Post by Senbecc on Mar 16, 2007 16:46:57 GMT -5
The Empress
This woman has a position of power and authority. It may be expressed in the home or as head of a business empire. She is commanding and forthright. She makes wise choices based on all the information she can gather. She is the eternal mother. Her maternal instincts are exceptionally well developed and she may play the "mothering" role in various aspects of her life. She "likes" to look after people, it comes naturally to her. She is the nurturer and the provider. She is sensitive and understanding, gentle and compassionate. She has a soft heart and is always at the ready when needed or if there is an emergency. She loves to feel needed. She is highly intuitive, romantic, and emotional. She is easily moved to tears, yet is mature in her outlook. She is strong, warm and affectionate. Giving hugs is her forte. Her passion is looking after people and their needs. Her soul has been directed to the caring of humanity. The roles she could involve herself in are mother, nurturer, counsellor, adviser, or in charge of any industry involved with humanitarian or charitable functions such as orphanages, whether large or small. She is the one who guides and instructs and cares for anyone who asks. This gives her enormous emotional fulfilment and Satisfaction. The Empress is generous and kind hearted. She is incredibly resourceful and has has learnt the skills along the way to build her own nest egg. In her prime and the latter part of her life she will have abundance and comforts. Her home decorating tastes become more luxurious as she gets older. In the meantime she focusses on making her home warm and welcoming. She is ever ready to make anyone a cup of tea and help them relax and unwind. This woman cares about her appearance and may fuss over her hair, clothes and/or makeup. She likes to be pampered and may go to great lengths to achieve this, whether soaking in a bath, having massages, facials etc. She would like the good things in life, good food, good wine and plenty of socialising. Dinner by candlelight would be the way she would prefer to have her meals, with good company and conversation. The Empress is also practical and logical in her outlook and generally tends to stick to her decisions after careful consideration. She can be analytical, but not to the point of taking too long to make up her mind. She is the kind of person you can take your troubles to and she will listen carefully and compassionately to your woes. Her advice, when sought, is wise and well thought out. She does not offer advice unless asked as she knows only too well that people may only want someone to talk to, to air their feelings with and that may be all they really need. She may have gifts in the arts or she could love sewing, knitting or other needlework as she enjoys making beautiful yet practical items. She may dabble in various hobbies until she finds the one or two which she enjoys the most. She probably has very soft hands, despite always keeping them busy. She likes to hug people and make them feel wanted. If this card represents some elements of yourself yet you are still quite young, you can look forward to a lovely future as you grow into becoming the Empress. Your life will prosper and you will get most of your needs met, yet give out an abundance of love and caring to many others over the years. If you are not the Empress, then this person is either a close friend or relative, or you are just about to meet her. She will welcome you on first meeting as if you are already old friends. If you are a mature woman, the Empress could become your next best friend. If you are a male, the Empress may become your friend, lover or wife. This can also mean that you are entering a time of prosperity and abundance. Good luck and opportunities may literally just drop in your lap.
www.newagestore.com/research/TarotReference/Default.asp?Card=4
The Empress tarot card sits at number 3.
The Empress is Mother Nature. She is the life force that gives birth to all creation. She is abundant and fruitful. Everything in life is born through her.
In a reading she is nature itself and symbolises the client’s ability to connect with the planet on which we dwell. She therefore gives a love of plants and a propensity towards gardening and the arts when chosen in connection to career path.
She depicts the true nature with which we are born. When well placed during a reading she indicates that the questioner is using their talents to the full, and when reversed she indicates the opposite. Thus she symbolises a block to using ones inherent gifts and an inability to reach full creative potential.
The Empress also symbolises birth itself. Many women come for a reading to ask about pregnancy and future children. The Empress indicates easy childbirth and fertility, but only the High Priestess will show conception.
The Empress also depicts any project that we wish to give birth to, whether it be a business venture or a house move.
She is the creative power within us all.
www.toniallen.co.uk/theempress.html
Basic Tarot Symbols
A gown decorated with pomegranates, a crown of stars, a rod, a heart-shaped shield with the symbol for Venus, a field of ripe wheat.
Basic Tarot Story
Having decided what shape his future will take, the Fool strides forward. But he is impatient to make his future a full-grown reality. This is when he comes upon the Empress. Hair gold as wheat, a crown of stars, a white gown dotted with pomegranates. She rests back on her throne surrounded by an abundance of grain and a lush garden. It is possible that she is pregnant.*
Kneeling, the Fool relates to her his story. And she, in turn, smiles a motherly smile and gently gives him this advice: "Like newly planted grain or a child in the womb, a new life, a new love, a new creation is fragile. It requires fertile soil, patience and nurturing, it needs love and attention. Only this will bring it to fruition." Understanding at last that his future will take time to build and create, the Fool thanks the Empress and continues on his way.
* Pregnant. Well, not in the Rider-Waite deck she isn't. But she is in early decks, and it is an apt symbol for this card.
Basic Tarot Meaning
The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.
Thirteen's Observations
The Empress card is one of the easier trumps to read. She's Mother. Generally, Mother in a good sense. Patient, loving, giving, generous. If defining her as the Querent, you can say that they are currently feeling like a mother hen, worried about their children, new business, new creation, new romance. Male or female, they want to dote and hover and fret over every little sneeze and problem. If defining the Empress as someone related to the Querent, well, it might well be the Querent's Mom, or a woman who's very motherly toward them.
Of course, the Empress can also be the worst aspects of an attentive Mom; she can smother, not know when to let go, be possessive and jealous of those who would take away her "baby." It is important for the Querent to realize that plants can die from over-watering as easily as neglect.
This card tells the Querent that if they want their new romance, new career, new business, new creation to grow into all it can be they have to pay attention to it, baby it and be willing to let it take those first steps when it is ready. Most of all, like any pregnant mother or good gardener, they have to be patient. All things need time to gestate and sprout.
www.aeclectic.net/basics/empress.shtml