III The Empress
aka The Mother of the Deck
In Lieu of a Story
I’ve had a block up around creating this post for two reasons, one I will elaborate on here in The Empress and save the second reason for The Emperor. The primary reason is because I chose to feature an Indigenous woman on this card and have had some internal dilemma and fear come up, am I culturally appropriating? This is a question I will come back to throughout this series, but will begin to swirl in it here first. In meditating on this conflict here is what came up.
An Indigenous Empress makes sense to me. From what I remember about the article, She is Cherokee. I have become more inclined to actually read about the subjects I am drawn to since starting this project. She was the fourth card I made, please forgive me for not fully getting to know her.
The Cherokee tribe is of the land I was born on, live on and create on. What is known as North Carolina. Using her image for this card feels like giving credit where credit is due. And just to be more regionally specific, I honor also the Sugaree, Catawba and Uwharrie.
I don’t want there to be a white colonist Empress in my deck OR on the land I am blessed to be in communion with. I want my cards to be representative of a world thats in alignment with my views and values, which includes putting Indigenous women and women of color in positions of leadership and power, honoring the original stewards of my home and engaging inclusively while erasing erasure.
This does not mean it is all on them to lead and that I cannot access my inner Empress. I hold tenderly the knowledge that we are all Indigenous to somewhere and those wise roots are still within me and can grow me into a strong Empress in my own sovereignty. In honor of where I’ve been planted, The Caravan Empress is Cherokee.
I am still sitting with this and if I ever am gifted the opportunity to print this deck I will again have to make some choices about moving forward. Since this is a personal deck, not available for sale, I am happy to commune with The Empress of The Caravan in her first form.
Card Analysis
The Empress holds the mind of the youth to her heart, a reminder that this is the origin of truth, strength and resilience. They both have their eyes closed in reverence to the beat and flow of truth. An ancestor goddess marked with the femme symbol guards the sacred interaction and passing on of wise love. They stand in a field of oat straw, nourishment for the body, heart and mind, all interconnected just like our species, just like our planet. The sun is high and warm offering light and nourishment of its own.
“Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?”
Know This
Think of The Empress as the full moon to the new moon of the High Priestess. Creation floods this archetype and everything she creates is part of her. The Empress is a powerful card, The Mother of Mothers. The Goddess energy of abundance and nurturance that runs like a golden thread through the Tarot. If ever you feel frayed or untethered remember the sound of your Mothers heartbeat pulsing and strengthening your golden thread, your sovereignty, your purpose.
Invitations
Plant allies: Oat straw & Nasturtiums
Crystal ally: Chrysocolla
Dating The Empress: Connect to the land you are on, honor its first loves, loved ones and yet to be loved. Root where you are. Also begin to call in your great long line of mothers back to your indigenous roots, before christianity and colonialism. Bring forth compassionate creation for yourself, others: past present and future, and for the the earth, the beautiful nurturer of us all. What this actually looks like: Learn the tribes of your home, go barefoot on the earth, drink oat straw infusion, create anything (art, food, laughter, a baby, magic)!