Creativity, whether creating life (babies) or projects is a major theme of the Empress. Thus, you can connect to your innate creativity when working with the energies of the Empress.
Order wise, the Empress card is the 4th card in the Major Arcana section of the traditional Tarot deck. Notably, the Major Arcana cards relate to our important life lessons, while the Minor Arcana cards (suit cards)relate to our every day circumstances.
Symbolism in the Empress Card
Here, the Empress sits upon a velvet cushioned chair in her well-nurtured landscape wearing what is considered a maternity gown. Thus, her gown symbolizes that she has “a bun in the oven,” incubating an actual baby or a creative idea or project. Even the pomegranates on her gown symbolize fertility and the wheat growing at her feet symbolizes fertile soil.
Moreover, the heart-shaped shield on her lower right, engraved with the Venus astrological glyph, denotes love, femininity, nurturing, creativity and fertility. Additionally, the stream of flowing water running through the landscape to her left denotes the same attributes as the Venus glyph.
Furthermore, the Empress wears a crown of 12 stars representative of her connection to the 12 constellations (zodiac signs) and 12 months of the year. She also wears a necklace and holds up a scepter, both representing her Regal status. Let no one doubt that even though a nurturer, the Empress reigns as the ‘Queen Bee” of the Major Arcana.
When the Empress Turns up in a Reading
Empress Card Keywords – Creativity, Nurturing, Fertility
Should the Empress show up in a reading she’s generally a positive omen. For the Empress may represent a motherly or nurturing woman. Or she may indicate there is or will be a pregnancy.
But also likely, the Querent (reading requester) may have or will have a creative project incubating.
Reversed Empress Card Meaning
Personally, I don’t read reversed (upside down) cards. But if you do, a reversed Empress in a reading may indicate infertility is an issue. Or perhaps smothering, as in too much mothering is present.
But more likely, a reversed Empress may indicate the Querent is blocking their creativity. This could be a situation of procrastination or worse, the insidious writer’s/artist’s block.
Connect to your Creativity with the Empress Spread
- Card 1 – What of significance have I created in the past?
- Card 2 – What am I in the process of creating in the present?
- Card 3 – What new creations do I want to create?
- Card 4 – What inspires me to express my creativity?
- Card 5 – What blocks me from connecting to my innate creativity?
- Card 6 – How can I deepen the connection to my creativity?
- Card 7 – What is the possible future outcome if I use my creativity to its fullest potential?
Final Words for Connect to your Creativity with the Empress Spread
Blocked creativity is a common malady among Creators today. For with the rise of the internet and social media, there are many more incessantly engaging in content creation. Thus, with the constant pressure to create, it’s inevitable that a Creative’s well will occasionally dry up. Fortunately, the above spread featuring the creative energies of the Empress can aid in getting one’s creative groove back.
I hope you will give this Connect to your Creativity with the Empress Spread a try. I know you will find it as insightfully creative as I have. As always, thank you for reading. And Happy Taroting!
Note: To book a professional Tarot reading with Jeannette see our Book a Reading page.
