The Empress Tarot Card Meaning

The Empress tarot card is associated with a variety of feminine themes and concepts such as motherhood, mother earth, goddess, nature, beauty, and fertility. There is much more to this card than these archetypes though, and having a strong affinity to the Empress major arcana card can have a great impact on your life. Let’s dive right in and explore the various meanings of this tarot card to see how it affects those who encounter it in a tarot reading.

Card Overview

The Empress is generally depicted as an authoritative blonde hair woman in regal attire sitting on a throne. However, the hair color, race, demeanor, and attire of the woman may be different depending on the deck being used. The Empress is one of the 22 Major Arcana in tarot readings making it one of the most powerful tarot cards along with others such as The Hierophant.

Like other Major Arcana cards, the meaning of this card changes depending on whether it is in the upright position or the reversed position. While it may seem that the upright position relates to positive qualities, and the reversed position to negative qualities, it isn’t that simple. Instead, the reversed position serves more like a warning or a signal that course correction is needed. In any case, let’s take a closer look at the traits associated with both the upright and reversed positions of this tarot card.

The Empress Upright

The upright position of this tarot card represents a range of positive qualities related to feminine energy. Here is a quick list:

• Fertility
• Motherhood
• Nurturing
• Creativity
• Sensuality
• Nature
• Beauty
• Abundance
• Mystical Realm
• Mother Earth
• Natural World

Love & Relationships – Upright

Being a card with strong feminine traits, when The Empress appears it oftentimes points to events such as pregnancy or finding a serious and stable committed relationship (find out more here). It can also be a reference to relationships in the immediate family and your role within it. This includes both your spouse/partner and your children.

It should also be noted that The Empress’ connection to the Earth goddess archetype, and the element of earth itself, means that traits such as nurturing, compassion, spending quality time and maternal love are present. Overall, this is a sign that everything is going well and will continue to move in a positive direction for the foreseeable future.

Job & Career – Upright

When it comes to your career, the upright form of The Empress appears as a sign that you’re experiencing an abundance of creativity and motivation or a new idea. This can be a great boon in your career and may signal a positive change such as a promotion, raise, or that you may get to work on a passion project if you aren’t already.

Interestingly enough, the upright form of The Empress may also signal an intersection between your career and your relationships. It could mean that you’ll form a close bond with one of your coworkers or it could mean that you’ll take on a nurturing mentorship type role to someone. In any case, This card is a strong indicator that you’re a force of peace and harmony at your workplace and that you shouldn’t be afraid to be the peacemaker if the situation calls for it.

Money & Finances – Upright

Since The Empress card is closely associated with abundance, the upright form indicates that you have, or will have, all that you need to live comfortably. It can also be an indicator that you should embrace your generous nature and share the wealth with friends, family, or even strangers. In any case, there will be more than enough to go around.

Another aspect of the upright Empress is the representation of good luck regarding your finances. This can be a sign that things are about to turn around for you if you currently find yourself struggling or that your current success will build upon itself and multiply. However, this good fortune isn’t simply a twist of fate. Instead, it’s something that is brought about by the positive qualities you possess that are in alignment with the themes and traits of The Empress tarot card.

The Empress Reversed

The reversed position of The Empress tarot card warns against several negative traits that can manifest themselves. Interestingly enough, some of these negative traits are simply the positive traits taken to their extremes. Here’s a quick list:

• Overbearing
• Insecurity
• Promiscuity
• Dependence on Others
• Refusal to Grow
• Lack of Emotional Attachment
• Detached From Your Feminine Side
• Creative Block

Now that we’ve gone over the upright and reversed meanings of The Empress reversed tarot card, let’s see how this applies to several specific situations in your life such as love, your job/career, and money management. Many factors can determine the specific meaning in regards to you personally, so think of this as a general overview that covers several possible meanings that are closely associated with this card.

Love & Relationships – Reverse

When it comes to The Empress reversed it can signal several distressing themes when it comes to love. It might mean that you or your partner are being too overbearing in your relationship and that you need to back off a bit. The flip side of this is that it can also be a sign that your relationship lacks intimacy and stability. This can mean that you and your partner need to become closer physically, mentally, and/or spiritually.

If you’re not in a relationship, the reverse Empress can be an indicator that you’re lacking in self-esteem or that you’re engaging in promiscuity without any real sense of attachment behind it. This can be a sign that you need to seek a greater sense of self-worth and/or stability in your relationships.

Job & Career – Reverse

The Empress reversed can represent several problems in your career in its reverse form. You may be experiencing frustration, a creative block, or a lack of motivation at work. You could also be having trouble with your coworkers and boss due to them being overbearing. Altneraly, you may be the one who’s being overbearing and unreasonable.

Insecurity is also a big theme here as well. This could be a sign that you’re experiencing anxiety over your job security, or that you feel that your career isn’t going anywhere. Either way, the reverse Empress encourages you to make some changes to align things with your goals and dreams.

Money & Finances – Reverse

Surprisingly, the Empress reversed does not signal a lack of abundance or financial insecurity. Instead, it represents a lack of confidence in your current financial situation. This anxiety can be the result of past experiences such as losing your job and/or living through hard times. Regardless, The Empress is a symbol of abundance and encourages you to appreciate what you have.

The Empress reversed can also be a sign that you’re being too generous and are spreading your wealth too thin. This is because The Empress has a strong connection to generosity. However, when taken too far, generosity can become a negative trait for both you and those around you.

Letting The Empress Guide You

If you possess a strong affinity with The Empress tarot card, it is a sign that you are in touch with your feminine side and that you can make the most of these qualities. This doesn’t only apply to women since an internal balance of traits is always optimal for any individual. The positive traits associated with The Empress tend to project externally and will manifest themselves through a variety of positive qualities that benefit those around you.

In a way, The Empress is very selfless with her focus on generosity and nurturing just like the Queen of Cups. That said, it also places a strong emphasis on internal qualities such as self-confidence, creativity, and inner peace. Being associated with the Earth goddess archetype, The Empress is a symbol of gentle and loving authority over one’s self and one’s surroundings.

If you are feeling a lack of stability in your relationships, anxiety over your finances, or frustration at work, The Empress can be a guiding beacon that brings you back into balance. Since self-confidence is one of the core attributes of The Empress, processing your feelings and achieving internal peace will bring the external changes that you desire.