| The Empress is the fourth card in the tarot deck's | | | | of Heaven and Earth and all of the symbols included |
| Major Arcana. The number associated with her is | | | | in her tarot portrayal support this. She is the very |
| three, as at her core level she is the point at which | | | | heartbeat of the earth and of all life. She is the divine |
| the sequence of the tarot begins to deal with the | | | | potential represented by the cards that came before |
| relationship between the spirit, mind, and body. The | | | | made real and tangible. |
| Empress herself can be said to represent the last of | | | | When the Empress makes an appearance in a tarot |
| these three - the body, as well as the world of the | | | | spread, she is relatively easy to interpret. When |
| physical at large. | | | | representing someone other than the querent, she is |
| As a matter of fact, we can go one step further | | | | almost always going to stand for a mother figure. If |
| than saying that the Empress represents the physical | | | | she's not the actual mother, then she is very likely |
| world. In many ways she actually is this very world | | | | someone who plays a similar role for the querent in |
| and all that makes it what it is. She is wealth, sensory | | | | one way or another. If the Empress is situated in |
| pleasure, and prosperity in all their many forms as | | | | such a way that she represents the querent herself, |
| well. The world she lives in is our world exactly as it | | | | then it should be taken to mean that she is at a |
| was meant to be - ideal, beautiful, and bountiful. As | | | | point in her life when she's feeling somewhat |
| such, she is also said to be a representation of | | | | maternal, although this does not have to be in a |
| motherhood, nature and the creation of life. She is, | | | | traditional sense that revolves around children. She |
| quite simply, abundance in all its many forms. | | | | may also be feeling protective or "motherly" in |
| The figure of the Empress is traditionally portrayed | | | | regards to a new business venture or a new |
| as a young, beautiful woman reclining in a natural | | | | relationship. |
| setting that is the very picture of the fruitful earth | | | | When the Empress decides to make an appearance, |
| she is meant to represent. Her attire is regal in nature | | | | the message she sends is to take into consideration |
| - very much the vestment of an Empress - and | | | | all the lessons that she teaches. Whether the |
| includes richly embroidered robes, a diadem, and a | | | | situation in question involves a new business, a life |
| scepter. Next to her couch rests a shield bearing the | | | | change, or an actual baby, the Empress reminds us - |
| symbol of Venus, highlighting her connection to the | | | | whether we're male or female - that if it is to thrive, |
| concepts of desire and love. Behind her, a field full of | | | | it must be cared for, tended carefully, and nurtured |
| corn is ripening and becoming golden in the sun while | | | | until it reaches that next stage. However, it's also |
| a waterfall flows in the distance to represent fertility | | | | important to note that it's perfectly possible to be |
| and life force. In some tarot representations, the | | | | too protective. Too much care, attention, and |
| Empress is also very appropriately depicted as | | | | nurturing could smother the potential of the project |
| pregnant. | | | | in question before it ever has a chance to realize its |
| The Empress is often described as someone who | | | | potential. |
| derives her royal status through being the daughter | | | | |