The Empress (III) is the 3th Major Arcana card in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot tradition. Element: Earth. Astrological correspondence: Venus. Key themes: abundance, fertility, nurturing, beauty, creativity. In a reading, this card addresses the querent's relationship with these archetypal themes.
Visual Symbolism
The Rider-Waite-Smith Empress card depicts a regal woman seated on a plush, red cushion. She is adorned with a crown of twelve stars, signifying her connection to the zodiac and the natural cycles of time. A flowing white gown, patterned with pomegranates, suggests fertility and the bounty of the earth, as well as the mythological Persephone's connection to the underworld's abundance. At her feet lies a heart-shaped