The Empress Tarot Card Meaning
The High Priestess |
The Empress |
The Emperor |
General Meaning
The Tarot card 'The Empress' symbolizes the awakening of nature, the energy of abundance, and the birth of something new—a child, a feeling, or an idea. This unique card brings growth, fortune, and prosperity into your life. The Empress is also an image of the ideal woman or mother, representing the feminine essence as a whole.
Card Motto
Use the time of growth to reap a generous harvest!
by Marta Winter
Core Card Meanings The Empress
Description and Symbols of the Card The Empress
On this Tarot card, we see a mature woman seated on a throne, radiating peace and confidence. She is the Mistress of all that exists, nurturing the world with her love and warmth.
In front of her, a field of golden wheat promises a bountiful harvest. She holds a scepter as a symbol of her authority over the world, and wears a crown adorned with shining stars. Beside her throne stands a shield marked with the sign of Venus, embodying femininity, love, and beauty. The card's green hues symbolize Mother Nature and the lost Paradise that the human soul seeks.
Meaning in Upright Position
When The Empress card appears upright in a Tarot reading, it's a sign of a prosperous period in your life, either already unfolding or about to manifest. This Tarot card promises material abundance, inner peace, success in your endeavors, a surge of creativity, family expansion, a harmonious marriage, and happiness in love.
In an upright position, The Empress card signifies that Fortune is on your side! You're entering a phase of renewed energy, opportunities for self-improvement and rejuvenation, the start of something new, or the successful completion of previously started projects. This is a positive streak in life where everything falls into place, and Fate shields you from troubles and losses. Relationships and finances are on the rise, allowing you to shape and nurture your own life path during this wave of positivity.
Key Meanings of The Empress Card Upright
- Fertility, profit, realizing potential, inspiration.
- Love, affection, the birth of a child, physical and spiritual strength, a sense of security.
- Creation, stability, creativity, personal growth.
Reversed Position
When the Tarot card 'The Empress' appears reversed in a reading, it clearly signals a lack of inner peace. Something is gnawing at you, preventing you from calmly accepting events and organizing your thoughts and feelings. Perhaps you are concerned about financial issues, misunderstandings in personal relationships, or frustrating losses and misunderstandings. It may seem like you can't influence the situation right now, or perhaps you're consciously avoiding solving the problem.
Seeing the reversed 'Empress' card in your spread, try to change your perspective on life—become more positive and energetic. Change your surroundings; new experiences can help you shake things up. Focus on your health if you're experiencing discomfort or ailments. Find a new hobby—it might turn into a major passion later on. Do at least one kind act each day—this will boost your self-esteem!
The reversed 'Empress' card teaches not to run away from reality but to learn to live in it comfortably. Go with the flow of life, enjoy creativity and self-expression, and find something good in each day to celebrate and be grateful for.
Key Meanings of the Reversed Empress Card
- Weakness, inactivity, doubt, obstacles in endeavors, lack of interest in life.
- Conflicts, illness, irritability, bad news.
- Decline in affairs, financial losses, lack of progress.
Meaning in Love Readings
Your feelings are blossoming and moving to a new, more serious level—that's what The Empress card signifies in an upright position. If you're worried about the future, take comfort; a warm period of deep mutual affection awaits you. Existing relationships may strengthen with newfound energy, or old connections could be rekindled, bound by deep and steady emotions. Lovers envelop each other with care, tenderness, and comfort, almost anticipating each other's desires. Can you hear the gentle notes of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March in the air? You're not imagining things!
The card can also hint at an addition to the family, signaling a long-awaited or even unexpected pregnancy.
In a reversed position, The Empress takes on the opposite meaning, indicating issues in intimacy and a downturn in romantic relationships.
When Reading About a Suitor or Loved One
In a reading about a suitor or partner, the upright card suggests that your chosen one knows how to love sincerely and values genuine emotions! For them, nothing is more generous and harmonious than love, which they naturally see continuing into family and children.
The reversed card reveals that your suitor feels out of place in love. Rather than taking decisive action, they tend to rely on fate and wait things out.
Reading for Money, Career
In business readings, the Empress card often signifies positive changes, successful project completion, and the fulfillment of plans with a diligent and responsible approach.
Your career is entering a period of prosperity and growth, a time when destiny offers new opportunities you shouldn't miss. You can expect steady, stable, and gradually increasing financial gains.
When reversed, the card's meaning shifts to the opposite, indicating inactivity, incompetence, and a worsening financial situation. Avoid risky experiments and hasty decisions.
Reading for a Person
When drawing the card upright in a reading about a person, it signifies someone who is remarkably harmonious and well-rounded, with a big heart and an admirable physique. A person where everything is equally beautiful—both soul and body.
In the reversed position, it represents an individual who struggles with decision-making due to a lack of balance and harmony within their own soul.
Reading for Advice
When upright, the card suggests embracing harmony with nature. Fresh air, a healthy diet, and inner peace are the keys to resolving your problems. You'll look and feel amazing!
When reversed, the card encourages you to gain wisdom from nature. Learn to forgive others for their mistakes, and refrain from doing or wishing anything upon others that you wouldn't want for yourself.
Reading for Outcome
If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is absolutely wonderful! With the support of nature itself, everything will turn out just the way you want.
In a reversed position, the forecast for your situation is ambiguous. You might face obstacles due to a lack of understanding with those around you. Learn to forgive people for their mistakes!
Meanings In Combination with All Tarot Cards
Major Arcana Combinations
With the Fool card — Unequal marriage, shattering of illusions, an unreliable partner.
With the Magician card — Self-employment, new acquaintance, interest in business.
With the High Priestess card — Feminine advice, secret meeting, gaining experience.
With the Emperor card — Marriage, a couple, success in any endeavor.
With the Hierophant card — Love for religion, traditional values, a fruitful idea.
With the Lovers card — Love triangle, career choice, significant changes in life.
With the Chariot card — Change of profession, businesswoman, busy affairs.
With the Strength card — Female dominance, successful career, prosperity.
With the Hermit card — Unrequited love, stagnation in career, reevaluation of values.
With the Wheel of Fortune card — Innovations, luck in affairs, a fruitful trip or business trip.
With the Justice card — Rational perspective, official divorce or marriage, female lawyer.
With the Hanged Man card — Self-sacrifice for the sake of love, inner fears, depression.
With the Death card — Painful changes, change of appearance, the path of spiritual and physical development.
With the Temperance card — Rationality, care for loved ones, a harmonious couple.
With the Devil card — Obsession with love, depravity or dependence, self-deception.
With the Tower card — Painful jealousy, family breakdown, quarrels and financial loss.
With the Star card — Light romance, friendliness, hospitality.
With the Moon card — Frayed nerves, dubious goal, family secret.
With the Sun card — Fulfillment of desires, recovery, birth of a child.
With the Judgment card — Second marriage, domination of traditions, resolution of old problems.
With the World card — Travel abroad, unfamiliar sensations, a happy family.
Wands Suit Combinations
Ace of Wands — New project, love affair, surge of energy.
Two of Wands — Need for beneficial connections, family business, expansion of possibilities.
Combined with Three of Wands — Successful venture, stepping out of the comfort zone, promising woman.
Four of Wands — Real estate purchase, prosperous family, subsidiary enterprise.
Five of Wands — Brewing conflict, prejudices, conflicting interests.
Six of Wands — Authoritative lady, profit acquisition, justified ambitions.
Seven of Wands — Basic needs, impulsiveness, attacks or reproaches.
Eight of Wands — Breaking the deadlock, taking control of the situation, giving birth.
Nine of Wands — Distrust in relationships, sensitivity, attempts to change a loved one.
Ten of Wands — Sole provider in the family, excessive responsibility, drowning in routine.
Page of Wands — Active girl, new company, calculated approach.
Knight of Wands — Discord, criticality, giving orders.
Queen of Wands — Useful experience, authority, mother-in-law.
King of Wands — Arrival of an heir, working for the benefit of relatives, a united couple.
Swords Suit Combinations
Ace of Swords — Wise spouse, unique idea, author of a profitable scheme.
Two of Swords — Deadlock, suspension, danger to the overall budget.
Combined with Three of Swords — Heading towards divorce, revealed betrayal, sham marriage.
Four of Swords — Complex situation, an outside perspective, clarity.
Five of Swords — Losing an argument, being deceived, loss of authority.
Six of Swords — Discovering parental secrets, having compromising material, changes under the weight of problems.
Seven of Swords — Female cunning, the ability to deceive, malicious gossip.
Eight of Swords — Dangerous game, a dark period, escalating problems.
Nine of Swords — Discovering infidelity, midlife crisis, bad news from relatives.
Ten of Swords — Mental illness, nervous breakdown, severe health condition.
Page of Swords — Critical situation, mistress, slander from envious individuals.
Knight of Swords — Threat of divorce, selfishness, rapidly developing situation.
Queen of Swords — Divorce proceedings, custody battle, tax complications.
King of Swords — Battle between emotions and intellect, dealing with conscience, pure logic and pragmatism.
The Empress and Swords Suit Combinations
Ace of Cups — Inspiring venture, emotional refreshment, second honeymoon.
Two of Cups — Best friend, partnership, heartfelt gatherings or a date.
Combined with Three of Cups — Birthday celebration, family festivities, reunion of relatives or household members.
Four of Cups — Deep hurt, hidden disagreements, adolescence.
Five of Cups — Unpleasant memories, encounter with an ex, disappointment in someone.
Six of Cups — Childlike innocence, raising children, wisdom of life.
Seven of Cups — Hopes for the future, reassessing possibilities, idle daydreaming.
Eight of Cups — Deception, unfulfilled dreams, cooling off in a relationship with a significant other.
Nine of Cups — Fulfillment of a dream, advantageous position, inner satisfaction.
Ten of Cups — Reliable colleagues, family contract, common cause or well-being.
Page of Cups — Successfully closing a deal, fruitful negotiations, finding an ally.
Knight of Cups — Valuable offer, working with passion, corporate event.
Queen of Cups — Maternal concern, guardianship, caring for children.
King of Cups — Parental love, family counsel, deep sentiment.
Pentacles Suit Combinations
Ace of Pentacles — Plans to have a child, replenishing the emergency fund, prosperity.
Two of Pentacles — Foolish expenses, unsuccessful purchase, numerous small acquisitions.
Combined with Three of Pentacles — Attempt to consolidate finances, plan a purchase, necessary consultation with a specialist.
Four of Pentacles — Stable income, setting aside for a rainy day, small savings.
Five of Pentacles — Financial ruin, loss of a source of income, accumulating debts.
Six of Pentacles — Material assistance to relatives, dependents, philanthropist.
Seven of Pentacles — Long-term project, subsidies, paid education.
Eight of Pentacles — Working on relationships, interior makeover, receiving a salary.
Nine of Pentacles — Passive income, profitable real estate, successful investment.
Ten of Pentacles — Generous inheritance, family business, addition to the family.
Page of Pentacles — Completing useful courses, graduation, diligent student.
Knight of Pentacles — Increasing wealth, expanding a profitable business, financial stability.
Queen of Pentacles — Rational approach to assets, distribution of financial resources, securities.
King of Pentacles — Large capital, shared funds, banking or stock market operations.
Example Interpretation In a Daily Spread
A Card Has Fallen for You The Empress? This Signifies:
Today is a highly favorable and fruitful day! You have the ability to achieve a lot, doing so calmly and without strain, while maintaining harmony within yourself. Seize this wonderful state to tidy up the most problematic and neglected affairs. The card of the day indicates that all efforts directed towards creation and growth will yield splendid fruits. Moreover, it's an excellent day for love and taking your relationship with your loved one to a new level.