The Major Arcana of the Tarot, the Empress, is one of the most significant arcana. It governs the entire universe and is responsible for life on all levels of existence. It is a very strong, powerful, and pervasive feminine energy. In this article, we will explore the symbolism, meanings, and interpretations of the Empress card according to the French Tarot system of Dr. Papus.

Overview

The Empress is the 3rd Major Arcana in the Tarot deck. In a spread, it can appear upright or reversed, which will determine the meaning of the card. Her energy manifests in everyone’s life, as we all live in the material world and fulfill earthly tasks.

The Symbolism

On the card, we see a beautiful woman towering over planet Earth. She is dressed in green clothes, a symbol of the heart chakra. She holds a scepter, the sign of Venus, and a shield, the symbol of the protector, and on her head is a crown, which means the egregore recognized across different cultures. The Tarot card also has the Sun and Moon symbols, signifying the gender energies governed by the Empress.

Key Meanings

• fulfillment of social roles
• building relationships, creating a family
• humane attitude towards people and animals
• care for nature and ecology

The Upright Empress Card — General Meaning

The card is responsible for universal goals of earthly life — relationships between people, male-female and child-parent relationships, procreation, and continuation of lineage. At this point in life, fate requires a person to take actions that will help them open up more within their gender: to become a more feminine woman or a more masculine man. This is necessary to accomplish the goals that are more suitable for each gender from the Empress’ perspective. Women’s focus lies in relationships and men’s is in work and fulfillment. In these areas, it is easier for them to achieve goals, feel the flow of energy, understand what is happening, and choose the next steps.

Love and relationships

The Empress perceives a woman’s purpose in the development of relationships, in bringing them to a new level. To invest in a man in order to open up through interaction with him, to enhance her feminine energy, increase sexuality, and inner strength. It is important to learn to connect with a man, to hold a competent conversation, and to choose favorable circumstances for him. This card can guide a woman through different relationships, so that she gets the experience of communication, and interaction with men, and gains wisdom and karma to meet the man she needs. The Empress is especially supportive of pregnant women.

Men are tasked with bringing the family to a new social level and providing conditions for its harmonious development. The Empress sends him money, necessary information, and career advancement to leverage them for the benefit of the family, or to think about its creation, planning the future. In relationships, the man takes a more dominant position, but it is as important for him to invest in them, be open to connection and discussion.

Career and finances

The Empress encourages a harmless, humane attitude to the world around, kindness to all its inhabitants, nature, and actions that benefit others. And vice versa, discourages everything that harms other living creatures, their development, and life. In work-related matters, it means a fair attitude toward people: caring for employees, creating a good environment for colleagues, attention to customers, and courtesy.

Self-development and spiritual growth

In such matters, the Tarot Arcana, the Empress, recommends investing in your development, to develop as a woman or a man.

Card Recommendation

Put energy into the task at hand, and do what the Empress expects of you. Her presence in the card indicates that this is an important topic that needs to be developed. For women — open up, activate feminine energy, manifest more as a woman, and turn your attention to relationships. For men — pay more attention to family, people around you, and direct resources to them. In all interactions, the card recommends a harmless attitude, courtesy, and care.

The Reversed Empress Card — General Meaning

Behaviors that are detrimental to the relationship or the development of the person within their gender. This can be an attempt to escape from problems in the relationship, acting maliciously, or engaging in deceitful behavior.

Love and Relationships

A woman can anger the Empress if her behavior humiliates a man, shows that he is not manly enough and is not capable of anything. When she chooses the path of detachment over constructive dialogue and attempts to solve everything on her own. For a man, the Empress can turn over if he avoids relationships for a long time, pays little attention to the family, spends the resources given to him elsewhere, and is not invested in the family. She also punishes for disrespectful attitude towards women and frivolous connections.

Career and Finances

A person mistreats employees and colleagues, acts inappropriately and dishonestly, which angers the Empress.

Self-development and spiritual growth

The individual invests little in his or her personal development and fails to fulfill his or her social role.

Card Recommendation

Rectify what displeases the Empress. Analyze your actions and find out how you could have upset her — it is not too late to make changes.

The Major Arcana of the Tarot, the Empress, oversees life in a global sense. You can turn to her for help in building strong relationships, marriage, and family matters, as well as for help in career advancement and financial development, pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing. When we are ready to invest energy and resources, to fulfill our duty honestly, to treat the planet and other people with respect, the Empress always helps.