The Empress

Mastery

To understand the true nature of existence we can not live in denial. The secret lies within  acceptance of reality and mastery of self. Denial of reality causes suffering. This is the lesson we can glean from the Empress. 

She is a creature of the physical world and, as her laurel suggests, has become its master. The twelve stars on her crown and the seven pearls of her necklace show us her understanding of not only the cycles of the year but also the cycles of human life. The white rectangle design on her robe tells us she lives within the principle of “As above so below/ As below so above” (two cubes of space, one atop the other other). This speaks to an understanding that we can shape our lives through our choices. The red triangle on the bottom of the rectangle tells us how she does it; the infinite capability of the Trine (humans working together) backed by their desire (red) changes the microcosmos which reflects in the macrocosmos. This is the essence of what most consider to be magic while the Empress knows this to be part of our natural capacity. Her sceptre tells us that she is acutely aware that her power comes from having a physical body (cross over the circle), for it is within the body that she contains her strength (shield in the shape of a heart), and it is within her heart that she carries her sense for peace and compassion (white dove). All the while she is in strict control of her subconscious (foot on the moon).

What is the result of all this control and mastery? A bountiful harvest in the physical realm. If we truly only have one shot at life, we must make the best of it. We do this when we find balance between the heart (shield), the mind (starry crown), the emotions (moon) and the body (sceptre) but none of this is possible unless we are well grounded in reality (stone throne).