Tarot Study: The Empress

[mudweed]

Sorry for the little break, folks. I went on vacation! :yayhawaii

On to the next card: this one is the Empress. As usual, start out just looking at this card, and paying attention to any colors that particularly catch your eye, what the figures seem to be saying or what attitudes they might represent, etc. Are there any symbols, overt or otherwise, that catch your eye? Are there some details in there that perhaps you've previously overlooked? Spend the time to really see the card.

[Gigi]

The Empress shows me comfort. Her facial expression is more relaxed and happy. She is content with her people. Behind her there are many trees that look dark and dying, but there is one tree that flourishes. She is happy for that one tree. Also there is a stream of water running through the forest in the background. I feel that this stream exists because of the Empress. She built it there where the one tree is flourishing. This makes her happy.

Her robe has the fruit again, symbolizing that she is from another realm. This is the fruit, which she eats, just like the god/goddesses. Therefore, she is divine, or is appreciated by the higher powers. Her crown is made of stars. This also symbolizes her divinity.

She is seated on cushions, which displays her comfort in her status. She is very feminine, and I take great comfort in that. I trust in her rule.

Surrounding cards would be very useful when reading this card because I feel that it will tell me when something is going right. It says relax, the Empress is watching out for you, and you will flourish.

[Dryad's Wyrd]

Freak out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't find my deck! Going to go search for it!

[Dryad's Wyrd]

I finally found them.........whew! Coming down from a freak out.
Anyway! I am using The Witches Tarot, as usual. In the empress card of this deck, the empress is very visibly pregnant, denoting all the possibilites at hand and the time of fruitation drawing near. A pendant with the woman's symbol falls between her breasts, maybe to acknowledge that she is in touch and confident in her femininity, sexuality, and female energies. She is lounging in a lush green meadow covered in pink and white daisies with a white daisy in her hand. To me this speakes of her complete trust and confidence in life's natural cycles.......she seems to have the presence of "go with the flow of things" around her. She is sitting between two semi-circles, one black and the other grey. It appears that in her trust of life she also recognizes the darker side of nature, the mysterious side of the world, and from her expression she is comfortable with that. This hints to me a bit of the High Priestess. An inner knowing of the mysteries, a knowledge beyond her young years. In the bright blue sky behind the Empress, the sun in shining radiently in the left, but the moon is also glowing to the right. I believe that this represents a ballance within her.....of male and female energies. To me, it seems that she is totally at one with the world around her as well as her spiritual side.
Love & Light,
D

[moonmorgan]

I'd like to jump in if I may. I just saw the Tarot Study.

Gigi mentioned her robe had fruit on it. But are you sure? It could be strawberries, or ladybugs, or decorative balls. In the three books of Tarot I have, in all their descriptions, not one mentions what her dress has on it.

Dryad's Wyrd said in her deck, the Empress is pregnant. In the Rider deck, she does not look visibly pregnant yet in one of the books by Eden Gray that came with my set says under description:
A matronly woman, suggesting one who is about to be a mother, is seated in a fertile garden.

One of the dinivinatory meanings according to my books include fertility to would be parents. So how come she is not visibly pregnant?

Gigi also said:
>Behind her there are many trees that look dark and dying, but there is one tree that flourishes.

But the way I look at it is that one tree is decidious (leafy) and the others are just coniferous (evergreens). If this card means fertility and even mentions fertile ground, it would seem to ,me that there are no dead trees in this picture.

Getting away from my books now and just looking, I notice what she has in her hand (a sceptre according to the book), her wreath on her head which I thought looked like stars (myrtle accordiing to book) and her dress which I already said, I can't decide what's on it. Also the heart shaped stone with the female symbol on it (Venus according to the book.)

Those are the things that stick out to me. I"d say that the colour yellow sticks out for me but the rider tarot deck is mainly yellow so that means nothing.

These are just mine and my books interpretations so if I sounded like I was knocking down someone's interpretation, I did not mean to. I don't know how many are doing this Tarot Study but I have always had a hard time with the Tarot and look forward to what others say.

[Gigi]

So that everyone knows, do not take my words literally. I don't know anything about the Tarot cards and am learning along just now thanks to mudweed posting this thread. I have not studied any of the cards previously; my first impression of the cards is what is being written. Nothing what I say has to do with books, or following the guidelines from the manual in the cards. I go strictly on my intuition, which I am trying to develop into a stronger, truthful guide for myself.

What I was doing was letting my intuition guide me, along with the picture I see. But unfortunately, I don't know too much of the symbols meaning. Correct me at any time, so I learn from you.



Gigi mentioned her robe had fruit on it. But are you sure? It could be strawberries, or ladybugs, or decorative balls. In the three books of Tarot I have, in all their descriptions, not one mentions what her dress has on it.



You're right I don't know what it's actually supposed to be, when I looked at it, they looked like fruits to me. And if I'm not mistaken someone wrote that these were fruits of gods/goddesses, but I don't recall who posted it.

I do believe that every symbol and image has great significance to the card. I'm surprised the books don't mention it, especially since it's all over her gown.




Gigi also said:
>Behind her there are many trees that look dark and dying, but there is one tree that flourishes.



To me when I first looked I saw dark and dying trees, and I noticed the tree full of leaves. This was my first impression. I will look into the meaning of the cards later, and see what is written in the books about them.

Thank you for sharing! :chatty:

[Faery-Wings]

For some reason, I thought that the fruit on her gown was pomegranites. The veil from the High Priestess connects to the Empress's gown... please don't quote me on that , cuz I don't remember where I read that. Or if my imagination is just making it up.
:)

I looooooove the Empress card. It is rich and ripe and bursting with energy. The reds and yellows are vibrant.The green trees are lush and at the peak of growth. The red of her throne is royal energy. The wheat at the bottom symbolizes growth. It also symbolizes gifts from the Mother.
The Empress, to me, is Demeter, whom I consider to be my Matron. So that is why I see grain as a gift.
There is love, with the hrearts on the shield and the yellow is inspiration and intelligence. The crown shows wisdom.

This is from the U Waite deck. I'll do the Celtic dragon one next. Gotta scan the card!

[Faery-Wings]

Celtic Dragon Empress~I love this card! The Empress is part of the woods, her gown flows and become the water and Earth beneath her. The roses she carries represent life, and fertilty. As most of the other Empresses, she is pregnant. She is at one, and at peace with Nature around her. She laughs lovingly with the dragon who is breathing life's energy towards her. This is a Mother Goddess card too- it shows that we are blessed.

[mudweed]

Moonmorgan, thanks for joining in. Mostly the way I've been suggesting we go about it is to look in depth at the card without the benefit of books first, as Gigi said, to develop our intuition about the cards and discover personally meaningful symbolism. As we move on in the discussion, we have usually gotten eventually to the book stuff. But there is no set method. I'm totally playing it by ear.

As far as the fruit on the empress' robe, I also thought that it looked like the pomegranates that were also on the high priestess' ... curtain? Gigi, I've always thought of the myth of Kore/Persephone when I see pomegranates. Remember when she was taken into the underworld by Hades, she ate six pomegranate seeds, and thus stays there for 6 months of the year, returning fertility to the earth when she returns to the surface and to her mother Demeter.

The associations, therefore, seem twofold to me... both a reminder of the intuitive power of the high priestess, and an allusion to the promise of spring's return with bounty and fertility.

[Rowan MoonDragon]

ok. becasue of the woman being pregnant, this means to me growth and reproduction. The fruit on her dress ( I also heard it was pomigranites) means fruitfulness. these items could also mean a fruitful union or partnership. the stars in her "crown" mean to me a realization or creativity, like a light bulb going off.

[AquariusWolf]

Mudweed, are we allowed to jump into the conversation? :)

I agree with everyone else on this thread - The Empress represents abundance, motherhood, fortune, pregnancy, and life. But if you look at the Robin Wood deck, The Empress looks somewhat older and wiser. She is also shown with a spinning wheel, which symbolizes creativity. Does anyone else use this deck? What do you think about her?

[Gigi]

Moonmorgan, thanks for joining in. Mostly the way I've been suggesting we go about it is to look in depth at the card without the benefit of books first, as Gigi said, to develop our intuition about the cards and discover personally meaningful symbolism. As we move on in the discussion, we have usually gotten eventually to the book stuff. But there is no set method. I'm totally playing it by ear.

As far as the fruit on the empress' robe, I also thought that it looked like the pomegranates that were also on the high priestess' ... curtain? Gigi, I've always thought of the myth of Kore/Persephone when I see pomegranates. Remember when she was taken into the underworld by Hades, she ate six pomegranate seeds, and thus stays there for 6 months of the year, returning fertility to the earth when she returns to the surface and to her mother Demeter.

The associations, therefore, seem twofold to me... both a reminder of the intuitive power of the high priestess, and an allusion to the promise of spring's return with bounty and fertility.

Thanks for letting me know about the pomegranate seeds. I did not know what it was. I am familiar with the story of Persephone. I'm trying to learn about all this symbology, it is so important for me to understand them to read the cards properly. I really got myself in a huge task taking this class, and I love it. Thanks!

[Gigi]

Celtic Dragon Empress~I love this card! The Empress is part of the woods, her gown flows and become the water and Earth beneath her. The roses she carries represent life, and fertilty. As most of the other Empresses, she is pregnant. She is at one, and at peace with Nature around her. She laughs lovingly with the dragon who is breathing life's energy towards her. This is a Mother Goddess card too- it shows that we are blessed.

I must definitely get this deck. From your online attachment I get a sense of tranquility. She is one with all the creatures of nature, and with the earth. I would feel like going to her for comfort, and would love to see the surrounding cards for guidance. She can represent fertility, motherhood, guidance, finding your roots, a sense of home. In the forest she seems so at home with everything, and I also noticed how the gown becomes part of the earth.

Can you tell me what the symbol on the rock means? It's like a swirl. I feel like it's energy flowing in and out from the rock. Anyone care to explain this symbol?

[Eowyn]

Just jumping in here... I thought I joined this Tarot study thing a few weeks ago but I havent really found where it was so.... Here I am. (Im taking my point of view from my tarot deck The Tarots of the Sphynx)

The Empress card is a beautiful card. Since my whole desk is kinda mellow colors and there's just maybe yellow, orange, white, black, red and green there's nothing that really makes the Empress card stand out.

It's a good card. She's taking care of some plant and she looks really determant over her she got some symbols and they are one of the most colorful ones. The Empress gives out some sort of feminine, motherlike enegry. She seems to be comfortable just being where she is but welcomes change, if it comes. I never really thought of how a beautiful card this one is...

[Faery-Wings]

Can you tell me what the symbol on the rock means? It's like a swirl. I feel like it's energy flowing in and out from the rock. Anyone care to explain this symbol?

According to the book that comes with the deck (which is very good, BTW), the spirals represent spirituality. I also tend to associate spirals with the Goddess. For me, in this card, the spirals would show a connection of the Earth Godess/Empress and spiritual guidance, growth, and nurturing.

[mudweed]

Thanks for jumping (back) in AW and Eowyn. :) (PS, Eowyn, it's easiest to find through the Tarot Portal within the Tarot Forum)

Now for my own little Empress thing. I'm slack on my own thread. :rolleyes: The empress doesn't seem to get as much discussion as the Fool and Magician, does it? :D

World Spirit Tarot:

My Empress lounges bare-breasted in a place of great beauty: verdant fields, a flowering tree, a waterfall and clear blue pool surrounded by cattails.You can't tell in the picture, I'm sure, but her crown is covered in little purple stars. In one of her hands she holds a crooked staff, and in the other a flower, which I see as a lotus, to follow the somewhat egyptian theme of the card. At her feet lie a balance, an avocado, a flail, and a basket of ripe fruit. In the tree above her head, a serpent coils, and birds fly overhead.

The empress is very comfortable with her body, and since the avocado is an aphrodisiac, I extend that to mean she is comfortable with her sexuality, and with her femininity (the serpent). Overall the scene is fertile, and welcoming, but the Empress also has a lot of personal power: she holds it in her staff, and the flail shows that she is not all softness and kindness. She can be stern if the situation requires it of her.

Fecundity, fertility, creativity, personal (feminine) power... all are messages I get from this card.

[mudweed]

Keep in mind that I select some of these meanings because they do deviate from the norm: I prefer to encourage thought and discussion, and in my personal use of the tarot, I find using only "traditional" meanings a bit boring. :)

growth and abundance of good things
people who use their resources to create beauty/ harmony
feminine power and authority
traditional feminine values
rejecting superficial standards of beauty
fertility/ pregnancy
matriarchal roles/ mother figures
parenting issues
love, passion, romance, family life
ideal woman/ anima
the earth
self-indulgence
good health

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling (which is not too bad for an Idiot's Guide) lists archetypes for the cards. I'll go back and put some in for the other cards, too. They're fairly amusing.
*Auntie Em
*Princess Leia
*Mother Teresa
*Your Mom

"I am a fertile garden in which creativity can be nurtured to fruition."

[Aidron]

The Empress (again posted by chryssi1) evokes a sensation of joy, tenderness, motherhood, and caring.

The Empress is adorned in an extravagant blue robe with golden floral designs all over. She also wears a red cloak with various crescent moons and stars upon it, with yellow edging. The blue symbolizes wisdom, tranquility, and tenderness. The red vitality, robustness, and life. The yellow creativity and wisdom. Her robes have a rather long trail as well, so long in fact they go right out of the picture, which signifies an endlessness to the tenderness and caring nature she represents. Her golden-brown hair is put up into a bun, though most hangs down, which in turn signifies to me the 'growing' nature of this card, from the child growing within her to the way she nurtures all things. The crown upon her head reminds of an earthly dignity. She is humble and sweet, yet a remarkable woman in her own right.

Upon her left shoulder sits a small green dragon, no doubt a companion. I imagine her caring for it just as she would a child, for her motherly instincts know no bounds. In her hands she holds a bouquet of red roses, symbolic of life, vitality, and a sensual loving nature.

She stands up against a large tree with what I imagine to be a pond or lake before her. The water signifies life, for all life requires water in order to thrive to some degree, so she stands by it to remind herself of that. Upon the embankment sits a white dragon with a joyful look upon its face equal to that of The Empress herself. The dragon too is an expecting mother, cradling her eggs underneath her in a protective and loving manner. I imagine that The Empress and dragon are two old friends, and The Empress visits her often to jest, talk to, and share in the joy of motherhood and of being a caretaker. They share wisdom and support one another, much as any two close friends would. Though, in my mind's eye I see The Empress even looking after the expectant dragon mother as she does all other creatures to a degree, for it is so part of her very nature she can only embrace it.

Key words & phrases I associate with The Empress:

Motherhood
Creativity
Tenderness and caring
Joyfulness
Feminine/Goddess influences
Life and rebirth
Nurturing
Mother Figure
Goddess influences/energies
Beauty
Misuse of motherly influence
A lack of acceptance toward a motherly role
Refusal to nurture that which needs you

[Shatril]

"During the French Revolution, all hints of royalty were edited from the cards, so this card was shown with the crown and shield removed and Empress was re-titled The Grandmother. Other names are Madonna, Great Mother, Queen of Heaven." 1

She is a depiction of the great mother. She is identified with Venus, symbolizing as warmth and passion. The Empress represents the more mature version of the Goddess while the High Priestess is considered the virginal, yet one in the same. In the U Waite the crown of 12 stars represent the signs of the Zodiac.

In the reading she symbolizes times of prosperity and Joy. She stands for fertility, security, reassurance, love, material comfort and someone to share it with. She often symbolizes pregnancy. May symbolize moving to a new house, especially if you enjoy decorating, and are moving to surround yourself with beautiful things. I may also symbolize an opportunity to use your creativity.

The Jung interpretation is very lengthy so I will only be giving a brief description. The comparison of the High Priestess and Empress is heavily emphasized in the description in the following manner:

"The High Priestess is virgin; the Empress is Madonna and Royal Queen
The High Priestess serves the Spirit; The Empress fulfills the spirit.
The Priestess is patience and passive waiting; the Empress action and completion
The Priestess is ruled by love; the Empress rules by love
The Priestess guards something old; the Empress reveals something new. In short the Priestess holds the book of prophecy, and the Empress fulfills that prophecy" 2

The function of the number three is reflected in all the sets of trinities; Father, son, holy spirit; Maiden, Mother, Crone; past, present, future. In all of these the third acts as an equalizing factor, combining the “parent numbers” in the completely new reality.

As an Archetype the Empress-woman herself is often an unconscious as others of her powers. They are activists for change, and people will follow them because of their charisma. Often a patroness of the arts. She can smoother you with her personality, and thinks everyone should share her enthusiasm.

1 Tarot Mysteries: Rediscovering the Real Meanings of the Cards—Jonathan Dee
2 Jung and Tarot, An Archetypal Journey—Sallie Nichols

[Flaire]

Lessee what I can come up with here. :)

Fisrt of all the background/scenery - The main things that I notice are the fields in front of the Empress and the waterfall to her side. I'm not sure, but it looks almost as if the fields are ready to be harvested. (But I'm not really a farmer, so I'm just guessing. ;) )
The waterfall, on the otherhand, strikes me as a thing of beauty, like the Empress herself.
The scenery in the card lies heavily on the Earth, further reminding me of the femininity of it. (Can you tell I spend a lot of time with scenery?)

The Empress herself, in this deck, looks to be more like a younger woman, rather than the mother that I have seen in other decks. (I'm using R-W) What she is sitting on looks very lavish and extravagent, as if she is put up higher than the grounds around her. She is a woman of higher power, and should be looked up to.


Onto my confusion:
I always thought her robes had strawberries on them too. :lol: Thanks for clearning that up.
I am confused, though, about her headdress and what she holds in her hand. :huh: