Everyday Tarot

Thirteen Feminine Aspects of the Tarot

One of the lovely aspects of the Tarot is its recognition of the duality of human nature. I refer to the “feminine aspects”, but that’s a convenience of terminology. Any of these aspects can be found in both men and women, but the images in the cards I’ve chosen are typically represented by females. They’re pulled from both the Major and the Minor Arcana.

Many of the cards are from the deck that I’m in the process of designing. Where I haven’t yet created a card for that position, I’ve used the Colman-Smith deck as an example.

1. High Priestess

   • The High Priestess represents the unknown, the subconscious, the seed and the potential of any situation. I’ve represented her as a female image in a droplet of water.

2. Empress

   • The Empress is the Mother archetype in the deck, the representation of nurturing and care.

3. Strength

   • Strength is most often represented by a woman with a lion or other large feline. The implication is that she has tamed the animal through her acceptance and understanding. I chose to take it a bit deeper by representing the woman and the feline as one, blended being.

4. Justice

   • Justice is most often represented as the traditional image of a blindfolded woman holding the sword and scales of justice. The implication is that justice is blind to all but the law. Justice is often represented as Lady Justice - the Greek goddess Justitia, who combines the archetypes of Fate, Luck and Vengeance.

5. Temperance

   • The essence of the Temperance card is most often represented by a female figure - often an angelic figure - pouring water from one cup to another. In one of my favorite decks, the Druidcraft tarot, the card is renamed as Fferylit - the Alchemist - and alchemy is the essence of Temperance. Tempering is the blending of two unlike things to create an amalgam that is both like and unlike either of the original substances. This is not necessarily a feminine trait, but is often represented by a feminine figure in Waite-inspired decks.

6. Star

   • In most Waite-inspired decks, the figure on the Star card is the same figure as the female on the Temperance card, but in the Star she has disrobed and is now kneeling with one knee on the Earth and one foot in the water. The Star’s essence is Hope - the glimmer of what is possible, the potential of the current actions. Again, the essence is not necessarily feminine, but is represented in Waite decks by a female figure.

7. World

   • Again, the Waite deck uses a female figure in the World card, the essence of fulfillment. The World dancer is a celebration of Oneness, of being whole and one with the World.

8. Queen of Rods

   • The Queen of Rods (or Wands) is the female essence of the suit of Wands. She is fiery and enthusiastic, and inspires others to join with her in her projects. Like fire, she burns hot - on the one hand warming those in her presence, on the other, singeing the fingers of those unwise enough to cross her.

9. Queen of Cups

   • The Queen of Cups is the female essence of the feminine suit of Cups. Her element is water, and her domain is the emotions. She is immersed in emotions, intuitive to the extreme. On the positive side, this can make her extremely empathetic to those around her. On the negative side, she can be a total drama queen, completely wrapped up and involved in her own emotions.

10. Queen of Swords

    • The Queen of Swords is the feminine essence of the element Air, intellect, judgment, conflict and loss, all represented by the suit of Swords. She often represents a widow or a mother who has lost children, but is also very similar in aspect to the Major Arcana card Justice.

11. Queen of Coins

    • The Queen of Coins is earthy, practical and rooted in reality - but she is also the quintessence of fertile growth. In the Rider-Waite deck, the design of the card is very similar to the Empress, with the throne set in an open field.

12. Nine of Coins

    • The Nine of Coins frequently depicts a wealthy woman standing alone in a beautiful garden. Contrast the serenity and sense of spiritual comfort in this card with the feeling represented in the Nine of Cups.

13. Eight of Swords

    • The Eight of Swords represents a feeling that most women know well - being trapped and blindfolded in situation ourside our control.

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