| Empress | |
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Other Names |
Queen; Night, Day; Isis-Urania |
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First Appearance |
Tarot Card Decks |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
The Empress (III) is the third trump or Major Arcana card in traditional tarot decks. It is used in card games as well as divination.
The Empress card in tarot is rich with symbolism and imagery that convey themes of fertility, nurturing, and abundance. She is typically depicted seated on a throne, signifying stability and power, often adorned with motifs underscoring her dominion over nature. Her crown of twelve stars represents her connection to the celestial realm and the zodiac, highlighting her universal influence.
The Empress holds a scepter, symbolizing authority and control over the natural world. A shield with the symbol of Venus by her side reflects her association with the goddess of love, beauty, and creativity, reinforcing themes of fertility and attraction. The lush landscape around her, featuring fields of wheat, rivers, and trees, symbolizes abundance and the nurturing aspects of nature.
Astrologically, the Empress is associated with Venus, enhancing her themes of harmony and nurturing. She is connected to the Earth element, emphasizing her grounding, life-giving qualities, and her role in the physical, material aspects of life. Numerologically, the Empress corresponds to the number three, signifying creativity, growth, and expansion, embodying synthesis and harmony.
In the esoteric tradition, particularly within the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the Empress is linked to the sephirah of Binah and its path to Chokmah, representing understanding and the nurturing aspect of the divine feminine. Binah, as the Great Mother, gives form and structure to creation, further emphasizing the Empress's role as a life-giving and nurturing force.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Empress from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910)
Public Domain Game Appearances[]
- Rider–Waite Tarot Deck (1910)
Notes[]
- In "Stardust Crusaders", the third part of Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, every character's "stand" is based on a different tarot card.