The Empress (Card III) embodies the beauty and power of creation; she is the wind in the trees, the babble in the brook, and the wheat in the fields. She is everywhere, she is everything, and she gives of herself tirelessly, ceaselessly, eternally.

And that is why she needs The Emperor

The Emperor (Card IV) is pater familias; leading with strength, wisdom, conquering power, executive decisions,  and the first drawn blade in battle. He protects The Empress from abuse and harm but he does not – cannot –  dominate her.

Without The Empress, he has no raison d’être.

While The Magician and The High Priestess are swirled together as Yin and Yang, they can successfully operate independently; The Empress and The Emperor are two sides of the same coin, a symbiotic relationship with no beginning and no end – a complete circle twisted to infinity. It would be simple to see interdependence as weakness but in truth, it is their great strength.

• Do you have the courage to create?
• Are you strong enough to stand up to artistic criticism with grace?
• Can you successfully defend your position without belligerence?

When the answer is yes, The Empress and The Emperor are together in harmony, and working for you. When the answer is no (i.e. “I create until I am criticized and then I stop” or “I viciously defend everything I do”), take the time to ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? Where is The Empress or The Emperor? Why am I so far out of balance?” 

Moderation and balance are keys to happiness and health, internally and externally, and they must start within ourselves. The powers to create and protect are always within us, and we can access them at will. It is okay to be afraid to put yourself out there, DO IT ANYWAY!

And know in your heart, no matter what happens, you can handle it with grace, strength and pride.