Aries walks into a room and the room changes. So it makes sense that its tarot card is the one sitting on the throne. The tarot card for Aries is The Emperor, card IV of the Major Arcana, and once you see the two side by side, you can’t unsee it.
Below you will find why The Emperor belongs to Aries, what it means when it shows up in an Aries love reading, the three smaller cards that rule each part of the sign, and a free three-card spread to try tonight.
Reading for an Aries? Aries in Love is our 13-page guide to how Aries really loves, with The Emperor, the decan cards, three love spreads, and Aries compatibility with all 12 signs. $9, instant PDF.
What tarot card represents Aries?
The tarot card for Aries is The Emperor. This comes from the Golden Dawn system, the same tradition behind the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which links each of the twelve zodiac signs to one Major Arcana card. Aries covers birthdays from March 21 to April 19.
The Emperor sits on a stone throne carved with ram heads, the symbol of Aries. He wears armor under his robe, which says a lot about this sign: ready to lead, ready to fight, and quietly protective of the people he loves.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and the start of spring. The Emperor is the card of beginnings turned into structure: taking a spark and building something that lasts. That is the lesson Aries works on in love, too. Falling fast is easy for them. Staying and building is the growth.
The Emperor in love for Aries
In love, The Emperor stands for stability, protection, and commitment. He is the partner who wants to build something real and keep it safe.
- Upright: A strong, stable, protective love. Someone who takes the relationship seriously and wants to build a future. Commitment, structure, and a partner you can lean on.
- Reversed: Control or coldness. One person trying to run the relationship, or being so guarded that no warmth gets through. Rules without tenderness.
- As feelings: He sees you as someone worth protecting and building with. His feelings are serious, even if he shows them through actions more than words.
- As advice: Be the steady one. Set a clear boundary or make a clear plan. Love grows best on solid ground.
Is The Emperor a good card for Aries?
Mostly, yes. For Aries, The Emperor upright shows a partner who wants to protect and commit, and a relationship with a solid base. The warning is control. If The Emperor shows up next to heavy cards like the Five of Wands or The Devil, it can point to a power struggle, where one of you is leading and the other feels ruled.
The three Aries decan cards (the Minor Arcana of Aries)
Each sign is split into three decans of about ten days, and each decan has its own Minor Arcana card and planet. All three Aries decan cards come from the suit of Wands, the suit of the fire element. If you know the birthday, you can find the exact card for that person.
- Two of Wands (first decan, March 21 to March 30, Mars): Planning and choosing. First-decan Aries looks at the whole world and decides where to go next. In love: deciding whether this person fits the future you want.
- Three of Wands (second decan, March 31 to April 9, the Sun): Looking ahead and waiting for your ship to come in. In love: hope, a long-distance connection, or waiting for someone to meet you halfway.
- Four of Wands (third decan, April 10 to April 19, Venus): Celebration and home. The happiest face of Aries. In love: moving in, an engagement, a wedding, or simply feeling at home with someone.
So an Aries born on the first days of the sign carries a little of the Two of Wands, while one born near the end leans toward the Four of Wands. It is a small detail, but it often explains why two people of the same sign love so differently.
Other tarot cards linked to Aries
The planets have Major Arcana cards too, and Aries’ ruling planet gives it a second card: The Tower. It adds the planetary side of the sign, while The Emperor shows its zodiac nature. The element adds a whole suit: fire signs belong with the Wands.
How Aries loves
Aries falls in love the way they do everything: quickly and with their whole chest. They are drawn to people who excite them, challenge them, and make life feel like an adventure.
Underneath the confidence, Aries has a soft and loyal heart. They are fiercely protective of the people they love. If someone hurts you, your Aries is often the first one standing in front of you.
Wondering if an Aries is falling for you? Here are four of the signs to watch for:
- They make the first move. Aries rarely waits. If they are interested, they will ask you out.
- They get competitive around you. They want to impress you, so they show off a little.
- They plan things. Dates, trips, ideas. They want to do things with you, not just talk.
- They protect you. They step in when someone is rude to you, even if you don’t need saving.
The full list of eight clues, plus how to reach an Aries’ heart and what pushes them away, is in Aries in Love.
A free three-card Aries love spread: The Aries Spark Spread
Shuffle while thinking about your Aries, or about yourself if you are the Aries. Lay three cards left to right.
- The spark. What drew you together in the first place.
- The fire. Where the energy between you is heading right now.
- The fuel. What would keep this burning past the exciting start.
If The Emperor or one of the Aries decan cards (Two of Wands, Three of Wands or Four of Wands) turns up, pay extra attention. It may be the sign speaking in its own voice.
Aries compatibility at a glance
Fire and air signs usually keep up with Aries best. Earth and water signs can bring balance, but the pace is often different.
- Strongest matches: Leo and Sagittarius
- Good matches: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
- More challenging: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo and Pisces
Every pairing, with a note on how Aries feels about each sign, is in the compatibility chapter of Aries in Love.
Aries in Love: A Zodiac Love Tarot Guide
How Aries loves, The Emperor and the three decan cards in love, three spreads with diagrams, compatibility with all 12 signs, and journal prompts. A 13-page PDF for an Aries or anyone who loves one.
Tarot cards for all 12 zodiac signs
| Sign | Tarot card |
|---|---|
| Aries | The Emperor |
| Taurus tarot card | The Hierophant |
| Gemini tarot card | The Lovers |
| Cancer tarot card | The Chariot |
| Leo tarot card | Strength |
| Virgo tarot card | The Hermit |
| Libra tarot card | Justice |
| Scorpio tarot card | Death |
| Sagittarius tarot card | Temperance |
| Capricorn tarot card | The Devil |
| Aquarius tarot card | The Star |
| Pisces tarot card | The Moon |
Aries tarot card FAQ
What tarot card represents Aries?
The Emperor is the Major Arcana card for Aries. The link comes from the Golden Dawn system, which pairs each zodiac sign with one Major Arcana card.
What is Aries’ Minor Arcana card?
Aries has three: the Two of Wands, Three of Wands and Four of Wands, one for each ten-day decan of the sign. Which one applies depends on the birthday.
What tarot card is Aries rising or Aries moon?
The same card, The Emperor. The card belongs to the sign itself, wherever it sits in a birth chart. Many readers use the sun sign for core personality, the moon sign for feelings, and the rising sign for first impressions.
Which planet card goes with Aries?
Aries is ruled by Mars, so its planetary card is The Tower.
Is The Emperor a good card for Aries in love?
Mostly, yes. For Aries, The Emperor upright shows a partner who wants to protect and commit, and a relationship with a solid base.
Keep reading
Want to go further with The Emperor and the cards around it? Read The Tower as feelings and the difference between the Major and Minor Arcana, or browse the Zodiac Love Tarot guides for every sign.