Tarot – The Empress
I have no plans to make tarot a daily or even weekly ritual, but after my first draw, I felt the need drawn to try again—this time with a clearer question and a little more focus.
For this draw, I wanted to be more specific. Instead of asking in broad terms about moving back to Canberra, I asked:
“Will we be moving back to Canberra within the next three months?”
This time, I drew The Empress.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to interpret her in relation to house sales, relocation timelines, and all the practical concerns swirling around our move. The Empress is not a card of urgency or haste. She is abundance, nurturing, growth, and patience—energy that unfolds in its own natural time.
It felt like a very different answer from the Wheel of Fortune. Where the Wheel spoke of cycles turning and change in motion, The Empress seemed to suggest that this next chapter requires trust, care, and allowing things to develop as they are meant to.
Perhaps the message was not about a strict three-month deadline at all, but about creating space for what is growing behind the scenes. Selling a home, uprooting a life, and returning to a place that already feels like “home” is not just a logistical process—it is an emotional one too.
In her quiet way, The Empress seemed to remind me that not everything blooms on demand. Some things need time, patience, and the right conditions before they are ready to come into being.
The Empress – creation and growth
The Empress represents creation and growth. Life flourishes when it is nurtured and given the right conditions. Grwoth doesn’t happen by force, but through care, patience and allowing things to unfold naturally.
- Creation – something in my life is developing, forming or coming into being
- Growth – takes time and cannot be rushed
- Nurturing – what I care for, invest in and give energy to
- Abundance – there is potential for comfort, beauty and prosperity
- Connection – a link to nature, body, emotions and the physical world
- What I nurture will grow
This card speaks to creation, self-worth, and the energy of receiving — those moments where things begin to blossom because they’ve been properly cared for… or where neglect has slowed their growth.
It feels like life saying “tend to this, and it will grow”
Upright Meaning
When the Empress is upright – a period of growth and support
- Growth in relationships
- A nurturing supportive environment
- Strong connection t intuition, body or nature
- Abundance flowing from what has been cultivated with care
- A sense of comfort, softness or emotional fulfullment
It feels like things are flourishing because they’ve been given the right conditions
Reversed Meaning
When reversed, the energy can be blocked or imbalanced
- Neglecting self-care or personal needs
- Creative blocks or difficulty brining ideas to life
- Overgiving or feeling drained from nurturing others
- Disconnection from body, emotions, or natural rhythms
- Struggles with self-worth or receiving support
A reflective question… Am I giving to myself, the same care I give to others?
From here on it’s a brain dump about what I see, what I’ve heard and what I’ve read about the Empress card and her symbols.
CARD SYMBOLS
When I look at this card I see
- Number 3
- The empress – do I look at the empress as a whole, or take into account her and the sub symbols
- Holding Staff
- Necklace
- Crown with 13 shiny stones (diamonds)?
- Wearing a gown with a repetitive symbol
- Female symbol
- Wheat
- Trees
- One tree is different to the others
- Water
- Waterfall
- Seat/Throne
- Cushion
- Venus Symbol
Number 3
3 represents Creation, Energy of growth, expansion and expression. Things moving from idea into reality. The ‘third’ result – (1) Idea, (2) Action, (3) manifestation
Progression after a decision.
Deeply tied to creative output and abundance
Potential becomes reality
The Empress (figure)
She sits comfortably, not in action but in presence.
There’s no urgency here — she embodies ease, confidence, and natural authority.
She doesn’t chase… things come to her.
Represents
- Motherhood (literal or symbolic)
- Creativity
- Caregiving energy
The Staff (Sceptre)
Often seen as a symbol of power or authority.
But unlike harsh rulers, her power is
- Gentle
- Creative
- Life giving
She rules through nurturing, not force
The Necklace
Commonly linked to beauty, value, and self-worth.
It can represent what we hold close or what we value most.
The Crown (12 stars)
Usually interpreted as a crown of stars, linking her to cycles, nature, and possibly the zodiac. Represents connection to cosmic cycles, the universe, natural rhythms (seasons, astrology, time).
Suggestion she is not just earthly, but she is aligned with universal feminine energy
A connection to the heavens — suggesting her power isn’t just physical, but also natural and universal.
The Gown (repeating symbol — often pomegranates)
The pattern is often associated with fertility, abundance, and sensuality.
Pomegranates in particular link to life, death, and rebirth cycles.
There’s a strong theme of creation and the richness of life.
The Venus Symbol (on the shield)
This deck replaces older symbolism with the astrological symbol for venus (Roman name for Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty, procreation and pleasure.
Strong link to love, beauty, pleasure and femininity, connects with
- Romance
- Attraction
- Self-worth and indulgence in lifes pleasures
Tree
The one that stands out is said to be a pine cone, resembliong the pineal gland – traditional associated with the third eye or second sight
Wheat
A classic symbol of harvest and abundance.
Represents rewards that come from patience and nurturing.
Things that have been tended to are now ready (or will be ready) to provide.
“you reap what you sow”
Trees / Forest
Connection to nature, grounding, and life cycles.
Trees often symbolise stability, growth over time, and deep roots.
Water / River / Stream
Flow of emotion, intuition, and life force.
Water suggests things are moving naturally — not forced.
Also linked to nourishment and sustaining life.
Seat / Throne
Decorated, comfortable, almost luxurious, suggesting
- Comfort,
- stability, and
- security.
She is not struggling – she is established in her power
Represents being at ease in one’s power.
Putting that all together
The Empress doesn’t like pressure, so no rushing decisions, forcing outcomes or ignoring practical nurturing (finances, comfort, planning)
