August 20

08/20/11: The Empress, Pomegranates and Paradox of Mothering

11  comments

IMG_1542I’ve still got mothering on the brain. Having my daughter home, talking to moms in consults, watching friends lose or worry over their mothers, looking at whom and how I experience mothering is inescapable. So it’s not a shock to see today’s daily Tarot forecast centering on motherhood.

We have the Empress or Daughter of the Mighty Ones, associated with Venus. She embodies the maternal archetype, companion and counterpart to the Tarot’s Emperor. She often appears in a reading to signal pregnancy—literal or figurative. When you see the Empress, look to ways to nourish, nurture and care, for others or for yourself.

As one of the Tarot threes, her emphasis is on creativity, birth and joy. As one of the Major Arcana, her brand of mothering is transformative, both to herself and her progeny. The Empress is a powerful woman not to be underestimated, because her strength stems from the purity of her love. That love is an absolute force of nature, make no mistake. Yin or not, she is a very capable woman.

maj02sHer dress is white (signaling purity), covered with Pomegranates, which hold numerous symbolic associations—many surrounding fertility and mystery. You also see the Pomegranate elsewhere in Tarot, like on the banner behind the High Priestess. Fertility and mystery both surround these women. Both of them carry more force than is initially obvious.

For me, Pomegranates always evoke the myth of Persephone, who ate Pomegranate seeds while in the Underworld. According to the rules of the Fates, she would have to stay in the Underworld for having eaten while there, but her mother Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest, raised holy Hell by stopping all greenery from growing in protest. A compromise was reached, committing Persephone to spending half the year with Hades and forming the ancient Greek explanation for the seasons.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Persephona
Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Persephona

You think Demeter wouldn’t have kicked some ass to keep her baby from having to spend half the year in the Underworld? Yeah, buddy! But it wasn’t her choice. And those seasons we’re left with, sometimes kind, sometimes harsh, are very much a part of living, both for mothers and their children. Uncomfortable as they may be at times, they foster growth and perpetuate the cycle of life.

Inherent in this story is the paradox of mothering—you give birth, but you cannot live your child’s life. You cannot protect them from al darkness or (more likely), themselves. So they remain a part of you, but separate. More as they grow, the mother’s job is to continually step back, respecting their children’s process and lessons, while remaining receptive and alert for when loving kindness helps. Stepping back is a much harder job than making sure they eat right and are dressed warmly.

Demeter and the Empress both know, you do what you can for your offspring, but you don’t call the shots once your little creations have taken a life of their own. You may care more than anyone else can, but wrapped in that love is the recognition that part of the caring is letting go. That’s the natural order of life; refusing to do so cripples both mother and child.

The Empress would gladly sacrifice her own well-being for the sake of her children. Except by doing so, she shortchanges everyone. She is not a martyr, because she realizes she cannot offer the same gifts if she doesn’t remain healthy herself. The gift of a good example is one she could not provide otherwise.  The Empress reminds us that mothering starts at home—by nurturing ourselves.

Are you feeling the Empress?

Tarot of the New Vision (English/Spanish)
by Lo Scarabeo

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Tags

Major Arcana, New Vision Tarot, Tarot Threes, The Empress, Venus


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  1. Good morning, Dixie and everybody!

    I see the mothering thing from the other end of things lately. Mothering the elderly. My 14 year old dog. My 20 year old horse. My dad. My aunt. (At least what she will allow.) My mother, who is combusting at taking care of my dad. My friend’s mother – who I might possibly be sitting with a few hours every day.

    And yesterday, thinking about this, I know that I’ve got to watch that boundary. I’ve lived most of life according to family dictates, and just now, when I’m breaking out into my own, the last thing I need to do is be sucked back in. It’s my turn!

    So…..I’m being loving, kind……and very careful.
    Balance. (All that Libra, yanno.)

    Have a great weekend, everybody!!!
    :dog:

    1. It’s in the air, isn’t it? I’m seeing it everyone, both as the mother and the mothered…good luck with that “balance” thing. I’ve heard of it.

      1. Ha!! It’s usually a wild swing between one end of the spectrum to the other. But I always know when things are massively out of whack – I get extremely cranky and short with everyone, and feel like I have PMS again. LOL!
        Then it’s time to disappear for a while and take care of ME.

  2. Huh. The Empress was one of three cards I pulled when I woke up at around 3AM unable to sleep from cramps. Interesting that I got it as well, huh? I didn’t even pose a question.

  3. I got her yesterday reminding me that even though my “children” (aka a project I’m working on) are my product I can’t force them to grow up. Doesn’t happen overnight. Takes time to grow. So, I took a break for me and quit freaking about it so much. Due time Josi..due time.

    sigh

    I’m not typically the patient sort. I love your description here Dixie

  4. “The Empress reminds us that mothering starts at home/dixiblog/domains/afoolsjourney.com/public_html—by nurturing ourselves”. I’m not feeling the Empress just yet but I am SO resting today.

    The mom vibe is HUGE right now as there’s mothering all around & I know I’m doing more mothering than is necessary. I believe I’m doing more mothering in my head than in reality. I discuss repeatedly my concern about my daughter’s feelings for someone & my constant worry about this, funny thing is THEY DON’T EVEN TALK TO EACH OTHER!! Meanwhile, laundry is undone, I have dog hair tumble-weeds almost as big as my dogs & I think I cooked dinner once this week. I’m done with my project for my son’s football team, which is mothering as well isn’t it, or is it ego? I now need to get back to mothering in reality versus concern over pretend situations.

    Beautiful writing today sweet Dixie and I’m glad you get the opportunity to mother a little extra these days. HUGS TO ALL from TEXAS!

    1. “Beautiful writing today sweet Dixie and I’m glad you get the opportunity to mother a little extra these days. HUGS TO ALL from TEXAS!”

      Thank you! And nothing like a TX hug.

  5. Dog hair tumbleweeds – that had me rolling. I have them too. I’m cleaning my house today not just because it desperately needs it, but because I’m sick and hell is still scheduled for tomorrow. So a long shower, clean house and full night’s sleep will at least let me stand with dignity. I’m sending each of you good thoughts. Thanks Dixie for this reminder to repair my armor.

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