In the beginning, the Creator moved against the vastness of black cosmic space to manifest and engineer what we have come to know as the (7) days of creation. During each of these creation days, whether the term "day" meant (1) single day or (1) million of our years, the creator brought forth "ALL" that is, was or ever will be. The process of creation was most unique since it began with thought. Divine thought is like a radiant cookie cutter of the highest brilliant creative light imaginable. When the Creator "thought", it sent forth a burst of energy and force that contained within its potential the means to form and caress that substance known as cosmic mind-stuff into objects, things and processes. Cosmic mind-stuff is actually vibrating spiritual matter that exists in the form of invisible particles held in suspension by the thought waves (Light) emanating from the mind of God. The particles were part of the raw material that God brought into being during the first Day of Creation.

The Creation process was really a simple one... first God decided that all of eternity should have NINE basic characteristics or qualities of consciousness. This meant that from these NINE different principles or archetypes would be drawn the mystical processes and materials needed to manifest the wide varieties or categories of diverse life forms that would people and populate all universes. The use of thought was magical... first the thought went forth out of God's radiant mind-center and was projected into the particulate matter suspended within the womb and matrix of space. As the Light Force met and penetrated this living substance, a spiritual bio-chemical process was set into motion that equates to the human process of sexual conception. Slowly, the impregnated cosmic mind-stuff took on the form of and coalesced its particles around the nature of the idea or Light template that God's thought engendered. This template or archetype is like a mold into which the cosmic dough is poured, so that the final shape or product becomes a living equivalent of the idea initially sent forth. The eventual emergence of the final product is a Divine birth. In this way one can see that the human process of thought manifestation is identical to that used by God. We too have the power to bring thought into manifestation. Few are aware that they have such power, but since we're made in God's image, we have that ability as a natural gift. We think a thought, it is transmitted to our subconscious and the subconscious brings that thought into existence here in this 3rd dimensional reality we call everyday life.

In the Tarot, this process is illustrated and dramatized by the MAGICIAN, HIGH PRIESTESS and the EMPRESS. The magician represents our objective self-conscious mind. When the MAGICIAN thinks (as we think) the living, pulsating thought is transmitted to the Pituitary Gland symbolized by the HIGH PRIESTESS. She passes the thought on to the Pharyngeal Plexus that is located behind the root of our tongue (near the Thyroid) along the backside of our throat. This gland area or plexus is represented in the Tarot by the EMPRESS. She is the gateway or door through which the thought passes as it is transmitted to the subconscious mind. She is the opening to the subconscious even though the entirety of our physical body is also considered to be actual subconscious mind... this mind is similar to a factory that receives all of your orders and then processes and creates them to the best of its ability. Whatever signal, thought, idea or notion you send it, will be handled, processed and given 3rd dimensional form. That's why we must monitor our thought and moods, for "as we think, so shall it be"… and that's not just a witty aphorism.

The EMPRESS is the gateway or door to the subconscious and the agent responsible for the transmission of your thoughts. Through her, all of us have the means to recreate and transform our toxic mind and inverse cellular condition into a purer, clearer, more acceptable physical form. As long as we persist in eating, feeling and thinking toxically, we fail to become effective instruments for our souls to manifest in and through. We have a Divine responsibility to change our minds, bodies and feelings through this creative process of right thought, controlled feeling and brighter self-expression. The EMPRESS is the power or subconscious artisan who can tool your greater perfection if you will just begin sending her some clearer, cleaner and more spiritual directions. She is there to do your bidding, but if you persist in sending her confusing, negative instructions, she will continue to replicate your life in the same upside-down form you now find around you. She has no power on her own to change your current conditions... she only takes orders, exercises no judgment and is unable to initiate any of her own desires or ingenious solutions. She relies on you (your conscious mind) for that. A caution however; she sees through all emotional insincerity, so don't think you can fool her by asking (thinking) or requesting one thing and really wanting another. She may just take orders and process requests, but be sure you remember… she will act and be guided by her own divine discernment.

Now lets view the different objects and symbols displayed in the EMPRESS card:

THE WATERFALL SEEN NEAR HER LEFT HAND
This waterfall represents the thought that comes streaming down from your conscious mind... these thoughts flow into the space surrounding the EMPRESS (your subconscious) and are given birth or form as wheat shown growing up and out in front of the feet of the EMPRESS. The wheat can be a rich and full crop if your thoughts are positive and enriching or you can give birth to weeds instead of wheat. It's up to you. This scene shows wheat, since all of the Tarot cards depict the ultimate positive expression or state of being possible from right thought and action.

THE CROWN ON HER HEAD
This is a crown of (12) stars... each represents one of the twelve constellations or signs of the Zodiac. It is her insignia of power. It symbolizes her dominion over the separate astrological powers contained within each of the signs. She receives and manages their radiation and transmutes those forces into living substances that become the tools used to manufacture and give birth to your physical being and reality. There is a red ribbon running through the crown. It represents the strength and aggressive force of the planet Mars which she uses as her energy source. Mars' energy is the fuel that moves and motivates her continuing action.

HER ORANGE-YELLOW HAIR
It illustrates the fact that she is funded by radiant Solar Energy which is always at her disposal and is eternally energized from the Source in all that she does.

THE SEVEN PEARLS AROUND HER NECK
These are the Seven Sacred Planets contained within our Solar System... they are agents of action that perform like actors on the stage of her creative agenda of action. They provide the mental and emotional soup into which the powers of the constellations (in her crown) transmit their spiritual directives. The Pearls represent Wisdom... her Pearls of Thought. The pearls also portray the Seven Sacred Chakras or energy centers of the body. The star constellations are directly connected to these Chakras and transmit their separate energies which enables the body to function.

THE SEPTRE SHE HOLDS
It is her way of expressing that she is in command... it illustrates the power she exercises over the trillions of cells in your body that must follow her bidding. Even though each cell has its own intelligence, it must follow the orders and direction of its director. Those cells that decide to mutiny and "swing" to their own vibration are considered "cancerous" since they are not walking and talking to the beat of her drum. Her job is to create, instruct and manage all cells so that they replicate and reproduce themselves according to your conscious thought patterns. The result is the wheat there in front of her feet (if your thoughts were constructive and positive) or weeds (if your thoughts were negative and meaningless).

THE VENUS SYMBOL ON THE SHIELD BENEATH HER SEAT
The Venus symbol is a circle sitting atop a cross. The circle always represents the Superconscious or Universal Mind of God. The cross is your conscious mind or thinking intellectual self-consciousness. This symbol is illustrating the process of pouring or bringing in the high vibrational consciousness of the Divine from the Universe. It moves and travels into the chambers of your self-conscious mind. It's what you must enable your subconscious mind (the Empress) to do for your. You must free her, educate her and inspire her to open more and more to the Universal Wisdom.

THE TREES SHOWN IN THE BACKGROUND AND ALSO OFF TO HER LEFT
The trees in the background are the whole complex of your body physical... they are the products or manifestations of her efforts as the farmer or gardener of your being. Between these trees there is a river flowing toward a waterfall. The flow of the river is the flow of your conscious thought process on its way to the EMPRESS who will condition it and translate the thoughts (put them into understandable language or form) so that the cells of the body will be able to form and recreate themselves according to your image and instruction. The light colored green tree to her left and the trunk of the light colored tree just across the stream, represent the Pineal and Pituitary glands. The tree closest to her left hand if the Pineal. It is shaped like the Pineal (Pine cone shaped) and is the receiving station for the Pituitary that is growing across the waters. In like manner, when you become spiritually attuned (experience cosmic consciousness) the Pituitary within your body sends its transmissions across and through your mental emanations to the Pineal (third eye) that then enables you to tune into the Universal Mind or Cosmic Subconscious. This is known as the Mystic Marriage of these two glands... finally functioning as they were originally intended.

SUMMARY
The role of the EMPRESS is without question, one of the most important functions in the entire transformative process. She is the Good Fairy whose wand can literally change and redesign the structure and role of your existing bodily cells. She is the monitor and creative artist behind the mystique of your present being. Decide you want to lose weight or change the conditions of your life and she will orchestrate, direct and supervise their renovation, if she feels you're sincere. Remember... send her negativity and you will receive negativity. Send upbeat and positive impulses and you will receive the same. She can be your best friend or the mirror of your own undoing. It is entirely up to you.

copyright 2003-2004, Joe Ivory, all rights reserved