Tarot Tuesday

The Empress

The Empress is the Great Mother card. She is the life force that gives birth to all creation. She is abundant and fruitful. Everything in life is born through her. She depicts the true nature with which we are born. When well placed during a reading she indicates that the questioner is using their talents to the full, and when reversed she indicates the opposite or a blockage in this area of your life. In other words, she symbolises a block to using ones inherent gifts and an inability to reach full creative potential.

The Empress is also the card of Maternal Love. It brings wonderful influences and benefits. No matter what the current circumstances, they can only be helped and improved by the appearance of this card.

The number of the Empress is 3 which stands for Creation. She also represents fertility, so children born of and with love may be a relevant factor now. In relationships, there will be a lot of love and affection. Expressions of generosity and kindness will be sincere and genuine. It is also a card of creativity; creative seeds are planted and will flourish and grow. This might be a work of art, a piece of writing or a musical endeavor.

When the Empress makes an appearance in a tarot spread, she is relatively easy to interpret. When representing someone other than the querent, she is almost always going to stand for a mother figure. If she's not the actual mother, then she is very likely someone who plays a similar role for the querent in one way or another. 


If the Empress is situated in such a way that she represents the querent herself, then it should be taken to mean that she is at a point in her life when she's feeling somewhat maternal, although this does not have to be in a traditional sense that revolves around children. She may also be feeling protective or "motherly" in regards to a new business venture or a new relationship.

On another note...I'd like to introduce you to a terrific new forum called The Magician's Grotto. I recently signed up as a member because ThelmicWaves is such a wellspring of information for me about the tarot, specifically the Thoth tarot deck I recently bought. The topics range from herbalism, spirituality, magick and the Tarot and a wonderful group of people to exchange ideas and information with. I found it extremely refreshing to join such a knowledgeable, high energy, fantastic place to learn and contribute!

Serenity Sunday

Only One Mother

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

~George Cooper~

My List:

1.) My grandmother

2.) My children

3.) Lullabies

4.) Rocking chairs

5.) Homemade apple pies

6.) Playing dress up

7.) Crocheted afghans

8.) Gentle loving hands

9.) An old Victrola

10.) Tattered old photo albums and black and white photographs

The Threefold Goddess

Spanning many traditions found around the world is the concept of the goddess as being threefold. These perceptions shared associations with the moon phases, with the growing seasons and with the phases of a woman’s life. Most frequently they are described as Maiden, Mother and Crone. With a strong connection to the Earth and its cycles, it’s not surprising that this view can be found in so many cultures.

The Greeks, Romans, Norse, Celtic and Hindu spiritual systems all had groups of goddesses who fit this interpretation. Sometimes a single goddess could embody all three and sets of threes were also found in some of the minor deities.

The Greek Furies and the Fates of Roman and Nordic beliefs are examples of this. Several goddess were of such complexity that they embodied the Triple Goddess all on their own. Brighid, Hecate and Kali all had multiple aspects. You can work with established triads of goddesses or compose your own based on what feels best for you.

~The Maiden, a young girl, represents the first stage. Newness, youth, purity, and innocence were qualities possessed by the Maiden. This matches the new moon phase. Fresh flowers, new grains and the color white are all appropriate for working with this energy. Springtime rituals often involve these deities. Specific instances when you might want to invoke the Maiden are during any new beginnings, when starting a new job, at the start of a new relationship and as part of a puberty ritual for young girls.

~The Mother, a woman who has reached puberty, represents the second stage. Her role is one of fertility, growth, sexuality and ripeness. She also is in a position of power, either from her life-giving forces or in her actions to defend her young. The full moon corresponds to the Mother, as does the color red. Summer and fall rituals, when crops are growing and being harvested, are when to work with these goddesses. Working with the Mother often happens when projects are reaching fruition, in rituals as part of marriage
and childbirth, for protection of people or animals, and when working with plants.

~The Crone, an elderly woman, represents the last phase. She is symbolic of wisdom, experience, change, transformation and death. The waning moon is associated with the Crone. Like the moon phase, the death she represents is necessary for rebirth. Winter is her season and her color is black. Working with the Crone is related to rituals that are about the ending of things (quitting a job, divorce, etc.), moving out of a home, extreme protection or retribution (assault, abuse), passing through menopause, or dealing with a death.