Raj eats Fishcake and Chips with his Kids

I got up early this morning so that I could get to my maths class. As usual, I didn't really want to go, even if I know it is not so bad once I am there. My boyfriend tells me that he feels like that every day, regarding going to work. But things were not so bad today. I worked through my text book and aside from where I didn't read a couple of the questions properly and made a few silly multiplication mistakes, I learned some stuff today and earned many ticks in my exercise book. My tutor says that I can do my first level exam next week. He seems more confident than I do that I will pass it, so as yesterday's card highlighted, I need to spend some time in the workshop, polishing up with some revision.

After my class, I flipped through a few of the shops in town. I bought a couple of pairs of cuff-leg jeans; one in denim and the other in khaki. They are both skinnies and I was both surprised and pleased to slink into a 30" waist. Since it has been cold lately, I have been wearing boots a lot, so these should sit well with them. My boyfriend has suggested fish and chips for tonight's dinner, as he apparently has a craving. This might be where today's card comes into play. Anyone who spends a lot of time with me will tell you that I can be pretty rigid. However, despite the diet, I do have food like this on occasion, so I have said yes. I will compromise by having something without the batter and a small portion of chips.

I really enjoyed drawing up my own version of yesterday's card, so I decided to have a bash at today's as well. Like many, I find The Emperor in most decks hard to work with. I understand that he can be either a father or authority figure, and like many, I connect him to the world of industry. However, there is always so much of a distance between me and his stuffy old beard that I can never really relate him to anyone in the modern world.

Do you remember Mark from yesterday? Well, as I explained then, he was in his place of work, rather than having a kick about with the lads. His boss had given him a chance and Mark didn't want to let him down. When I drew The Emperor today, I instantly knew that it was Mark's boss I would have to draw up. You can call him Raj. He is a thirty-something masculine guy, who runs a series of garages in London and Mark works in just one of them. Many years ago, Raj started off as an apprentice himself, which is probably why he was so set on giving Mark a chance in this job; he'd been in the same position and wanted to give him a break. He holds a spanner here, to remind us of his own climb up the ladder, and a mobile phone in the other hand, because now, he is a respected business man with many contacts.

Raj isn't difficult to get along with, but because he is the boss, his employers are careful of what they say around him. They enjoy the odd laugh with him, but they respect his position too. I sometimes forget that the traditional Emperor is a father figure, as much as a man of financial status and career stability; our man Raj has a wife and two small children at home. Even though a loving father, his empire takes up a lot of time, which can lead to his children having not developing such a good relationship with him as they have with their mother.

For today, Raj symbolises self control and discipline. He got me to my maths class this morning and could even represent my tutor there. However, as much as he symbolises those things I should stick to with focus, I must remember Raj's children and notice when I am not being flexible enough with others or am lacking in emotion. Right now, this reminds me to go and fetch some salt and vinegar for tonight's dinner for when my boyfriend gets here.

Illustration from The Radiant Rider Waite by Pamela Coleman Smith, recoloured byVirginijus Poshkus