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.)

THE HIGH PRIESTESS

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THE HIGH PRIESTESS--RULED BY THE MOON

KEYWORDS: Unknown, hidden, secrecy, secretary

Spiritual Meaning: Subconsciously bringing forth your hidden knowledge.

The High Priestess represents the conscious and the subconscious mind.

All around The High Priestess are the signs of duality, which is represented by the number of this card--Two. This number stands for "give and take", and in this instance the "give and take" is the knowledge which goes back and forth between the conscious and the subconscious minds. The water which flows from her robes is symbolic of the subconscious, or hidden, mind. Within herself she is both the male and the female, positive and negative, darkness and light, which co-exist in every individual.

In her hands she holds the Book of Torah, which, it is claimed, contains the secret knowledge of the ages. She has been called "the secretary of the cosmos", because she has within herself all the secret knowledge of all time. But this knowledge must remain a secret, for she is unable to share it with others. She exemplifies the unknown, the hidden, the obsure.

This secrecy is further enchanced by the Ruler of this card, the Moon. The Moon does not give forth its own light, but only reflects light from other sources.

When you are reading for someone and The High Priestess appears in the spread, it will mean just that--she cannot give forth her knowledge. As an example, the person for whom you are reading is planning a trip. Your reading shows that for some reason, hidden from you (the reader), and unknown at this time to the querent, the querent will not be able to make the trip that has been planned. Instead of cards which would present an explanation of why the trip will be called off or postponed, The High Priestess card will appear. When this occurs, the reason why the querent will not take the trip will be unknown until the event happens.

(updated 2006, All rights reserved.)