Tarot Study: The Empress (priest, ritual, Earth, Torah, spiritual)

Gentoo · #1 05-30-2008, 08:00 PM

I know it's been a while, but I'm hoping to revive the tarot study

The next card is the Empress:

Post any observations, insights or feelings you get from the cards. The first is from the Rider-Waite deck and the second from the Celtic Dragon deck. Please feel free to compare and contrast the two cards, or post your own and compare all of them.

After some responses on the images of the cards, we can discuss the different meanings associated with the Empress. And please jump start the other Tarot study threads too if you feel the need to.

EtuMalku · #2 05-30-2008, 08:27 PM

Book of THOTH: III The Qabalic letter Daleth meaning door. The planet Venus is associated alchemically. Daleth is the path on the Tree of Life from Chokmah to Binah, it unites the Father with the Mother. The Empress combines the highest spiritual with the lowest material qualities. The Empress is associated with Aset. This card represents pure, unconditional love.

UltraViolet · #3 05-30-2008, 10:33 PM

Is this actually the third card of the whole deck Gentoo?

Can you direct me to the cards you covered already,
and explain the order in which you are moving through them?

I am EXTREEMELY curious/interested in the deck...
and would love to follow your "study" from start to finish.

The only cards I have ever really looked into at all
are the magician, and the fool, and I'm wondering...
is there a deck that depicts the emperess sitting between two pillars,
with a curtain behind her? Because I think that was where I stopped.
Could I be that lucky?

Thanks Sweetheart!
~Violet~

lilithu · #4 05-31-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraViolet

Is this actually the third card of the whole deck Gentoo?

Can you direct me to the cards you covered already,
and explain the order in which you are moving through them?

I am EXTREEMELY curious/interested in the deck...
and would love to follow your "study" from start to finish.

The only cards I have ever really looked into at all
are the magician, and the fool, and I'm wondering...
is there a deck that depicts the emperess sitting between two pillars,
with a curtain behind her? Because I think that was where I stopped.
Could I be that lucky?

Thanks Sweetheart!
~Violet~

The Empress is the fourth card, even tho it's numbered 3. The first is The Fool, which is 0. The second is The Magician, which is 1. And the third is The High Priestess, which is number 2. She is the woman sitting between two pillars with a curtain behind her. She holds the Torah, partly concealed and partly revealed.

lilithu · #5 05-31-2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentoo

The next card is the Empress:

Post any observations, insights or feelings you get from the cards.

The overwhelming sense I get from The Empress is fertility. Abundant life. femininity. softness. Love. Seated on soft pillows. With her loose gown, she very well may be pregnant. The gown itself is adorned with fruit. I see sunshine, water, and earth, and lush vegetation. At her feet, grain, another symbol of fertility and life.

Unlike The High Priestess, who strikes me as cold intellect, The Empress strikes me as warm and emotive. mother.

I'm not quite sure what to make of her crown of stars or pearl necklace.

Gentoo · #6 05-31-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraViolet

Is this actually the third card of the whole deck Gentoo?

Can you direct me to the cards you covered already,
and explain the order in which you are moving through them?

I am EXTREEMELY curious/interested in the deck...
and would love to follow your "study" from start to finish.

The only cards I have ever really looked into at all
are the magician, and the fool, and I'm wondering...
is there a deck that depicts the emperess sitting between two pillars,
with a curtain behind her? Because I think that was where I stopped.
Could I be that lucky?

Thanks Sweetheart!
~Violet~

Along with what Lilithu said, I'm picking up as MaddLlama left off, and she started with the Major Arcana. The other threads are The Fool, The Magician and The High Priestess.

Willamena · #7 05-31-2008, 08:51 AM

To me, the Empress represents the maturation (leading to concretization) of image. The fool steps off the cliff into nothingness, finally understanding that he doesn't understand. The magician is aware that we have tools with which to understand, that we can manipulate and allow to manipulate us. The High Priestess puts an "us" behind the tools, pointing to that that manipulates them as the mystery. Spirit. The Empress/Goddess then is the image that spirit gives birth to: body, form, life, the world, illusive substance/substantial illusion.

Willamena · #8 05-31-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraViolet

I am EXTREEMELY curious/interested in the deck...
and would love to follow your "study" from start to finish.

If you haven't already, you can easily find them on the 'Divination' forum list.
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/divination/

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraViolet

The only cards I have ever really looked into at all
are the magician, and the fool, and I'm wondering...
is there a deck that depicts the emperess sitting between two pillars,
with a curtain behind her? Because I think that was where I stopped.
Could I be that lucky?

That sounds more like the High Priestess.

I too haven't given the Tarot much study, but I enjoy finding progressions in the card images.