Generally speaking, the Empress card signifies a period of creation, nurturing, and growth. In a story reading, the Empress may represent a pregnant woman, mother, artist, or gardener.
Key Symbols
Garden of Delights. The Empress' domain is a garden of earthly delights, where trees blossom with flowers and a clear blue stream ensures lush growth and a promising harvest. Her garden is a refuge and a paradise, where nature will tend to her young until they come to fruition.
Zodiac Sign. The Empress' heart-shaped shield is inscribed with the symbol of Venus, the planet of love and attraction. She sits on a cushioned throne, another symbol of Venus' love of beauty and comfort.
Crown of Wisdom. She wears a jeweled crown, a sign of her intellect and authority.
Global Authority. She holds a scepter with a globe, a symbol of her earthly realm. It's also a phallic symbol that represents her ability to cooperate (and sometimes control) a male partner.
Iconic Beauty. The Empress is young, blond, and beautiful-like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana. Like those lost icons, she'll never show signs of sickness or age; she is a perpetual symbol of youth and vitality.
Rushing Waters. The waterfall and clear blue stream in the background symbolizes her connection to life, fertility, and emotional well-being. Her flowing robes reinforce that symbolism.
Evergreens. The cypress trees are a symbol of eternal life, and the fruit-bearing trees represent fertility and growth.
Pregnant Pause. The Empress is closely connected to concepts of love, marriage, and motherhood. In a tarot reading, the Empress often relates to the relationship between mothers and children.
Wifely Duties. Because we can assume that the Empress is married to the Emperor (the next card in the Major Arcana), she symbolizes marriage, partnership, joint efforts, shared aspirations, and common goals, hopes, and dreams.
Numeric Significance. The Empress is the third card in the Major Arcana. Threes symbolize creation-the result of two separate forces combining to create a third entity. A mother and a father produce a child together. A thesis and an antithesis combine to produce a synthesis. The number three can also represent body, mind, and spirit, or past, present, and future. Many religions believe in a holy trinity, such as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or Maiden, Mother, and Crone, or the triple goddess of the New, Full, and Old Moon.
Keywords
Upright: Fertility, creativity, productivity, pregnancy, potential, growth, abundance, comfort, beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, artistic ability, nurturing, sensuality
Reversed: Stubbornness, laziness, infertility, chaos, disorder, smothering affection, overprotection
Myth and Legend
Among tarot readers, the Empress is generally considered to be Demeter, the goddess of the harvest and the mother of Persephone. When Persephone was kidnapped, Demeter's grief almost destroyed the world.
According to legend, Persephone leaves her mother's side to pick flowers. Alone in a meadow, she was fair game for Hades, Lord of the Underworld. He reached up, pulled her down into his realm, and forced her to become his bride.
As Demeter searched desperately for her lost daughter, life on earth came to a standstill. At that point, Zeus stepped in. He forced Hades to relinquish Persephone-but not before Hades had tricked her into eating four pomegranate seeds, which condemned her to remain in the Underworld forever. After some negotiation, the gods decided that Persephone would simply be compelled to return to Hades for four months a year-one month for each seed she had consumed. As a result, Persephone was allowed to spend eight months with her mother.
When Persephone is away each winter, in the dark and foreboding land of the dead, Demeter grieves and the earth grows cold. But when Persephone returns, Demeterand the earth itself-springs back to life.
Astrological Associations
The Empress surrounds herself with beauty, graces her children with affection, and maintains a sense of passion for her husband. All told, she makes a home that reflects her romantic ideals-much like Venus, the planet of love and attraction.
Venus rules marriage, partnerships, and friendships, and its influence leads to strong attachments, both to people and property.
Venus represents stability and comfort, as does Taurus, the sign that falls under Venus' rule. Venus also rules the second house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about one's home and material possessions.
On a related note, Taurus is associated with the Hierophant card.
Literary Archetypes
The Empress may embody any number of literary archetypes, including the anima, the artist, the creator, the earth mother, the goddess, the matriarch, the mother, and the queen.
The Empress and Your Writing Practice
The Empress is the consummate card of creativity. She represents every writer who is open to inspiration and willing to serve as a vessel for new worlds to take shape. She is fearless and unbowed by labor and delivery, including the hard work that accompanies the birth of any writing project. She's willing to lose control of her rational ideals, and submit to the primal realities of the birthing process. It's a lot like writing a book.
When the Empress card falls in the course of your writing work, it could signify that you're in the process of gestating a concept or an idea. Great writing takes time, but the Empress demonstrates that you have both the energy and the inspiration to produce tangible works of art.
Writing Prompts
Write about:
. creativity
. fertility
. a pregnancy-planned or unplanned
. labor and delivery
. the birth of a miracle child
. Demeter and Persephone
. a comparison between birth and death
. a living person's visit to the afterlife
. a "dark mother" like Kali, the creator-destroyer
. a crone, with her days as maiden and mother behind her
EACH DAY, THE EMPEROR STEPS warily into the garden of the Empress, surveys the property, and creates order out of his wife's creative chaos. It's no easy task, but the Emperor is the ultimate authority figure. He is a visionary ruler, a fearless conqueror, and a tireless administrator. He is master and commander, protector and provider-the epitome of leadership. He is willful and stubborn, forceful, confident, courageous, and strong-and he rules through logic, reason, and will. His word is law.
The Emperor's job is also bigger than most of us can comprehend. While ordinary kings ruled nations, emperors commanded entire groups of nations. You might even say that the Emperor is the king of the world. As a result, the Emperor knows how to delegate his authority, form alliances, and measure allegiances.
Generally speaking, the Emperor card symbolizes leadership, order, and control. In a story reading, the Emperor may represent a father, administrator, disciplinarian, or authority figure.
Key Symbols
Cubic Throne. The Emperor's throne is an emblem of his power. It is a massive, rough-hewn throne of solid stone-the essence of structure and stability, and a tangible example of the solidity of a geometric cube.
Desert Landscape. While the Empress held court in a lush and fertile garden, the Emperor rules from a harsh desert landscape. The mountains in the background subtly reinforce the rock-solid stability of his rule. The Empress' influence is present, however, in the rivers and streams that wind their way through his realm.
Rams' Heads. The armrests and the back of his throne are carved with rams' heads, which are a direct reference to his Aries-style leadership and drive.
Crown. The Emperor wears a jeweled crown, a symbol of the divine right of kings, and a long white beard, like a figure in a child's drawing of God.
Scepter. His scepter, a symbol of his rulership and authority, is shaped like a crux ansata, a symbol of life that dates back to ancient Egypt.
Battle Armor. Underneath his red velvet robes, the Emperor wears a full suit of armor, which suggests that he's always ready
to rise up, protect, and defend his empire.
Sex Appeal. The Emperor is clearly virile, and his masculinity is a suitable counterpart to the Empress' fertility. Symbolically, that makes the Emperor a seminal thinker, too.
Numeric Significance. The Emperor is the fourth card in the Major Arcana. Fours symbolize structure, stability, and security, because four points come together to form a solid. There are four walls in a room, and four corners to a house. There are four dimensions: width, length, height, and time. There are four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. There are four seasons, four winds, and four phases of the moon. There are four elements, and four corresponding suits in the Minor Arcana.
Keywords
Upright: Stability, power, control, dominion, authority, leadership, protection, reason, logic, confidence, ambition, civilization, order, control
Reversed: Tyranny, abuse or misuse of power, war, conquest, strife, poor leadership
Myth and Legend
The Emperor is sometimes compared to the Greek god Zeus or the Roman god Jupiter. Zeus was the celestial ruler of all the gods on Mount Olympus-many of whom he fathered himself. Zeus' pantheon is also scattered through the myth and legend of the tarot, where you'll find his offspring referenced in many cards.
While Zeus was married to Hera, he was a notorious adulterer who carried on with a wide range of goddesses and mortal women. His wife gave birth to his children Aries, the god of war, and Hebe, the goddess of youth. Zeus' affair with Leto, a daughter of the Titans, led to the birth of Apollo, the sun god, and Artemis, goddess of the hunt. His affair with Themis, the goddess of justice, created the three Fates. And Athena, the goddess of wisdom, sprang full-grown from his head. You could cast an entire series based on this single card.
Historically, the Emperor is related to other, real-life emperors, like Charlemagne, Jason, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Julius Caesar.
Astrological Associations
The Emperor is ready to protect and defend his realm at a moment's notice-like Aries, the god of war for whom the sign was named.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, which makes it a symbol of leadership. In fact, the Emperor typifies the Aries personality: a natural-born leader, commanding, forceful, bold, courageous, and confident.
Aries rules the first house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about self-image, public image, physical descriptions, and first impressions. Aries is ruled in turn by Mars, the planet of energy and aggression.
On a related note, Mars is associated with the Tower card.
Aries is a fire sign.
Literary Archetypes
The Emperor can embody any number of literary archetypes, including the animus, the dictator, the father, the god, the judge, the king, the Midas, the patriarch, the ruler, and the visionary.
The Emperor and Your Writing Practice
While the creative energy of the Empress may inspire great writing, you're at your best when you take charge of your work-like the Emperor. Your confidence and selfdiscipline make the difference between a scattered, surface-level approach, and a carefully planned and organized piece of writing. You know how to go beyond brainstorming and into logic and analysis, structure and organization.
When the Emperor card shows up in the course of a writing project, it's a sign that you can be daring in your approach. Pick your battles-and your conquests. You're in command, and you can take control.
Writing Prompts
Write about:
. a father or a grandfather
. a dictator, tyrant, or a benevolent despot
. an absent father
. a single parent
. a throne
. a square
. a ram
. a desert
. the weight of responsibility
. armor and self-defense
LIKE THE HIGH PRIESTESS, THE Hierophant is a spiritual leader and teacher. His wisdom, however, is rooted in the formal precepts of organized religion. While the High Priestess encourages seekers to find intuitive sources of wisdom, the Hierophant expects his followers to pursue a more traditional course of discipline and study.
The Hierophant's hard-line position is understandable. He's worked long and hard to master a religious tradition that took centuries to develop. He's found a system that works, and he can simplify the great mysteries of life-as long as his followers are willing to take his word as gospel. He's also committed to preserving a system of beliefs, to make it available to future generations.
The word hierophant shares the same origin as the word hierarchy, an organization with varying levels of authority-and a hierophant is the final authority on matters of faith. He has the power to speak on behalf of God, to explain the teachings of divine wisdom, and to serve as a bridge between this world and the next.
In a story reading, the Hierophant may represent a licensed teacher, professor, psychiatrist, or priest.
Key Symbols
Seat of Power. The back of the Hierophant's throne is arched like a doorway, and he sits before two columns-pillars of the church. The Hierophant is a gatekeeper of the first order.
Papal Authority. Traditionally, ordained ministers and priests like the Hierophant have the power to perform sacraments of baptism, communion, forgiveness and reconciliation, confirmation, marriage, holy orders, and last rites.
Bless You. The Hierophant's right hand is raised in blessing-a simple but powerful gesture of benevolence and compassion.
Power of Three. His left hand holds a triple cross, symbolizing the past, present, and future, as well as tripartite gods-particularly the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, although the same symbolism could also apply to god as youth, father, and sage, or maiden, mother, and crone.
Keys to the Kingdom. The two crossed keys on the floor in front of the Hierophant are the keys to wisdom, as well as the keys to heaven. The keys could also suggest that a study of organized religion is also one way to understand the foundation of western civilization, the elements of western thought and philosophy, and an appreciation for classic art and literature. The keys also have a strong tarot connection: many tarot readers refer to the cards themselves as "keys."
Student Teachers. Two acolytes, or students, kneel at the Hierophant's feet. They are tonsured monks, and their heads are shaven as a sign of their vows. The acolyte on the left wears a robe embellished with the red rose of passions; the one on the right has a robe embellished with the white lilies of purity. Both bow in reverence-a reminder of the value of learning and teaching.
Creatures of Earth. The columns behind the Hierophant feature carvings that look like the Taurus glyph.
Numeric Significance. The Hierophant is the fifth card in the Major Arcana. Fives symbolize the five senses, the five points on a star, and the five vowels in the English alphabet. Some metaphysicians suggest that five is important because it symbolizes a fifth element-Spirit.
Keywords
Upright: Education, knowledge, theology, organized religion, structure, discipline, culture, values, social and religious institutions, social conventions, tradition, formality, conformity, orthodoxy, obedience, blessing, marriage, alliances, mercy, goodness, inspiration
Reversed: Dogma, repression, judgmentalism, intolerance, servitude, criticism, fear, and guilt
Myth and Legend
In ancient Greece, a hierophant was a high priest who guided his followers through the sacred rites of the Eleusinian Mysteries, a ritual celebration of death and rebirth. Each year, the hierophant would lead a re-enactment of the goddess Persephone's kidnapping by Hades, god of the underworld, as well as her eventual return. Some followers believed that participation in the ritual would guarantee a life after death in the Eleusinian Fields. As Christianity began to spread, church leaders condemned the mysteries, but the rites continued for hundreds of years and greatly influenced early Christian teachings and practices.
Today, the role of the Hierophant lives on in every spiritual teache
r who guides his followers through the mysteries of ancient ritual and tradition.
Astrological Associations
The Hierophant is associated with the astrological sign of Taurus. It's a good fit: like many churchgoers, people with a strong Taurus influence are traditionalists who value faithfulness, monogamy, and procreation.
Taurus rules the second house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about an individual's home and material possessions. Taurus is ruled, in turn, by Venus, the planet of love and romance.
On a related note, Venus is associated with the Empress card.
Taurus is an earth sign.
Literary Archetypes
The Hierophant can embody any number of literary archetypes, including the father, the gatekeeper, the god, the guardian, the guide, the herald, the high priest, the judge, the mentor, the mystic, the patriarch, the priest, the psychopomp, the ruler, the seeker, the shaman, the sorcerer, the teacher, the visionary, the wise old man, and the wounded healer.
The Hierophant and Your Writing Practice
Some writers love the Hierophant; others avoid him. Your regard for the man could well depend on how you feel about the grammar police.
The Hierophant will insist that you know the place of a transitive verb, that you can diagram your sentences, that you understand the rules of writing-but once you have mastered the basics, the Hierophant will also grant you the permission to break the rules and forgive your split infinitives. If you are a careful and thoughtful writer, the Hierophant will also help assure your place in a long line of saintly poets, bards, and storytellers.
Writing Prompts
Write about:
• a set of keys
• a holy book
• a priest with a secret life
• a religious service that takes an unexpected turn
• a sin of omission
• a blessing or a curse
• a sacred promise, obligation, or vow
• a religious souvenir
• something hidden under an altar
• a set of ceremonial robes
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