Question about the Empress

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

dadsnook2000	06 Jul 2003
I have been reviewing the Empress card in another thread and have noticed that the RWS Empress sits on a gray stone bench, her feet rests on a gray surface, her shield (with the astrological-astronomical symbol of Venus on it) is also gray. With all of the rich colors and "nature environment" shown in this card WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES THE GRAY HAVE? Does the Empress sit or stand on her mental qualities, do her Venus qualities have a Virgo-like discrimination about them. How might this be explained? I'd be interested in any information on this. Thanks. Dave.

Ruby Red Slippers	06 Jul 2003
Perhaps in the “birthing process” there is a lot of “gray”. By that I mean not only in the actual birthing of an idea, a project, a garden etc, but the “pregnancy” the "in-between-state,” allows for a lot of gray areas. It is in the nurturing of the Empress that brings about the final result. To me, this may mean that all is not black and white, as in the HP. It is in the creative aspects that the goal is achieved. Therefore, the palette allows for various “shades” to be reflected upon during the incubation time prior to the actual birth/outcome. The Venus symbol of love is in gray can reflect the amount or type of nurturing we give something. Do we love it enough to encourage it, to work towards it, to make the adjustments necessary for it to come to fruition? In this way, it can all be about intention/attention we give to form the bright colors of the results, be they positive or negative, a result of great love and attention or the lack thereof. Just my thoughts…. Ruby Red Slippers

jog1118	07 Jul 2003
a quick comparison between queens and kings kings: signify swift but fleeting effects while queens: signify slow but lasting effects the empress, in my opinion, does have the similar slow but lasting effect. the gray, therefore, may represent "rock" or "stone"...something that is lasting...something that stands through time :smoker:

jmd	08 Jul 2003
[...having just written a longish reply which i accidentally deleted, i hope this one isn't too condensed] The gray upon the card is, as mentioned, not throughout the Waite/Colman-Smith version of the card. Of importance is the great fecundity depicted upon the Empress's environment. Still, the careful observation is important. It may be worth here reflecting on some considerations playing behind the scenes upon the Waite/Colman-Smith deck. Of great importance is the Golden Dawn's allocation of the Hebrew letter Dalet and their placing of the card upon the 'path' which connects the second Sefirah of Hockmah (Wisdom) to Binah (Understanding/Intelligence). These two Sefirot have the respective colour attributions of gray and black - though other 'colour-scales' are also used. Linking these two colours, the path itself partakes of them, and we could therefore expect that III the Empress is somehow embedded with its mix. Even more so when we consider that the Throne - another name denoting Binah - is one of the gray depictions. Of the letter Dalet, the Zohar indicates its link to spiritual poverty (in the highest sense) - ie, the recognition that she has nothing (d’leit) of her own: rather, all these reaches of abundance are provided, but none belong, for our continued participation in the world here below. 'Dalet' also refers to a door. As such, in itself it is without the rich colours of either the inner or outer chambers which it simultaneously separates and connects. It may also be worth noting that on more traditional decks, it is not a representation of Venus upon the shield, but of an Eagle facing right (see the attachments in the thread on III the Empress). I mention the above Kabalistic considerations even though I personally do not agree with them - but because these are some of the background considerations playing itself into the deck...

dadsnook2000	09 Jul 2003
Thank you for the time and effort to provide this material. I had also received a private e-mail from another list member that was somewhat related to some of your offered insights relative to the paths on the Tree of Life. This simple question has opened up a lot of insights and appreciation to the wealth of symbolism and prior development of these cards and has provided pointers to me relative to sources of information that I can pursue on my own. One important lesson learned from various responses to my question is that I shouldn't view a question relative to just the one card, that the several of the other cards in a deck will pick up on and expand a theme -- colors, or the meaning of objects having those colors, etc. So now, for my own satisfaction I have to pursue a wider range of questions -- that is a good thing. Thank you again. Dave.

The Question about the Empress thread was originally posted on 06 Jul 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.