Sage Leaves: The Emperor & The Heroine's Journey
Healing Ancestral Wounds Through Tarot
This week’s Sage Leaves continues our exploration of The Emperor with a discussion of his role in the Heroine’s Journey. Next week we will finish up with an examination of his presence in readings for generational wounding. Our Tarotscope for the week of April 1-7, 2025 is included as well.
We are working on an experiential for Summer Solstice, which will incorporate self care rituals, readings, and more. I am working with my friend and colleague Kim Ayers to develop aspects of this experiential, which I will make available to all subscribers to Sage Leaves.
I’ve also been working through a Lenormand practice to deepen my understanding of this system. This is a daily layout practice (5 cards, every day) to learn to interpret the cards more accurately. This is a very different system than Tarot, and can be used in conjunction with Tarot or separately. I will be posting some of these readings and my observations on the practice.
I hope you enjoy this week’s exploration into the Emperor and the weekly Tarotscope.
The Emperor’s Role in the Heroine’s Journey
In the Heroine’s Journey, The Emperor plays an important and complex role. He represents structure, authority, and stability. He can be a guide, an obstacle, or even a force the heroine must learn to balance within herself. Unlike the Hero’s Journey, which often focuses on conquering challenges through external action, the Heroine’s Journey explores inner growth, relationships, and the balance between control and freedom.
At first, The Emperor often appears as an external figure—maybe a father, mentor, boss, or a powerful system that governs the heroine’s life. He provides structure and order. He sets the rules. Sometimes, he is a protector, offering safety and wisdom. Other times, he is an oppressor, enforcing strict expectations that limit the heroine’s choices. Whether kind or controlling, he represents the world as it is before the heroine begins her transformation.
As the journey unfolds, the heroine usually encounters a moment when she must question The Emperor’s authority. Maybe she realizes that the rules she has followed don’t serve her true purpose. Maybe she sees that the system is flawed, that the order she once relied on is actually a cage. This is a turning point. If The Emperor is an external figure, the heroine may need to stand up to him, challenge his power, or even leave his protection to find her own way.
But The Emperor isn’t just outside of her. He also exists within. A major part of the Heroine’s Journey is learning to integrate both masculine and feminine energies. The Emperor represents discipline, logic, and control. These qualities aren’t bad, but they can become rigid and limiting if not balanced with intuition, creativity, and emotional wisdom. The heroine must decide: How much structure does she need? How much should she follow the rules, and when should she make her own?
If she rejects The Emperor completely, she risks losing stability and direction. If she obeys him without question, she risks losing her true self. The challenge is to find a middle path—to take the best of what The Emperor offers without being trapped by his limitations.
By the end of her journey, the heroine has transformed. She no longer needs The Emperor’s permission. Instead, she becomes her own source of authority. She carries The Emperor’s wisdom inside her, using structure and discipline when they serve her, but never letting them control her. She is both strong and free.
The Emperor’s role in the Heroine’s Journey is about power—who has it, how it’s used, and how the heroine claims her own. He starts as a ruler she must understand, challenge, or escape. In the end, she learns to embody his strength in a way that serves her purpose, not just his. This balance is what allows her to truly step into her own power and complete her journey.
Energetic Influences This Week April 1-7, 2025
This is a reading for the energetic influences at play for the week of April 1-7, 2025. Starting the week on Tuesday, I drew the The Fool as Moon in Taurus Conjuncts Uranus in Taurus and Moon Enters Gemini; Wednesday's card was the King of Pentacles as the Moon in Gemini Conjuncts Jupiter in Gemini; Thursday's card was Ace of Pentacles as the Moon in Gemini Squares Venus in Pisces and the crescent moon waxes in Cancer; Friday's card was the King of Swords as Saturn in Pisces Sextiles Uranus in Taurus, Mars in Cancer Sextiles Uranus in Taurus, and Mars in Cancer Trines Saturn in Pisces; Saturday's card was Strength with the Moon in Cancer Conjuncts Mars in Cancer; Sunday's card was The Empress as Venus in Pisces Trines Mars in Cancer and Sun in Aries Sextile Jupiter in Gemini; and finally, Monday's card was the recurring 7 of Swords as Mercury goes direct in Pisces and Venus in Pisces Conjuncts Saturn in Pisces. Now we will explore each of the cards laid for each day of the week for a guide to energetic influences for the week of April 1-7, 2025.
The week begins with a breath of fresh air—The Fool dances into your path on Tuesday, just as the Moon in Taurus collides with unpredictable Uranus. There’s a spark in the air, a sense that something new is about to begin. You might feel restless, like the ground beneath you is shifting, but The Fool reminds you to embrace the unknown. By evening, the Moon slips into Gemini, and your thoughts buzz with possibilities. Ideas come fast—some brilliant, some fleeting—but all of them carry the energy of a fresh start.
By Wednesday, the cosmic winds settle into something more stable. The King of Pentacles takes the throne, grounding the week in practicality. The Moon in Gemini meets expansive Jupiter, magnifying your thoughts and turning them into tangible plans. This is a day for strategy—for looking at your resources, your goals, and making decisions that will build long-term security. If there’s a financial opportunity or a chance to solidify your foundations, now is the time to act.
Thursday arrives with a gift—the Ace of Pentacles, a small but potent seed of opportunity. Maybe it’s an unexpected offer, a new project, or a sudden stroke of luck. But the Moon in Gemini squares Venus in Pisces, blurring the line between logic and emotion. You might second-guess yourself or feel torn between what you want and what you should do. The waxing crescent Moon in Cancer tugs at your intuition, whispering that this opportunity is worth pursuing—if you trust your gut.
Friday sharpens your mind like a blade. The King of Swords steps forward, cutting through confusion with clear, decisive energy. Saturn in Pisces and Mars in Cancer form harmonious angles with Uranus, bringing sudden flashes of insight. You see the bigger picture now—what needs to be said, what needs to be done. Mars trines Saturn, giving you both the courage and discipline to act. If there’s a difficult conversation or a tough decision looming, today is the day to face it head-on.
By Saturday, the mood shifts again. The Strength card appears, but this isn’t about brute force—it’s about quiet power. The Moon in Cancer joins Mars, stirring deep emotions. You might feel protective, defensive, or even a little raw. But Strength reminds you that true power comes from patience, from taming your instincts rather than letting them rule you. A situation tests your composure, but you have the grace to handle it with wisdom.
Sunday wraps you in warmth. The Empress reigns, lush and abundant, as Venus in Pisces trines Mars in Cancer. Love, creativity, and nurturing energy flow freely. This is a day for connection—whether through art, nature, or tender moments with those you care about. The Sun in Aries sextiles Jupiter in Gemini, sprinkling luck over your words. Speak from the heart, and you’ll be heard.
But just as the week seems to end on a high note, Monday arrives with a whisper of caution. The 7 of Swords skulks in, a reminder that not everything is as it seems. Mercury finally stations direct in Pisces, clearing the fog of miscommunication, but Venus conjunct Saturn delivers a sobering truth. Someone might not be honest with you—or maybe you’ve been avoiding an uncomfortable reality. Now is the time to face it.
The Story of Your Week
This is a week of bold beginnings and grounding wisdom, of sharp intellect and deep emotion. The Fool’s leap of faith leads to the steady hands of the King of Pentacles, then to the Ace’s new opportunity. The King of Swords brings clarity, Strength brings patience, and The Empress brings love—but the 7 of Swords lingers, a reminder to stay aware.
Mercury’s direct turn on Monday signals a shift—the confusion lifts, the truth emerges. What will you do with it?
The choice, as always, is yours. But the cards whisper one thing: You’re ready.
That’s it for this week! Look for Sage Leaves in your inbox on Tuesday afternoons (North American time.) We look forward to exploring more about Tarot, Healing and more! Take care, be well, and good-bye for now!