would suggest anything related to sports, his passions or trendy items.

For the king of cups try books, music related gifts, tickets to museums or clothing.

For the king of swords I would suggest books, board games, video games, new technology.

For the king of pentacles try a good bottle of his favourite drink, treat him to a great dinner, take him to a good show or a great game.

Have you recognised any of these kings? Show them some love and feel free to comment below.