Yesterday’s card was The Empress. I think I have already expressed in this blog how much I love The Empress! She speaks to me.
From the time I was twelve, I knew I wanted to be a mother, and The Empress has always looked like a mother to me—she looks fertile and her surroundings do, too. I feel like I have always tried to live up to what I felt she embodies; I want to be nurturing, and attuned to nature, and able to conceive a child (that last part may be a bit TMI, but I’m keeping it). I think I can be nurturing, and I did conceive a child, but being attuned to nature is a work in progress.
The card I used for this write-up is from the Morgan-Greer Tarot and the first thing I notice in this deck is the lack of the sigil for Venus. The ruling planet for The Empress is Venus and I know it shows up on many iterations of this card, but it is something I feel is missing from this card. Not that there isn’t a lot of other symbolism, it’s just what I first picked up on.
Secondly, my eyes are drawn to the water in the background of this card. I like this waterfall more than that of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot because it seems as though there’s more water flowing and water signifies emotions. I am a person who is usually controlled by her emotions, and for me, the connection to emotion is a big part of a card that resonates with me (I’ve spoken about the Queen of Cups I believe). What I like about the water in this card, however, is that it is not in the foreground. If it were in the foreground I would probably think emotions really rule the person. In the background, she knows her feelings are there and she is linked to them, but she is not likely to find herself at their mercy.
The moon has a prominent spot on this card also. I have done some reading into Wicca, but am by no means an expert, so bear with me. There is what is known as the Triple Goddess—Maiden, Mother, Crone—and this is also a theme in Tarot. The Star is the Maiden and affiliated with the waxing moon; The High Priestess is the Crone and affiliated with the waning moon; The Empress is the Mother and she is affiliated with the full moon. I’m not certain why the moon in this card is not full, but I am working on the idea that it is to show it is the moon so it doesn’t look like the Sun.
The final thing I will note about this card is the direction she faces. In my studies, I have come across the importance of which direction the character in the card is looking. Looking straight ahead shows that she is focused on the Present. I need to take that to heart in my desire to be like her because my mind always seems to be flitting between the Past and the Future, but living like that means you miss what’s happening right now.
Peace and balance,
Erin
EsotericErin 