Symbolizing: The Empress

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Thirteen	04 May 2004
On we go with these threads (3 per week), examining the symbolism in the Majors. What you like and what you don't. What you feel ought to be there...or not. For this thread, the Empress! Just answer one or more of the following: 1) What elements from any Empress card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize the Empress? (Example: "I've always loved that pomegranate dress of hers....") 2) What elements common to most Empress cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for the Empress? (Example: "I've NEVER liked the connection to Venus...") 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Empress Card, but you've yet to see it? (Example: "I'd like to see her surrounded by children...."). You don't have to answer all the above, but do offer some "why's?" as to what you answer. Why don't you/do you like references to Venus? What does the Venus symbolism mean that feels/doesn't feel like the Empress to you?

jmd	04 May 2004
1) What elements BEST symbolise this card? A woman sitting holding in her left hand a sceptre of sovereignty; her right arm embracing a shield resting upon her lap, upon which is depicted an eagle, whose head faces the opposite direction to the next card's shield depiction; her eyes facing the same direction as the gaze of the eagle; the folds of her clothes ambiguously depicting pregnancy.

Jewel-ry	05 May 2004
A symbol that I absolutely love in this card is found in the Soprafino decks. L'imperatrice sits with her right arm resting on a shield. On the shield is an eagle (I think) and when you look closely it looks up at her as she strokes it. It depicts love, nurturing, caring and understanding so well. http://www.tarotclub.net/goods/deck/men/soprafino.html edited to put in the link :)

WalesWoman	06 May 2004
I love the verdant growth around her, that she is pregnant, surrounded by fruits and grains of harvest. That she holds the eagle shield and a scepter, she rules and protects. I also am struck by the water falls and rivers in Morgan-Greer, my mental images usually have her emerging or standing in water, greeting the dawn of a new day. I also like in the Morgan-Greer image is that she is looking directly at whomever is holding the card, making that connection and is totally all there. I strongly dislike her pommegranate ugly, ugly maternity dress in RWS,and I think she looks sort of insipid. (Hate was just a bit too intense for her lack of fashion sense in RWS)

The Symbolizing: The Empress thread was originally posted on 04 May 2004 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.