PLANETS 
The Empress
 The Empress Her most enduring symbol is the ear of corn, which appears in various forms on many Tarot cards depicting the Empress. Another important symbol is the 'Madonna' lily, whose starry shape reflected the fact that many of her names meant star, Astarte, Ishtar, and Eostre (Easter) being some of the best known. For the same reason, the Empress is sometimes shown crowned with stars. This card is associated with Venus, planet of love, harmony, union and beauty. In astrology, Venus rules Taurus, an Earth sign, and Libra, an Air sign. Here Venus reveals her earthly, sensual face. The Taurean Venus is connected with the earth, its special smell after rain has fallen, beautiful overflowing gardens, luscious ripe fruits.Sensuality is expressed through a healthy appetite for food and sex, a love of tactile fabrics such as velvet and silk, massage with perfumed oils and rich colours in clothes and furnishings.
Interpretation The Empress represents powerful forces. When symbolising a state of mind she is telling you that you are brimming over with creativity. The time is right for you to expand and grow. Financially and materially, you will be well provided for, and your basic needs will be comfortably met. If you are an artist of any kind you will be able to draw on the practical energy required to write, paint or sculpt. If your question is related to career, this card directs your attention towards this area, or anything that is associated with beauty, such as hairdressing, massage, exercise, aromatherapy, or skin care. Your creative impulses may also express themselves in cooking, gardening, or the urge to make your home a more beautiful place. Ideally, every idea must be conceived, nurtured, and ultimately given birth to. This is the essence of the Empress, who denotes growth and birth. These concepts may apply to a physical baby, business, work of art, or love relationship. When signifying a person, the Empress stands for a warm, loving and sensual woman. She may represent a man's great love, the woman he wants to share his life with. She may enter your life as someone who is creative, or someone who is intensely alive and enjoys life to the full. This person will stimulate these qualities in you, for the Empress means abundance, sunshine and harvest on every level. Physically, this card often foretells a pregnancy or birth. You are fertile, and highly receptive. Harmonious sexual relationships are indicated, with special emphasis on the physical expressions of love and affection. Reversed Your creativity and ability to bring things to fruition is blocked. Surrounding cards should indicate why. You may experience frigidity, impotence or other sexual difficulties; infertility may be a problem. Sex without love, or meaningless promiscuity can also be suggested. An unwanted child may be conceived at this time, with the possibility of an abortion. On a material level, the Empress reversed can signify a period of poverty, or other material discomfort. This card has particular relevance to home comforts; your home may cease to be refuge under this influence. Perhaps you discover damp, or noisy and disruptive building work begins next door. Even if you have enough money, you may feel impoverished. Spiritually you are living through a hard and icy winter. However, it is in the nature of the Empress to return from the underworld each spring. When she falls in the reversed position she may need a little help from you. 0 - The Fool 1 - The Magician 2 - The High Priestess 3 - The Empress 4 - The Emperor 5 - The Hierophant or Pope 6 - The Lovers 7 - The Chariot 8 - Justice 9 - The Hermit 10 - The Wheel of Fortune 11 - Strength 12 - The Hanged Man 13 - Death 14 - Temperance 15 - The Devil 16 - The Tower 17 - The Star 18 - The Moon 19 - The Sun 20 - Judgment 21 - The World |
