Empress
Empress - Tarot Card Description
The Empress is the archetypal Earth Mother, the Anima, the Feminine Principle, Dimeter, Freyja, Goddess of fertility. Ruled by Venus, the planet of love, creativity, fertility, art, harmony, luxury, beauty and grace.
She is full-figured, possibly pregnant, and is surrounded by lush greenery and fields of ripe wheat. Below the Empress's couch is a heart-shaped pillow with the symbol of Venus emblazoned upon it, and her flowing robe is decorated with pomegranates, a symbol of fertility. In the forest behind her a river flows freely with water, the symbol of life. Her upraised hand holds a sceptre which demonstrates her power and authority over the things of this earth.
She wears a crown of 12 stars, representing the Zodiac and her rulership over time. Her sceptre also shows her dominion over the created world. Where the High Priestess had dominion over the intellectual world, and the world of knowledge, the Empress has dominion over the world of the senses. Her dress has pomegranates on it. The water in the background is a symbol of the subconscious. The wheat is sacred to Isis and the cypress trees are sacred to Venus. The pearl necklace is also a symbol of Venus (Aphrodite), as are the myrtle leaves on the crown. The rune associated with this card is Fehu.
Empress - Tarot Card Meanings
The Empress indicates that spirit is about to intervene in your life. It may be just enough to give you a glimpse of the miraculous; it may be more. You may or may not know who bestows such good fortune, but the care and nurturing that will result come as no accident. You will come to see that you are not alone, that you are being watched over. What appears to be coincidental good luck may actually be the result of a series of good choices you have made. It's your turn to have things work out, to be blessed and nurtured. Relax in the knowledge that you are in good hands and that you are worthy of receiving this loving embrace.
This card means material abundance and fertility. It also indicates balance and stability in one's life. The empress is an open person and is able to be fair in most situations. For those in the arts your dream of creative projects will be realised.
New ideas and projects will be implemented resulting in the success of all your projects and interests. It is symbolic of marriage and represents a feminine figure. You are discontented because something is missing or lacking in your life, or because you want to find something creative, meaningful or fulfilling to do, but you don't know what. This is not a time to think, act or do. You're already overloaded and mental pursuits will not give you what you need. Further attempts to follow your intellect or reasoning mind will only cause frustration or lead you astray.
Creativity. You need to give birth to something that has never been. To do so, tap your creative potential. Be as gentle to yourself and your new creation as you would be to an infant. Enjoy the riches of nature and the natural world.
Your endeavours quicken in the womb, ripen and bear fruit; you are blessed by maternal, protective forces or influences. You are grounded in the material plane, which is a stabilising influence, yet you can reach into higher planes of consciousness.
The wisdom of the feminine principle in life is at work in your life. Open to the fertility of the land and find abundance in your life. Allow creativity to flow through you. A call to return to nature. In quiet meditation, open to the stars above your head to receive the wisdom of Goddess. Align with your inner child and find bliss.
Pregnant with ideas. New life and possibilities. Abundance and fruitfulness. Need to pay attention to nature. Need to warm up and be open to new situations. Compassion and tolerance are in the forefront. Grounding your energies. Create beauty and grace in your everyday life. Paying attention to the energy and growth of a situation.
Affirmation, "I bring forth my creations with joy. I love and nurture them to fruition."
Empress can indicate pregnancy and fertility. Being the passionate, caring, feeling counterpart of the male Emperor, the female Empress stresses the qualities of nurturing, growth and feeling. She senses things, she appreciates the beauty in the simply things in life. She is comfortable with nature. She is patient, she follows only the cycles of the Universe (she leaves the rules up to the Emperor). She watches the seasons change, the tides come and go, the moon change through Maiden, Mother, Crone. And she feels for each moment, she can reach out and understand each moment, each changing cycle, and knows that one day, we will face this cycle again. She is wise.
Empress - Reversed Tarot Card Meanings
Reversed, the Empress suggests a loss of personal power through placing too much emphasis on another person's emotional or material needs, thus neglecting one's own. The reversed position of this card deals with indecisiveness concerning others and confusion about the direction a relationship may be taking. You may also be finding it difficult to work cooperatively with others. As the reason for this lack of harmony is likely to be within yourself; introspection is called for.
Alternatively, you may be becoming like the smothering, demanding mother. Are you 'mothering' your partner, friends, or family too much? Be careful not to overdraw on the characteristics of the upright Empress. You may need to return to the High Priestess who listens to her inner psyche for the answers.
