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The Esoteric Symbology of the Rider-Waite Tarot

The Empress and Emperor

By Gary Shook (Usul)

The Empress

In keeping with the dualism we have observed in the three previous cards of the Tarot (Fool, Magician and Priestess), the Empress takes it one step further. While the Fool and the Magician contained both aspects of duality within one form (or body); and the Priestess (while externally dividing the masculine/feminine/, positive/negative) retained control over both aspects (more than just control, an acceptance of and commitment to the principles of polarity); the Empress is the pure feminine. In the Tarot's journey of decent into matter and return to spirit, this card represents the first separation of one polarity from the other in a separate and distinct form.

The Priestess and the Empress are alike in that they both are feminine and have masculine reflections (consorts or partners) in other cards of the Tarot. They differ in both the forms of femininity they embody and their relationship to their masculine reflections. The Priestess's form controls and directs the masculine energies around her. She is the strongest aspect of feminine power in a non-romantic sense. She is the spiritual, the celibate and dark mystery of the Moon. The Priestess's reflection is the Hierophant and her relationship to him is one of opposition. The Empress's form is one of the wife and mother, and she Emphasizes the maternal and care giving aspects of the feminine. While the Priestess seems to reject life, the Empress fully embraces it, even embodying its fertility. The Empress is the third card of the Tarot, the number three representing fertility and reproduction. (1 is masculine and 2 is feminine, 3 is the result or child of their combination: 1+2=3, man + woman = child.) She is the fertile love of the Earth Mother, whose loving arms suckled all humanity. Her relationship with the Emperor is one of partnership and respect, much removed from the philosophical antagonism the Priestess has with the Hierophant.

The Rider-Waite deck pictures her in a natural setting, symbolizing her connection to nature and its fertile energies. The color of her background is a solar yellow/gold. The color is masculine, but in this card it is not part of the Empress but flows abound her, giving her the power that she directs through her golden scepter. This golden energy comes from her consort the Emperor who harmoniously gives over his energy for her to direct. Her scepter, in contrast to the Emperor's, is small; this shows her power comes from closeness and intimacy rather than his masculine brute force. She is not the masculine. She directs the masculine energy she gets from her consort the Emperor. Flowing from a deep fertile forest behind her is a stream, which symbolizes her feminine nature. Arising from the ground around her feet is a field of wheat, which is the staff of life, a symbol of abundance and fertility. In contrast to her consort the Emperor's cubic throne of material authority, she sits on a comfortable throne of pillows. This shows her rulership is through compassion and love, rather then the severe authority of the Emperor. The color of the cushions is red, indicating the passion for life that is her true power. Red is also the color of the Mother, whose aspect the Empress embodies. Her flowing gown is white with pomegranates; the white being purity and the pomegranates being a traditional symbol of abundant fertility. Her crown also represents natural authority being the laurel wreath of earthly victory. This natural crown is covered with the twelve stars of the zodiac giving her power over all aspects of earthly authority. Her shield, which lies on the earth next to her feet, is one of love. On its crest is the symbol of Venus, showing the interaction of the masculine and feminine in a field of love (the heart).

The Emperor

The Empress and the Emperor work together to fulfill a function: Earthly control and leadership. In a way they are two sides to the same coin who find a balance and harmony when they are together. They represent the father and mother images in the Tarot who rely on each other's strengths to balance out their own weaknesses. Their relationship with each other is complementary and supportive, and they work together toward a common goal. They differ in the style of control they project upon their subjects: the Empress is loving and compassionate, while the Emperor is severe and dominant. There is a duality represented in this card as well, but the duality here is external from the Emperor and represents his cooperative relationship with the Empress. This relationship is symbolized in two ways: in the color of his throne, and in the twin mountains in the background.

The Emperor is depicted sitting on a grey cubic throne, with the throne itself being a symbol of power and rulership. The color grey represents a balance in this rulership between himself and the Empress, the midpoint between the two sides of duality that was represented by the black and white pillars of the High Priestess. Although the Empress balances the Emperor’s rulership, he still exerts his strength of will over it. This is shown by the four rams' heads on the throne. The rams are the symbol of Aries and represent the Emperor's power and will with which he exercises the final say in his rulership. The cubic shape of the throne represents the number four. Four is also the number of the Emperor's card and in other decks he also sits upon his throne with his legs crossed in a figure four. Four is important for two reasons: First it represents the four Elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The four Elements are the occult building blocks for all that exists on the material plane. Thus the Emperor is represented as the highest attainment of, and ruler of the four quarters and all material life. Second, four is the number of completion and shows the Fool has finished the lowest or material aspect of his journey. Together with the next card (the Hierophant), the Emperor represents the duality of the material and spiritual—with the Emperor being the summit of material power, and the Hierophant (it appears) the spiritual.

The mountains divide the Emperor, as did the pillars of the High Priestess and show a form of duality. The mountains are earth, and show earthly control. They are also orange and yellow, both solar, masculine colors. Thus the duality here is the earthly rulership between the Emperor and the Empress. The Emperor's apparent dominant position in their relationship is shown by the masculine colors of the mountains. (His position is apparent in that one could say the Empress only lets him think he is in control of the relationship, though she remains in control and rules through the Emperor by manipulating his actions.)

Other symbols that represent his power and authority of the material are his scepter and ball. The scepter represents power directed through government. The scepter is held in his right, or material plane hand, which means power directed in the material. In his left hand he holds a ball. The ball represents both authority and the earth. By being held in his left or mental hand it represents that his mental energies are also focused and expressed in material terms rather than magickal or spiritual ones.

As the Emperor's presence is shown in the Empress card in the solar yellow background, the Empress's is depicted in his card by the flowing stream behind his throne. This is the same feminine stream that flows in the Empress's card. It also represents the unconscious powers of the Moon. While the Empress is bathed in the solar power of the Emperor and directs it to her own ends, the Emperor places her powers behind him, ignoring her energies and using his own brute force to enforce his will.

This is part of a series of articles on the esoteric symbology of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. Dr. Waite spoke to us not in words, but in hidden symbols. Symbols are truly the universal language expressing ideas in a way that, with study and contemplation, all can understand. But this understanding may not be the same for everyone who seeks it. While symbols do speak to all that will listen, they may say different things to different people. To truly understand the archetypal symbology of the Tarot, you must listen to a chorus of voices, not just one. Read as many different explanations as you can on the Tarot, and then the true meanings of the symbols will naturally come to you from within.