0. The Fool I. The Magician II. The High Priestess III. The Empress IV. The Emperor V. The Hierophant VI. The Lovers VII. The Chariot VIII. Strength VIV. The Hermit X. The Wheel of Fortune XI. Justice XII. The Hanged Man XIII. Death XIV. Temperance XV. The Devil XVI. The Tower XVII. The Star XVIII. The Moon XVIV. The Sun XX. Judgment XXI. The World

The Empress represents lush femininity, a juxtaposition of fertility, sensuality, and abundance. She is the nurturer, the lover, the mother. She is the earthly counterpoint to the High Priestess--the other side of femininity. Where the High Priestess is secret and hidden, the Empress is down-to-earth and open. She is naked rather than veiled. If the Empress shows up in a reading, she may portend abundance, creativity, or earthiness. She may predict a pregnancy, a new lover, or material wealth in your future. Alternatively, she may be asking you to count you blessings, to recognize the abundance you already have in your life. She may be encouraging you to get out of your head and keep your feet on the ground. She may refer to generativity or the urge to create something beautiful. My Empress is a pregnant woman, blissfully lounging in her garden. She rests in a wheelbarrow, symbolizing her connection with the earth. A gold anklet dangles on her leg, and pearls spill out from beneath her, but she pays them little regard. She has beauty and wealth to spare, and can think only of the new blessing being nurtured inside her body. Her garden is filled with grapes, tulips, and jasmine. The grapes and tulips symbolize fertility, while the jasmine symbolizes grace and sensuality. Come into her garden and get dirt under your nails while you wear rings on every finger. The Empress, queen of creation and generativity, encourages you to make love, make babies, and make joy.