The next card that we meet on our journey is the Empress; I have to confess she is one of my favourite cards, as she is full of grace and fecundity. I often imagine that she can get off her well padded throne and croon a wonderful deep jazz song with the likes of Ertha Kit or our modern sweetheart Katie Melua. The empress wears a crown of 12 stars, which I like to see as depicting the 12 signs of the zodiac. Her sceptre is held in her right hand indicating that she has a definite air of power. She has the glyph of Venus inscribed on her shield it is almost as though she believes that love will shield us, which let's face it is a wonderful if naïve thought, but one that I believe that we could cling to in times of distress!
The Empress is the ultimate positive Mother, she is fertile, generous, creative, and she encourages us to give full expression to our dreams. She is the bearer of ultimate harmony and grace. Is there an area in your life where you express the qualities of the Empress? This is an area where we can build our softer more generous nature.
If you want to embody this wonderful energy even more why not spend a day in the garden clearing our all the dying plants, or in the kitchen baking something special, for a loved one.
Or:
Spend some time meditating on harmony, balance and healing, the truly feminine qualities that everyone can embrace.
Here is a fabulous project. Have some red and white roses in a vase, take one of each of them, take the petals off, sprinkle them around you in circle, light some rose incense, and sit within the circle. Breathe…….in and out……slowly imagine all the symbols that are on the Empress card. Wheat, the staff of life, the glyph of Venus flowers on the empress' dress, the cypress trees [sacred to Venus] and the river of life flowing. Breathe in this wonderful image and know that there is a part of you that in the imaginal world resonates this rich generous reflection.
The Empress is creative, she embodies that productivity of a Mother, as well as friend and lover, and she is certainly the woman who tends the soil and makes sure that there is healthy nourishing food on the table. She is also that wonderful sensuous lover who enjoys her lovemaking without posturing or playing games, she has a healthy attitude towards sex, and by virtue of her nature, she is respected by all who come into her arena. People love coming to her home as she is welcoming gentle and easy with any-one from any walk of life.
The empress actually embodies the Mother Goddess; she is deeply intuitive and operates from pure emotion. She embodies passionate experience in all areas of life; there is no control or false ego apparent. Enjoy this wonderful presence in your life as we move towards winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer in the South, and as we continue our journey through the Tarot.

About Bernie
Bernie Rowen relocated to Scotland from South Africa, where she had a counselling practiced based on Jungian principles and shamanic work. She has published 2 books, Massage, published by New Holland Publishing and Natural Solutions an A-Z of natural healing published by Metz press. She holds many qualifications in Natural Medicine and counselling from Reiki to clinical hypnotherapy and holds a diploma in Adult Education from the University of Cape Town she is registered with Independent Professional Therapists International as well as Tarot Professionals.
She lives in Livingston and runs a practice using both tarot and astrology as tools for spiritual and personal development. Bernie also runs psychic development evening's, all welcome, particularly beginners. To make an appointment This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it her or call 01506-433638