Fertility and abundance - The Empress

Fertility and abundance - perfect Beltane topics!

The Empress has an astrological link to Taurus through its ruler, Venus.  Venus is probably best known to us as one of the great lovers in Roman mythology, along with Mars (Aphrodite and Ares in the Greek pantheon). In astrology, the planet has become associated with love and relationships.  It also, by extension, reflects our tastes – what we find beautiful or attractive, or pleasurable. Venus rules Libra, the Airy sign seeking peaceful and harmonious partnership.

The Lady (trimmed):
© Druid Craft Tarot

Our relationship to the more material side comes through Taurus, the Earthy, sensuous sign.  Here our relationship to money and ownership, for instance, comes through. It also reflects our relationship to the Earth itself.

The Empress symbolizes natural, earthy creativity. The earthiness of Taurus brings fertility into the mix, so in The Empress we have the heat and passion of Venus and the nurturing of creativity.  She’s often depicted as a pregnant woman, basking in nature and in the element of Earth, reflecting the idea of fertility and motherhood.  Sometimes a waterfall flowing into a river is present in the image, represents the union of female and male in procreation. Creating life is not the only possibility, of course, but it’s such a wonderful metaphor for the birth of any new creative process.

The Hierophant (trimmed):
©Beginner's Guide to the Tarot

Venus, representing the principle of attraction, brings passion and love to the process, be it a new relationship or a new creative project.  That unconditional love, particularly of a mother, is seen in the Thoth’s version of the card – a pelican feeding its young with its own blood. The Empress not only gives birth but also nurtures its creation through to maturity.

Sometimes we see a Horn of Plenty, or cornucopia, representing abundance – a very Venusian-Taurean concept. Venus’ rulership of Taurus reflects the sense of stability and contentment through being comfortable physically – and through bringing something to fruition.  

DruidCraft Tarot created by Philip Carr-Gomm and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, illustrated by Will Worthington, published by Connections

The Beginner's Guide to Tarot created by Juliet Sharman-Burke, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli, published by Connections

Taurus in the Druidcraft Major Arcana – The Lady

The Lady (Druidcraft Tarot)

Taurus, though Venus’ rulership, is often seen as the sensual sign of the zodiac.  In the tarot, Venus is associated with The Empress – called The Lady in the Druidcraft - who in many images is depicted as a pregnant woman, basking in nature and in the element of Earth.  Sometimes we see a Horn of Plenty, representing abundance – a very Taurean concept. The Lady cradles one in her left arm, while in her left she holds a sheaf of wheat. There’s a sense of stability here in earthy Taurus, as well as contentment through being comfortable physically.  

Venus brings awareness of the feminine and the principle of attraction – new relationships and marriage can be indicated by this card. Add the earthiness of Taurus and we have the idea of fertility and also motherhood, from birth through to maturity of the child. The waterfall beside her represents the union of female and male necessary to create a child. Creating life – procreation - is not the only possibility, of course. The Empress represents birth and nurturing of all creative processes.

Druidcraft Tarot created by Philip Carr-Gomm and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, illustrated by Will Worthington, published by Connections