The Queen stands on a green hill, with one foot on the grass and another on a brown rock.  She wears a deep blue-purple dress with a red sash, and a yellow crown with red trim.  Behind her are golden hills, puffy white clouds in a light blue sky, and a large Lady Slipper plant (the herb for this card) with green leaves and light pink flower.  The flower of this plant is in a orchid-like shape, with a deep lobed cup.  Like many such Queens, she has a sword in her left hand and broken chains on her right wrist.  She has cut through the chains of limited thinking and societal strictures, and stands strong, independent, and clear-thinking.

The authors describe her as two parts air, one part water, and see her as opening herself to unconventional ideas and psychic energies – the purple of her gown and pink receptivity of the flower symbolize the mystical traditions she is exploring. This is very interesting to me, in light of a conversation I was having recently with another member of the list, about taking an analytical approach to tarot and other metaphysical studies, and the Queen of Swords featured in that discussion as well.  This Queen, in addition to being intellectual and analytical, has just enough water and receptivity in her nature to channel spirituality and combine it with all that mental energy, using the results with the benefit of clear sight and experience.  Her red sash indicates her willingness to actively use her intelligence and new ideas.

Her stance and footing indicate that while she is working with these psychic energies and opening her inner self to new ideas, she is able to ground herself and remain balanced.  She can use these new ideas objectively, without getting carried away like the Knight of Swords or lost in contemplation like the Queen of Cups.  She remains engaged in the world and desires to use her knowledge for a right purpose.  A reversal may indicate that she has lost her grounding or balance and has become harsh, critical, hurtful, and quick to take up a verbal attack or counterattack.  She can be overly sure of her knowledge and unyielding in her beliefs, and authoritarian in her actions.

The spiritual properties of the Lady Slipper include creating a closer connection to the earth, internal balancing, and inducing calmness and clarity of thought.  These properties are helpful in stabilizing the Air/Water combination and providing grounding when working with metaphysical energies.  Unfortunately, it has been overused and is now very rare and difficult to find, and the authors suggest alternatives including lavender flowers and calamus.

Thrysse