Embracing the Empress

I started studying Tarot in August 2023 and have recently been obsessed with incorporating these mystical cards into my healing journey. Allow me to explain.

Today's tarot education consisted of studying and understanding the Empress. Why the Empress? Recently, during a bit of shadow work, I discovered that part of me equally loathes being a mother as much as I love it. I was absolutely astounded by this observation of my feelings. But it is true; part of me resents the mom life and longs for some sort of forgotten freedom. Yet, I would not trade my children for the world and would do just about anything for them

The Empress, like the rune Berkano, teaches nurturing. When was the last time we nurtured ourselves? When was the last time we mothered ourselves? I haven't been nurturing to myself, and I have barely been able to nurture my twins. Calling me a mom seems laughable sometimes.

So, how does one embrace the Empress?

The Empress represents abundance, fertility, and maternal care, reminding us of the power of nurturing and the importance of self-care. Here are a few steps I've found helpful in embracing the Empress:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

The first step is to accept and acknowledge your feelings without judgment. According to the Google definition of motherhood, it is the state of being a mother. A mother is a selfless, loving human who must sacrifice many of her wants and needs for the wants and needs of her children. A mother works hard to ensure her child is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make it as a competent human being. I have come to accept that it is okay to not be perfectly happy with motherhood and to embrace it for the wild journey that it surely is. It's okay to have mixed emotions about motherhood. Recognizing these feelings is the first step towards healing and understanding your deeper needs.

2. Self-Care

Nurturing starts with self-care. This means making time for yourself, even if it's just a few minutes a day. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it's reading, meditating, taking a bath, or simply sitting in silence. I personally try to wake up extremely early before my twins awaken to take spiritual time for myself. This is not a strict spiritual discipline, and I fail sometimes, but waking up really early and putting my spirit, and my love of Spirit first has been crucial in my self-care practice. Whether I wake up and start writing, meditating, doing self-Reiki healing, or studying tarot or runes, it doesn’t matter. One time I woke up to color in this really cool Runes coloring book I found on Amazon. This is my self-care routine.

3. Set Boundaries

Oh boy, here is a tough one for me. I hardly have any room to talk about setting boundaries because I rarely seem to have them. As a mother, it's easy to let boundaries blur. However, setting clear boundaries can help create a balance between taking care of your children and taking care of yourself. This might mean asking for help when you need it and being open to receiving it or setting aside specific times for your self-care rituals. As mentioned earlier, I wake up early for my spiritual sanity because I am a single mom of twins who doesn’t have much of a village and so has to rely on herself a lot. Please set a boundary or two for your own sanity.

4. Connect with Nature

The Empress is deeply connected with nature, so go get grounded. Spending time outdoors, whether it's a walk in the park or gardening, can be incredibly grounding and rejuvenating. Nature has a way of nurturing our souls and reminding us of the beauty and abundance around us. Just this morning, my daughters and I played outside, digging up rocks and rinsing them off in the rainwater—very grounding and a splendid way to connect with my inner Empress.

5. Creative Expression

Engage in creative activities that allow you to express yourself. This could be anything from painting and writing to dancing and cooking. For me, it is partly writing this blog, partly coloring in my rune coloring book, and even doing something creative with the girls, like putting together puzzles and building with their blocks. Creativity is a powerful way to connect with your inner Empress and nurture/revive your spirit.

6. Reflect and Meditate

Take time to reflect on your journey and meditate on the qualities of the Empress. Visualization exercises, where you imagine embodying the Empress's nurturing and abundant energy, can be powerful tools for transformation. Taking the Empress card from your tarot deck and just gazing at its magnificence can be really inspiring for more self-love and spiritual practice.

7. Affirmations

Incorporate affirmations into your daily routine. Simple phrases like "I am nurturing and nurturing myself" or "I embrace the abundance of life" can help rewire your mindset and reinforce your commitment to self-care and nurturing. “I am a creative and nurturing mother to my twin daughters.” "I see only beauty in all of creation; I lovingly nurture myself and those in my care"

In conclusion, embracing the Empress is about finding balance and nurturing yourself so that you can, in turn, nurture others. It's a journey of self-discovery and self-love, recognizing that you are deserving of care and compassion just as much as your children. By honoring the Empress within, we create a harmonious environment for ourselves and those we love.