| Contact | Email Alerts | RSS

An Interpretation: The Meaning of The Empress Tarot Card

2009 July 3

by aurarcana

This is my initial interpretation of The Empress Tarot card.

Tarot Deck: Universal Waite Tarot

Universal Waite Tarot © US Games Systems, Inc.

The imagery in The Empress card denotes life, growth and themes of nature versus nurture.

The Empress appears relaxed sitting on plush pillows that are a mix of bold colors–which symbolize strength and creativity–and natural-toned colors–which symbolize earth and the growth, both spiritual and physical.

She is wearing a white gown, which symbolizes purity, femininity, virginity, fertility and sexuality. The Pomegranate seeds that decorate her gown, can be compared to the pomegranate seeds that appear on the tapestry/wall in The High Priestess Tarot card. The Pomegranate seeds represent fertility and the cycles of life. The gown is flowing, but has a drape-like quality. The profile view of the body of The Empress gives slightly toward her abdomen, perhaps disclosing pregnancy–again, a symbol of fertility and the life cycle.

There are several astrological symbols in this Tarot card. She is holding a gold wand with an orb/scepter–an astrology symbol that denotes power–as does the color gold. She wears a gold crown comprised of twelve stars, representative of the twelve zodiac symbols which stand for the twelve months in a calendar/year; and the twelve hours of the morning and night. The pearl worn on her neck has nine pearls, which represent the nine planets in the solar system.

There are several nature themes in both the background and forefront. A forest has trees of various stages of life. A waterfall–representing the source of growth, fertility, motherhood, and pure untainted emotions–cascades through the forest into the forefront, where there is a field of what appears to be bountiful wheat–a symbol of sources for growth.

The images used here are symbolic metaphors for the cycles that occur in everyday life.

Yellow is a warm color and shades the background of this card and denotes growth, enlightenment and creativity.

Possible Meanings in a Tarot Reading:

In a Tarot reading, The Empress represents endless positivity and love. There may a talent that you have, or a new creative venture on the horizon, or a relationship that has crossed the next stage and developed into something more (a marriage, a new relationship). Themes of fertility can also call attention to pregnancy–the start of new life. This Tarot card represents pure emotion and creativity–untainted and free flowing.

The true lesson, is to remember that there are cycles to all of these stages, and they all need balance. Without balance, there is lack of control. One must learn to thrive at the right times, and one must also learn to let go and move on as well.

Symbolism: