Is it OK to ask a Tarot Question Here?

[Matt Fortin]

Good morning Book Club,

I hope I am not out of bounds asking a Tarot question in the book club forum. If am, please disregard. Otherwise, here is my question:

Armor appears in all the Knight cards and the DEATH card which makes me sense to me, because they are all on horseback implying they are outside the safety of their city walls.

However, the EMPEROR is seated safely on a throne implying he is safely inside his kingdom; so why does he need armor? What threat does he face?

(I read through the Greater Arcana and Their Divinatory Meanings, but the armor was not mentioned)

Thanks for considering and I appreciate anyone’s insight.

Kind regards,
Matt

[Jessica Chappell]

Matt! What an awesome reflection. I think this is a perfect place. Maybe others from book club will have references from their own library to add to the discussion.

As for the Emperor, because he can represent legacy, maybe the armor is a tool from his past. He rules the empire, so although he’s safely behind his city walls, there’s always the potential of attack from outside forces. Also, the charioteer in The Chariot wears armor. Sometimes I see him as a younger version of the Emperor.

Your mention of the armor in Death immediately connected me to the child in The Sun card who has absolutely no armor, but is also riding the white horse.

An idea that popped up was what if we looked at it from the lens of The Sun, The Charioteer, The Emperor, and then Death being a story of lineage?

[Matt Fortin]

Thanks Jessica! I lined up The Sun, The Chariot, The Emperor and Death in order and I see your connection of a lineage there. That’s really interesting! Also, I had not connected The Sun card to the Death card before but now I can how they share the same symbol of the white horse. Really appreciate your perspective on this.

[Jessica Chappell]

I’d love to hear what others have to say! My perspective is just one. I love your inquiry thought because it really got me thinking about the cards in a different way! Also, we have the armor in the King of Swords. Contemplating how he fits in!

[Author]

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