The Empress – Tarot

This card has generally been very consistent. It features a female ruler. Even as far back as the Visconti-Sforza deck she has a shield with her while her male counter part the Emperor has the globe. In Smith-Waite-Rider’s deck she also holds a wand with a globe on the end and her shield rests on the floor.

Interpretation

Crown of stars

Her head play home to 12 stars representing the 12 signs of the zodiac. This shows her rulership is complete in nature. She is governing all parts in all ways. It also can represent the 12 months of the year and her rulership provides growth, fruit, decay and renewal. Eliphas Levi describes this card as Venus-Urania of the Greeks in the book of revelations as “the Woman clothed with the Sun, crowned with twelve stars and having the moon beneath her feet.” The moon has been instead put on the previous card, the High Priestess which is associated with Gimel and therefore is associated with the Moon.

Leaves and Dalet – Venus

The leaves that surround her head could be like those around Caesar’s indicating the power of her office over her Empire. They also might be myrtle leaves which are sacred to Venus and often worn by brides on their wedding day.

Her card is associated with the Hebrew letter Gimel, which is one of the double letters associated with planets. Gimel is often associated with Venus so The Empress has a connection to Venus. As a planet Venus governs Love, Social interaction, Values, desire and sensuality.

Wand with Globe

The Globe on the end of her wand indicates her rulership is over the whole world. The description given by Eliphas Levi in his Doctrine of High Magic which was translated by Waite before commisioning this tarot, was that she carries “the sceptre with the orb of the world at its end”.

Wearing the Veil

According to Waite, she is wearing the same cloth which appeared as the Veil of Paroketh in the Moon card. I actually disagree it looks quite different and could even just be pomegranates whereas the veil appears to include palm trees. Some identify the palm trees with the male so perhaps here we have the secrets of the divine but only the feminine half. Maybe she seeks a male half to complete her secrets so she can walk the path of the High Priestess.

Her Throne

Her throne is of great luxury. The emperor has a strict upright chair for giving commands and the Empress’s throne by comparison is almost on a chaîse-long for relaxing and enjoying the life her rulership gives her. While his throne appears on hewn rock, hers is among nature.

Shield

She has with her the shield which represents her defensive nature. As an empress, she defends her territory but does not advance. Also, we are reminded of her connection with Venus by a clear depiction of the symbol for Venus and the metal copper, which appears on the shield.

Field of Corn and Background

The Empresses is depicted in the cornfield. Waite likens her to Eden on Earth. In his Pictorial Key to the Tarot, he calls this card a gateway to the garden of Venus and to life. The corn is growing well and producing plants for collection and behind her is a beautiful river and tall trees which grow in her land. The peace she brings is fruitful.

Interpretation when reading

When reading each card I tell myself a short story and see which aspects of the story come alive for me.

This card symbolises a peace, potentially a defended peace which brings fruit and fertility. This peace gives respite for socialising to occur and sometimes for love to develop.

The Tarot

This is part of the Tarot Section.