Ivy Rhiannon
Picture: http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd443/TrinityQueen/3-Empress-Hera.jpg
First Impression: I really liked this card at first. The Empress seems so sweet and motherly sitting there out in the spring time. The colors are beautiful as well. However I have to be honest when I saw this represented Hera I was a little confused and disappointed. I do not see Hera as being a good empress. Queenly yes, but the essence of motherhood? No.
Description: The Queen Hera relaxes casually on a large stone bolder. She is holding a cuckoo-topped staff and wearing a flowing pale green toga. A snake like bracelet curls around her left arm. A peacock rests at her side and a large cow peers over her shoulder. (Really? I can hear Hera now..."she painted a me in a muddy field next to a COW?!"
)
Gender: Feminine
Colors: Soft Greens, Yellow, Vibrant Blues, Red, Grey, White, & Black.
Senses: I can smell the flowers that bloom in the field, and the exotic oil on Hera's beautiful skin. The peacock is lounging beside her pruning its feathers and sitting next to its mistress. I can smell and hear the cow behind her chewing its cud. I feel the coolness of the large stone she is sitting on compared to the gentle spring sun shinning down upon her. The breeze stirs lightly and the air smells fresh and clean.
Symbols: Hera, Peacock, Cow, Spring, Lillies, Snake arm jewelry.
Story [Intuitive]: Ok I was trying to get "into" the card. I kept seeing this imagery so I guess I am just going to go with it...
Hera smiles sweetly. She sits upon the large bolder prop and feels the breeze from the stage fan stir her flowing locks gently. Behind her the well groomed cow shifts a bit uncomfortable and sniffs curiously at the Queen's hair. She frowns as the camera lets out a loud Flash! "So why do we need the cow exactly?" She says with rolling eyes. Frustrated she shoos the animal away from her head. "Makeup check please!!" she calls. A group of beautiful muses rush over and begin to primp and fan Hera. "Does this toga make me look fat? I mean really green is such a bad color for me." The photographer comes over rubbing his temple, "Yes m' Lady. You are so gorgeous but the point is to look motherly, as in with child. A full bodied woman so to speak so we have to play with the fabric so..." She interrupts him after taking a sip from her tall double mocha latte, "NO woman pregnant or other takes to looking like a fat cow." She frowns remember the animal behind her. "Ok well I lets get this shoot rolling, I have more important matters to address than farm animals and bad fashion." The stage hands fix the last few minute details and rush off screen. "Smile!" says the photographer cheerfully. "I am trying..." she mutters under her breath with tight lips. After a few more flashes the photographer says, "Oh got it! This one is magnificent!" Hera stands gleefully and struts over. She looks over the picture with a critical eye, but overall seems satisfied. "It will do. Send this little inspiration over to Polyhymnia and have her deliver it to Lisa pronto."
My Experience as the Empress: I am not a mother, nor am I overly confident like Hera. I do love nature and all the art I can get my hands on however. These inspire me deeply stirring within me great emotion and love of their beauty. I also revere the Great Goddess and she is best known as the Great Mother. I can say I do have a bit of lack of connection to this particular empress card, but perhaps I am a bit like Hera. She was not know for her Motherhood so much as her regal servitude of the Olympus Kingdom. I have been in roles of service, and have been the Mother Hen of the house so to speak.
Astrological Reference: Planet - Venus
Cultural Reference: Greek Mythology states that Hera, the Queen of the Gods, was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. The cow, and later, the peacock were sacred to her. Portrayed as majestic and solemn, often enthroned, and crowned. Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature, most notably against Zeus's lovers and offspring, but also against mortals who crossed her. Paris offended her by choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess, earning Hera's hatred. Both Hera and Demeter had many characteristic attributes of the former Great Goddess whom the Greeks called Potnia Thēron "Mistress of Animals". [source wikipedia]
Elemental Reference: There is a lot of earth in this card with all the grass, flowers and animals. There is also a small bit of water in the background.
Numerology Reference: 3 - Time, Creativity, Versatility, Development, Abundance, Triad
Keywords: Fertility, Beauty, Creativity, Self Acceptance
Possible Meanings: Being down to earth, Making use of fertile ground, Tenderly caring for yourself or others, Queen or Matron role.
Reversed: Making waste, Not embracing your femininity, Feeling ugly or unwanted, being wrathful.
Quote: "The Goddess couldn't be everywhere, so she created mothers." ~ taken from a Jewish Proverb.
First Impression: I really liked this card at first. The Empress seems so sweet and motherly sitting there out in the spring time. The colors are beautiful as well. However I have to be honest when I saw this represented Hera I was a little confused and disappointed. I do not see Hera as being a good empress. Queenly yes, but the essence of motherhood? No.
Description: The Queen Hera relaxes casually on a large stone bolder. She is holding a cuckoo-topped staff and wearing a flowing pale green toga. A snake like bracelet curls around her left arm. A peacock rests at her side and a large cow peers over her shoulder. (Really? I can hear Hera now..."she painted a me in a muddy field next to a COW?!"
)Gender: Feminine
Colors: Soft Greens, Yellow, Vibrant Blues, Red, Grey, White, & Black.
Senses: I can smell the flowers that bloom in the field, and the exotic oil on Hera's beautiful skin. The peacock is lounging beside her pruning its feathers and sitting next to its mistress. I can smell and hear the cow behind her chewing its cud. I feel the coolness of the large stone she is sitting on compared to the gentle spring sun shinning down upon her. The breeze stirs lightly and the air smells fresh and clean.
Symbols: Hera, Peacock, Cow, Spring, Lillies, Snake arm jewelry.
Story [Intuitive]: Ok I was trying to get "into" the card. I kept seeing this imagery so I guess I am just going to go with it...
Hera smiles sweetly. She sits upon the large bolder prop and feels the breeze from the stage fan stir her flowing locks gently. Behind her the well groomed cow shifts a bit uncomfortable and sniffs curiously at the Queen's hair. She frowns as the camera lets out a loud Flash! "So why do we need the cow exactly?" She says with rolling eyes. Frustrated she shoos the animal away from her head. "Makeup check please!!" she calls. A group of beautiful muses rush over and begin to primp and fan Hera. "Does this toga make me look fat? I mean really green is such a bad color for me." The photographer comes over rubbing his temple, "Yes m' Lady. You are so gorgeous but the point is to look motherly, as in with child. A full bodied woman so to speak so we have to play with the fabric so..." She interrupts him after taking a sip from her tall double mocha latte, "NO woman pregnant or other takes to looking like a fat cow." She frowns remember the animal behind her. "Ok well I lets get this shoot rolling, I have more important matters to address than farm animals and bad fashion." The stage hands fix the last few minute details and rush off screen. "Smile!" says the photographer cheerfully. "I am trying..." she mutters under her breath with tight lips. After a few more flashes the photographer says, "Oh got it! This one is magnificent!" Hera stands gleefully and struts over. She looks over the picture with a critical eye, but overall seems satisfied. "It will do. Send this little inspiration over to Polyhymnia and have her deliver it to Lisa pronto."
My Experience as the Empress: I am not a mother, nor am I overly confident like Hera. I do love nature and all the art I can get my hands on however. These inspire me deeply stirring within me great emotion and love of their beauty. I also revere the Great Goddess and she is best known as the Great Mother. I can say I do have a bit of lack of connection to this particular empress card, but perhaps I am a bit like Hera. She was not know for her Motherhood so much as her regal servitude of the Olympus Kingdom. I have been in roles of service, and have been the Mother Hen of the house so to speak.
Astrological Reference: Planet - Venus
Cultural Reference: Greek Mythology states that Hera, the Queen of the Gods, was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. The cow, and later, the peacock were sacred to her. Portrayed as majestic and solemn, often enthroned, and crowned. Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature, most notably against Zeus's lovers and offspring, but also against mortals who crossed her. Paris offended her by choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess, earning Hera's hatred. Both Hera and Demeter had many characteristic attributes of the former Great Goddess whom the Greeks called Potnia Thēron "Mistress of Animals". [source wikipedia]
Elemental Reference: There is a lot of earth in this card with all the grass, flowers and animals. There is also a small bit of water in the background.
Numerology Reference: 3 - Time, Creativity, Versatility, Development, Abundance, Triad
Keywords: Fertility, Beauty, Creativity, Self Acceptance
Possible Meanings: Being down to earth, Making use of fertile ground, Tenderly caring for yourself or others, Queen or Matron role.
Reversed: Making waste, Not embracing your femininity, Feeling ugly or unwanted, being wrathful.
Quote: "The Goddess couldn't be everywhere, so she created mothers." ~ taken from a Jewish Proverb.