Introduction
The description from the book by Howard Rodway is a little long, so I'm basically just going to give you my description of it and run through the meanings. If I haven't said it before, these cards are packed with so much symbolism - especially the Empress! The book is a really big help.

Associations
Planet: Venus

Elements: Earth and Air

Month: May and October

Description
In this card we see a pregnant woman, wearing the robe of Nature, who is nursing a baby. According to the description, "the Empress expresses and uses those powers that are retained and kept veiled by the High

Priestess to create a world of abundance and comfort. She instintively protects what is hers and brings about wholesome development. The Empress approaches things in a good-tempered and orderly manner, using her powers of sense and reason."

Symbolism
Venus: represented by the shield and the necklace around the Empress' neck, and also by the cherries present at her foot.

Lamb: purity and innocence

Stock doves and Pine Beauty: the Soul

Stag: the Tree of Life

Ripening corn: the life cycle and the Harvest

Mistletoe: Regeneration and restoration of family life

Pomegranate: Oneness of the universe and fecundity

Hare, Forest: Goddess/Great Mother

River: This is the river of subconscious and psychic activity, which originated in the High Priestess card.

Responses
I've really enjoyed working with this card. The Empress of the Old Path speaks of fertility, abundance, fruitfulness, femininity, and motherly love. The representation in the book discusses that this card is Mother

Earth whose beneficent aspects manifest themselves through her children, both human and animal alike. The Empress also expresses qualities of creativity, inspiration, practicality, and protectiveness.

I have to say that I do have a problem with one of the symbolisms of this card, and that is the woman being Isis (hence the lotus-tipped scepter) .... perhaps it's all the interest and reading I've done on ancient Egypt, but I would be more comfortable seeing Her in a oasis than a forest!

 Dana
darklayce@prodigy.net