III – the Empress Tarot Card Meaning

with care

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Tarot Alley uses the Rider Waite type of deck for our meanings, symbols, interpretations, etc.

The Empress represents care of oneself and care of others. It’s a card that represents both the internal and external. The Empress does not neglect herself whilst caring for others and neither does she focus only on herself at the expense of all others. The Empress represents the giving and receiving of care.

The Empress is not all about NOW. It’s about long-term growth, change, and continuity. Care is not instantaneous, it requires time, commitment, and continuous support.

Take a look at the Rider-Waite Empress displayed to the left (or above).

What is your first impression?

Who is this person? What are they doing? Where are they? What does the imagery mean to you?

There’s no right or wrong answer here, just your interpretation.

Astrology: Venus
Element: Earth
Numerology: 3 (productivity, results)

Common Symbols

• Plants Growing to represent growth
• a Crown to represent power
• Crops to represent abundance

Keywords & Concepts

the Empress for Personal Growth

Your attitudes toward women (and your insights into your own feminine qualities) are likely rooted in early experiences. Consider how these attitudes affect your daily life and what changes/improvements you should make.

Ask Yourself:

• How can you emulate the best female role models you’ve encountered?
• How can you transcend female influences that harm or hold you back?
• What would a concerned and capable mother do?
• What can you do that would emphasize growth?
• How can you celebrate your sensuality and sexuality?
• How might themes of comfort or indulgence impact your situation?
• In your situation, what outcomes struggle to be born?
• Is it time to put your intuition into motion?
• What do you have dominion over?

Interpreting the Empress

When the Empress appears it’s time to nurture. You’re overflowing with care, compassion, and empathy.

You should spread your caring out, making sure to provide yourself with an ample amount while also nurturing and caring for those around you.

The Reversed Empress

How you read reversals is a personal choice. You can ignore reversals and read them as if the card is upright (this is what I often choose to do) or you can interpret reversals as variations of what they would mean upright. There are 3 common ways to read reversals: as a negative interpretation, as an opposite interpretation, or as a block on the upright interpretation. Check out How to Read Reversals for more information.

Negative: A negative reversed Empress suggests an overextension. You’re caring too much about someone and starting to burn yourself out. Don’t forget that self-care is equally as important as care for others.

Opposite: An opposite reversed Empress means you need to be careful. Someone in your life might try and take advantage of the additional care you’re offering. Be careful not to overdo caring for others.

Blocked: A blocked reversed Empress indicates something is preventing you from being your most nurturing self.

Examples of the High Priestess

Specific Interpretations

Specific situations are the general interpretation (from above) used for a specific situation (love, career, etc). There is no need to memorize these (or even look them up) if you understand the general interpretation. However, here are some basic interpretations for some specific situations:

the Empress Tarot Card Meaning