As the complement to the Empress, the Emperor represents the father figure, reigning through wisdom, order, authority, power, and control. Thus he embodies the material world, structure, and order, and balances the Empress' abundance and pure instinct. His stable leadership and authority are not to be questioned. The Emperor reminds us that rational thought, willpower, and fearlessness yield recognition and achievement in general. Through strength he creates and builds, material things, families, communities, and gives them structure, projects are put on a solid foundation. On an emotional level this card symbolizes confirming of established feelings, tightening of links among beings, and self-respect. In a negative situation this card can mean despotism, tyranny, self-righteousness, and hampering of any progress.