Lantana Posted July 11, 2017 Posted July 11, 2017 The differences between the Empress and the Queen of Pentacles are a bit fuzzy for me. Obviously one is a Major and the other is a court card, but these two tend to have very similar keywords in the books I've read. "Abundance", "nurturing", "creativity", even phrases like "Earth mother" are shared between them. I haven't had both come up in a spread yet, but if it did I feel like I would have trouble trying to explain how they're different. I'd love to hear any thoughts or explanations!
Ix Chel Posted July 11, 2017 Posted July 11, 2017 That is a good question. You are right when you say they look similar. They are connected with each other; both are the mother figures of the Tarot. The Empress is a caring and mother type just as Mrs. Weasly (the mother from Ron) in Harry Potter. She always make you welcome. The primary element of the Empress is Earth which also stands for fertility. But still she is different than the Queen of Pentacles. She has also the same element, but you think more about money here. Bree Van der Kamp from “Desperate Housewives” is a good example in my opinion for the Queen of Pentacles. She can cook, knows how to run a household. But she also makes big money; she is rich with her cookbooks and shows. And in my view that is the big difference. The Pentacles are standing more for the materials side in our life, knowing how to use it and to master the element.
ReineDeDeniers Posted July 11, 2017 Posted July 11, 2017 I read major and minor arcanas differently. Major arcanas are usually the major themes that are playing out in our lives and their energies surround us everyday of our lives or karmic lessons that are we currently trying to grasp our minds around. Minor arcanas are more of a day-to-day. The Empress comes off as a stronger one here. She's teaching us of how to become more nurturing, to stand in our own feet, how to birth the ideas into their lives, to ground us. She's every single court Queen in a one. She knows of how to create a welcoming home environment (Queen of Pentacles), she knows of when to make tough choices and cut into the chase of a situation through its heart (Queen of Swords), she is very ambitious and knows when to act accordingly and doesn't sit around doing nothing (Queen of Wands), and she's emotional and intuitive but her emotions are well balanced (Queen of Cups). Meanwhile, Queen of Pentacles, she's just another side of The Empress, where sometimes you've got to be her to take care of the household, to take care of the people that we love, to be the shoulder that sometimes one needs and someone reliable who won't leave one behind, and a huge part of the home (I honestly always joke that "there's no really home without Queen of Pentacles"). But for what we know, the next day we may even turn into Queen of Swords, or Queen of Wands.
Lantana Posted July 11, 2017 Author Posted July 11, 2017 Thank you both! @Ix Chel, those examples really help! I try to see Pentacles as more than just money, but your example still applies, as a Queen of Pents would be someone who has built resources for themselves and uses that to nurture others. Makes sense in contrast to the Empress' more archetypal mother figure. @ReineDeDeniers, that explanation of the Queens being part of the Empress is really eye opening! I agree that the Empress is the stronger, more major theme but was having trouble wording exactly how... But her having the aspects of all four Queens makes perfect sense. I'm going to use this approach with the Emperor and the four Kings as well.
Ix Chel Posted July 14, 2017 Posted July 14, 2017 @Lantana thanks for appreciating my explanation. Kim Huggens uses in her book Tarot 101 examples for the Major Arcana, she mentioned Mrs. Weasley (If I remember it right, it is really a good and complete book). Court cards can be difficult, that is way I connect a person to every card. And before you know it, you see everybody as a member of a court family. @ReineDeDeniers you give me new insights to the Empress. I always saw the Empress very strong connected with the Queen of Pentacles, but she is also connected to the other Queens.
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