III - The Empress

Titles: The Daughter of the Mighty Ones
Hebrew letter: ד (Daleth = door = 4) [Double Letter = Planetary Trump]
Element: Earth
Astrology: Venus ♀ (rules Taurus/Libra, exalted in Pisces; detriment in Aries, fall in Virgo)
Path on the Tree of Life: 14th Path (Chokmah ↔ Binah; 2 ↔ 3)

Symbols/Colours:

the arms and torso of the figure consequently suggest the shape of the alchemical symbol of Salt;
she represents a woman with the imperial crown and vestments, seated upon a throne, whose uprights suggest blue twisted flames symbolic of her birth from water, the feminine, fluid element;
in her right hand she bears the lotus of Isis that represents the feminine, or passive power;
its roots are in the earth beneath the water, or in the water itself, but it opens its petals to the Sun, whose image is the belly of the chalice;
it is a living form of the Holy Grail, sanctified by the blood of the Sun;
perching upon the flamelike uprights of her throne are two of her most sacred birds, the sparrow and the dove;
on her robe are bees; also dominos, surrounded by continuous spiral lines;
about her, for a girdle, is the Zodiac;
beneath the throne is a floor of tapestry, embroidered with fleurs-de-lys and fishes; they seem to be adoring the Secret Rose, which is indicated at the base of the throne;
there is here no contradiction; such opposition as there seems to be is only the opposition necessary to balance; and this is shown by the revolving moons;
the heraldry of the Empress is two-fold: on the one side, the Pelican of tradition feeding its young from the blood of its own heart; on the other, the White Eagle of the Alchemist;
the White Eagle in this trump corresponds to the Red Eagle in the Consort card, the Emperor;
at the back of the card is the Arch or Door, which is the interpretation of the letter Daleth;
card, summed up, may be called the Gate of Heaven.