THE EMPRESS
Meaning and description of the Empress
The Empress is the archetypal mother of the Earth, the Anima, the feminine principle, Demeter, Freyja and the Goddess of Fertility. Ruled by Venus, the planet of love, creativity, fertility, art, harmony, luxury, beauty and grace.
The main feature of this card is the Empress herself, a full-figured woman with blonde hair and an aura of peace and tranquility around her. On her head she wears a crown of stars, showing her connection to the mystical realm of angels and fairies. She is dressed in a robe printed with pomegranates, a symbol of fertility and is sitting on a luxuriously cushioned and flowing range of red velvet with the symbol of Venus printed on it.
The Empress is surrounded by a beautiful lush forest, with a stream running through it, demonstrating the Empress' deep emotional connection to Mother Earth and life. She draws her sense of peace from the trees and water and is rejuvenated by the energy of nature. In the foreground, golden wheat springs from the ground, reflecting the abundance of a recent harvest.
Meaning of The Empress in a spread
The empress shows a deep connection with our femininity. Femininity translates into many aspects – beauty, sensuality, fertility, creative expression, nurturing – and is necessary in creating balance in both men and women. The empress asks you to connect with your feminine energy. Create beauty in your life. Get in touch with your sensuality through taste, touch, hearing, smell and sight. Draw in these senses to experience pleasure and deep satisfaction. Treat yourself to a spa day, learn massage, indulge in a culinary experience, or simply spend more time with your partner. Discover new ways to creatively express yourself, whether through painting, music, theater, or other art forms. This may be the perfect time to take up a new hobby that allows you to access this part of yourself.
The empress It can also indicate pregnancy or childbirth. Look at other cards in the reading to confirm whether this is an actual pregnancy or birth (e.g., the Ace of Cups or the Four of Wands) or whether it is metaphorical (e.g., the Ace of Wands). On a metaphorical level, the Empress can represent the birth of a new idea, a product, or a new way of being. New ideas and projects will be executed resulting in the success of all your projects and interests. Do those ideas that have been growing and developing within you.
The Empress invites you to spend time in nature. Use your vacation time not to stay in luxury hotels in busy cities, but to explore nature by pitching a tent or hiking through its beautiful terrain. Allow yourself the time and space to enter a different state of mind where you can truly connect with Mother Earth and welcome her into your heart and mind. Take a trip to your favorite natural environment, whether it be a forest, beach, mountain or lake and simply sit for a few minutes, hours or even days to breathe in the energy that surrounds you while marveling at the beauty of the earth. . The empress It highlights that it is connected to the earth on the material plane (a stabilizing influence), but you can reach higher planes of consciousness through your connection with nature. You have the potential to connect between Earth and the Universe.
The Empress It is a deeply nurturing and caring card. If you are a mother yourself, you may study the role of your «mother» even more deeply than you have before and truly appreciate the gift she has bestowed upon you. You are blessed by maternal protective forces or influences. For parents, the empress encourages you to care for your children and open the lines of communication between you and your child. Encourage the growth and development of your children, and be there to support and guide when necessary.
In more general terms, the empress invites you to connect with others by nurturing, caring and supporting those around you. Find ways to support dialogue and open communication, creating space to openly express your feelings.
When we allow ourselves to truly experience connections with Mother Earth, our femininity, and those around us, we create abundance and splendor in our lives. Take a moment to reflect on the love that surrounds you and harness this energy to create even more abundant love in your life. You must know that love has no limits. A wonderful statement associated with the empress is: «I will bring out my creations with joy. I love them and nurture them to fruition.»
In the same way, the empress indicates that universal energy is about to intervene in your life. It may be enough to give you an idea of a miracle or it may be even more. You may or may not know who or what brings such good fortune, but the care and nurturing that will prove to be no coincidence. What appears to be a good luck coincidence may actually be the result of a series of good choices you have made. It's your turn to make things work in your favor, to be blessed and feel nourished. Know that you are worthy of receiving this loving hug.
THE INVERTED EMPRESS
inverted, the empress It suggests a loss of personal power through placing too much emphasis on another person's emotional or material needs, thereby neglecting your own. The inverted position of this card deals with indecision regarding others and confusion about the direction a relationship may be taking. You may also find it difficult to work cooperatively with others. The reason for this disharmony is likely to be within you and therefore introspection is required.
In a reading of the relationship, the empress Reversed suggests that you feel very challenged because you do not have an outlet to express your true thoughts and feelings and that you are forced to bottle a lot of that inside. Do you have a friend you can trust? You need to share your feelings with someone so that you can understand them and be in touch with your inner self. This card may also suggest a dependence on other people's feelings, indicating that you may be playing a waiting game now to see how your partner reacts and what emotion he/she shows. It is best not to do this, but Instead work through your own emotions regardless of who he or she is.
If you are struggling in a relationship, the first step for you is to take some time for yourself in order to restore your energy levels and your self-confidence. Unfortunately, your past relationships have affected the way you view yourself and your ability to truly love and trust another person. As a result, you may doubt your inner beauty and lose your source of inspiration for creating beautiful loving relationships.
You can also be overprotective of someone you love and this is forcing your relationship. Keep in mind that you are not becoming a suffocating, demanding mother. Are you too 'motherly' to your partner, friends or family? Be careful not to overdraw on the features of the empress in vertical position. You may have to follow the example of the priestess who listens to his inner psyche for answers.
In more general terms, the empress Reversed indicates that you feel discontent because something is missing or missing in your life, or because you want to find something creative, meaningful or fulfilling to do, but you don't know what. This card may indicate a creative block. You can find your mood if you are depressed or negative. Work can feel laborious and mundane. This is not a time to think, act or do. You are already overloaded and mental activities will not give you what you need. Other attempts to follow your intellect or rational mind will only cause frustration or lead you astray.
The empress Inverted can also indicate problems with pregnancy, whether it is infertility or an unwanted pregnancy.