THE EMPRESS

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THE EMPRESS--RULED BY VENUS

KEYWORDS: Mother, growth

Spiritual Meaning: Your creation of a new idea or your individual growth.

The Empress deals with love and all that it stands for in regard to its growth. Next to her throne stands a stone in the shape of a heart, with the sign of Venus carved into it.

Venus, the Astrological Ruler of The Empress, also rules love and matters relating to love. This Planet also rules growth and beauty, and where Venus is involved you find not only these, but also a love of beauty and the finer arts.

The original Tarot Cards contained symbolic representations which have been hidden or are only hinted at in the more modern versions. One thing which is only hinted at in the modern-day renditions of this card is the fact that The Empress is pregnant. Her pregnancy is the reason that the first meaning of this card is "Mother". She is the symbol of Mother Earth. You see growth all around, both in herself (the unborn child) and in the Earth.

Number Three, the number of this card, repressents family, creativity and children. The highest form of creativity is the creation of a new life.

The stream which is flowing through the woods in the background is symbolic of the emotions and the subconscious. When you encounter water in the Tarot cards, it will represent these two areas.

If this card does not stand for a mother (either the peson you are reading for as a mother, their mother, or a mother figure in their life), as determined by the layout and the cards surrounding The Empress, then it stands for growth. This growth may be of material values, money, or the birth of a new idea or business.

(Updated 2006. All rights reserved.)