Upright: Goddess, Femininity, Mother Earth
Reversed: Dependence, Attachment, Fruitless
Element: Earth
Planet: Venus
Numerology: 3
Three symbolizes collaboration, groups, and growth. When you pull a card associated with the number 3, it means that there are opportunities within your social groups to create unity. Three is a powerful number, and many cycles are inundated with threes like the birth-life-death cycle, mind-body-soul connection, and three acts of a play. Numerology 3 invites you to commune with others and open up channels of communication, creativity, and curiosity.
The Empress Tarot Card Description
The traditional Rider Waite depiction of the Empress card features the Empress sitting on a throne wearing a crown with twelve stars, denoting the powerful 12 number of seasons and 12 zodiac signs. She is holding a scepter in her hand, a symbol of creation and power. She sits in an abundant field of nature filled with plants, grains, trees, with a river flowing through the land in the background. The Venus symbol is engraved in a heart shaped stone underneath her throne.
In the Mystic Monday’s Tarot deck, the Empress card is depicted as a feminine figure laying down, with a green robe that also looks like hills. Her hair is long and turns into the river, flowing naturally downwards. This indicates that the Empress is one with nature. She wears a pineapple crown, holds bananas in one hand, and a pomegranate in the other. Palm trees cover her breasts and she wears no pants, indicating the power of fertility and birth. Leaves come from the corners, fanning her royalty. A bright orange sun is in the background against a pink sky.
This card is written and illustrated by artist and author Grace Duong.
The Empress Tarot Card Upright Meanings
General The Empress Card Upright Meaning
Ruled by Venus, the Empress is a card of love, creativity, and fertility. It celebrates the beauty in life and encourages you to get inspired by taking time for yourself. Connect with your feminine energy and dive deep into pleasurable activities. In short, go enjoy yourself! The Empress implores you to explore your surroundings, express your creativity, and plant the seeds for a fulfilling crop of life. Give respect to Mother Earth, the source of which will ground you but also allow you to reach into your higher consciousness for inspiration. The Empress is a nurturing soul who cares deeply about the people around her. Take after her loving vibes and support the people who are in your life. Remember to also nourish yourself, the greatest gift you can give unto others.
The Empress Upright Meaning in Career
In career, the Empress gives gifts of nourishment and support. You may be feeling at home in your work environment which supports your creativity and growth. You could also be viewed as a motherly figure in the workplace, providing that nourishment and care for others. It could be a great time to make your office more cozy, adding feminine touches that add feelings of abundance and prosperity, which can act as reminders to flourish. This is a ripe time to go after career opportunities - the fruit is ripe for the picking!
The Empress Upright Meaning in Finances
The Empress asks that you relax and allow yourself to receive all the financial abundance coming your way. It’s a time for you to be creative and that no matter what you do, it will lead to strong financial outcomes. Trust in your ability to make more money and to be able to use your earnings to not only to provide for your loved ones, but to also overflow with good fortune. It’s also a great time to share what you have and embody the generosity of the Empress.
The Empress Upright Meaning in Love
The Empress blesses new love and old flames with abundance. The time is ripe to plant seeds with this other person, whether it’s beginning a new chapter in your relationship that will bring you closer together, weaving your lives in harmony. This can also lead to seeds planted for creative projects, whether related to hobbies or work, it has the potential to grow in fruition. Since the Empress can represent motherhood and fertility, this could also mean marriage, pregnancy, and giving birth. However, this new life does not have to be quite as literal as birthing a baby, but can just be birthing a new way of life, with a committed partner by your side.
The Empress Upright Meaning in Health and Self-Care
The Empress calls on you to fully embody your abundance, beauty, and grace. What beauty rituals are you doing to make yourself feel like the Empress that you are? The Empress enjoys comfort and luxury, so it may be time for you to treat yourself to activities that nourish your soul. Allow yourself to enjoy the finer things in life and carry that elegance with you wherever you go. These beauty rituals will help you feel more powerful and aligned with your true authentic essence so you can show up empowered in the world.
The Empress Tarot Card Reversed Meanings
General The Empress Reversed Meaning
There is a lack of harmony in your life as you try to juggle everything to maintain balance. Stretching yourself way too thin and placing others’ needs before your own is causing unnecessary stress. Getting back to sync means aligning yourself back to your own desires. Fill yourself up so that you have enough to give to others without depleting your resources. Lack of energy and creative blocks leave you feeling uninspired and monotonous. On the other hand, you may also be taking on the role of an overbearing mother who is too protective or demanding over her relationships. Under or overripe, the fruit is not ready for picking. Replenish yourself, and you will be able to find your center! Ground yourself back to the loving energy of Mother Earth with compassion.
The Empress Reversed Meaning in Career
In career, when the Empress is reversed, it could feel like you are stuck and are unable to move forward with opportunities. You may be feeling unfulfilled, unappreciated, and stagnant and that you’ve already reached the height of where you can go in this position. It’s time to revamp and add some life back into your career, especially since we often spend so much time in our lives there! Be wary of overgiving when it comes to work tasks, and see if you can offload some of the responsibilities and ask for support. If you’d like to switch jobs or careers, the Empress is a sign that the opportunities are there for you to be in an environment that is more nourishing for your natural talents to thrive.
The Empress Reversed Meaning in Finances
What is your definition of enough? While the Empress, even reversed, signifies that you are in a place of stability, it may not feel that way to you. Your ideas of abundance may not be very clear and can lead to feelings of insecurity, which could promote unnecessary worry and cloud your judgement. The Empress calls on you to activate your codes of abundance so that when you are in scarcity mode thinking, you can more easily turn it off then leave it rampantly running old stories of lack. Take some time to nourish yourself and journal about what financial abundance looks and feels like to you.
The Empress Reversed Meaning in Love
In love, there requires nourishment to grow. When the Empress is reversed, it can denote a lack of support needed from your relationships. This can be a great time to look inward and to see how you can give yourself the love that you are seeking. Are you giving yourself nourishment and support?
The Empress Reversed Meaning in Health and Self-Care
Have you been avoiding your self-care rituals? The Empress reversed can signify an unworthiness to treat oneself to the finer things in life. It’s not necessarily about money, it’s the way that you treat yourself with self-talk and encouragement. Sometimes we may take on characteristics of a neglectful parent, and in the case of the Empress, a neglectful Mother. Take note of if you are abandoning parts of yourself because you are familiar with this form of treatment. Connect with your inner child and give them the nourishment they need.
The Empress - Tarot Card Meaning Cheat Sheet
