← “Röhrig Cards” deck

The Empress

“Röhrig Cards” deck · card #3

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"He who rests upon the stillness of his heart, acknowledging it as his authority — what other authority could he need?"
Zhuangzi

From the two preceding cards, the Magician (the masculine source, active energy) and the High Priestess (the feminine source, receptive energy), arises the third card, the Empress, who symbolizes the child, the created world, the visible universe and nature. This third card emerges from the union of opposites, through which something new is born — the child, the "three." The energetic quality of the third card differs quite considerably from that of its predecessors. In the second card we saw woman in her mystical, contemplative aspect; in the third card we meet a young, defiant woman who confidently displays her femininity. She radiates a thirst for life; a haughty sensuality sparkles in her eyes. The crown on her head signifies consciousness. She is fully aware of her power and her attractiveness as a woman.

The masculine source, paying her due homage, brings her his seed as an offering, from which new life may arise. In this way the eternal cycles of nature move through birth, life and death. The Empress is the patroness of all three aspects. She guards the great mystery of conception, as well as the mystery of pregnancy. The fertility and abundance with which she surrounds herself grant us spring, the season of rebirth, when everything is fresh and young, only to become dry and old by autumn. She is Persephone, daughter of Demeter, who spends half of every year (the winter months) in the Underworld, and the other six months (summer) upon the surface of the earth.

Fire is the element corresponding to both this card and the Magician. The Empress's burning red hair and the recklessly bold, penetrating expression of her eyes underscore her closeness to fire. Like the Magician, she embodies activity. Her symbol is Venus, goddess of love. Because of Venus's alluring femininity, offerings were brought to her altar.

The Empress also embodies the Great Mother, the primal ancestress from whom all that is material descended. She holds within her three manifestations of God: creation, preservation and destruction. She represents the three dimensions of space: depth, width and height. She symbolizes the three phases of life: birth, life and death. The laws of matter rule on Earth, and everything that has been born must also die.

People who have reached this phase understand that Mother Nature will lead, protect and preserve them on their earthly path. This explains why they begin to care for their bodies, which give them the chance to experience this thing called "life." From this moment on they will begin to pay conscious attention to their health, so that the outer, material shell may serve them for as long as possible, until it finally returns to Mother Earth.

The card of the Empress signifies energy, activity, evolution, success, abundance, initiative and will. Together with her creative nature, the Empress participates in the very act of creation.

The Hebrew letter of this card is DALETH (door). The path of life leads to this door, in order to show us the diversity and abundance that lies beyond ourselves. After passing through this door we, in the end, pass through further gates, as we once again begin a new life.

To the third card belongs the rune THURISAZ (thorn and/or thunder). THURISAZ embodies the potential energy contained within all bipolar extremes. The power of rebirth and fertility fulfills itself through the mystery of the rune THURISAZ.

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