THE PATRIARCH

Authority – Guidance
Imposition – Intolerance

The Patriarch sits in silence but occupies all the space. The long white beard, the gaze that allows no hesitation, the sumptuous garments that even conceal the throne: every detail conveys a presence that needs no explanation, because it has been internalized for millennia. At his feet, the beast —puma or lioness— waits obediently, ready both to receive a caress and to obey a command.

This figure lives in the collective psyche as father, chief, clan elder, custodian of rules and order. He can be a moral guide, support, a beacon that orients. But when his shadow takes over, he becomes rigid domination, authority imposed by right, repression of differences, and inflexibility that allows no exceptions.

The Patriarch invites you to observe your relationship with the figure of authority: the authority you give, the authority you receive, the one you fear, or the one you reject.

So, my dear one, if your subconscious has chosen this card, perhaps it wants to tell you that:

If the card speaks about you – Light

You are capable of embodying stable, reliable, and centered guidance. You offer structure and direction without needing to impose your will. Your authority comes from your experience, not from the fear you inspire.

Questions for you
– Where are you exercising guidance that supports rather than crushes?
– In what area does your firmness provide security to others?
– What are you transmitting that can serve as a point of reference for those who observe you?

If the card speaks about you – Shadow

You might have fallen into the temptation of control and pretense. Or perhaps you are subjected to someone else’s authority to the point of feeling immobilized, invisible, or forced to adapt. Rigidity —your own or others’— darkens freedom.

Questions for you
– Where are you imposing yourself more than necessary?
– Who exerts a suffocating authority over you?
– Which rules are you following even though they no longer belong to you?

If the card speaks about the world – Light

The context provides structure, leadership, and clear direction. Around you, someone assumes responsibilities correctly, or collective dynamics are being organized. It is a time of order and definition.

Questions for you
– Who is guiding in a balanced way?
– What new order is bringing clarity around you?
– Which structure facilitates your path?

If the card speaks about the world – Shadow

The environment is dominated by rigid hierarchies, impositions, and non-negotiable rules. There may be an authority that talks too much and listens too little, or a system that punishes deviation instead of understanding it.

Questions for you
– Where do you perceive an authority demanding obedience rather than dialogue?
– Who is imposing rules that do not consider people?
– Which part of your environment forces rather than guides?