My Favourite Empress

We've absorbed the enthusiasm of the Magician and the intuition of the High Priestess. Our adventure now takes us into an open field, lush with flowers, vegetation and wildlife. The Empress is like all four Queens rolled into one. She embodies creation, fertility and the feminine.  

5. Tarot of the Magical Forest

Its like Miss Piggy meets the Tarot. She's regal and surveys her fertile land. There's no muck from the pen on this porcine Empress. The pink skies tell us all will be well in her land. I modified my version of this deck and it really did make the images clearer and easier to see. I wish the publishers would print a clean, borderless version.

4. Oak, Ash and Thorn

The beauty of nature so aptly depicted by this Empress and her bunnies. The sceptre is casually propped against a simple throne of wood. It feels like the vegetation will shortly overtake and may unseat the Empress. There's no doubt though that she'll find somewhere else as nature always provides.

3. Animal Totem Tarot

In my opinion, the Highland cow is the most beautiful of the bovine species. Daisy, or Ermintrude if you prefer, makes this card from a mass market deck stand out among indie options. Wouldn't you love long wavy russet locks just like hers?

2. The Victorian Romantic Tarot

I'm sorry to include this deck as it is now out of print but I couldn't have a top 5 of Empresses without this kind and gentle lady caring for her baby cherubs. The background setting of pale stone ornate walls makes me think this is the towny equivalent of the Empress usually found within the lush countryside. 

1. Sasuraibito Tarot

This indie deck has such a good feel to it overall. In the case of this Empress, both the colours of the card and the flowers surrounding her enhance her beauty. Her modern version of the crown of stars is just enough, she doesn't need any fancy clothing to prove her worth. This deck is made from glossy card stock with high shine gold gilding and a very large part of the card is given over to the title. All these aspects of design are now less popular in Tarot decks. However, images like these again show the most important part of a card is what's on it, not what it's made of.  

Decks

• Universal Waite by US Games Systems 
• Smith-Waite Borderless edition by US Games Systems 
• Radiant Rider Waite by US Games Systems 

​5. Tarot of the Magical Forest by Hsu Chi Chun and Leo Tang, publisher Lo Scarabeo
4. Oak, Ash and Thorn Tarot by Stephanie Burrows and Adam Oehlers, Three Trees Tarot
3. Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson and Eugen Smith, publisher Llewellyn
2. The Victorian Romantic Tarot by Karen Mahoney and Alex Ukolov, Baba Barock
1. Sasuraibito Tarot by Stasia Burrington