In the tarot, the Empress is the embodiment of all the queens: Queen of Pentacles (Earth, grounded, materially sound), Queen of Swords (air, intellect, quick, communication, mentally sound), Queen of Wands (fire, inspiration, passionate, creatively sound) and Queen of Cups (Water, flowing, emotionally sound).
I’ve been learning how to embody the Queen of Swords. The others, I have in spades. (But spades is also the sword.)
It has been difficult, I’ll be honest. The Queen of Swords can be tough. Direct. No holds barred. That’s not typically my nature, so it took a lot of work for me to move head forward into situations that require her brutal honesty. Her power is in clarity, and through this, she knows what to do.
The challenge has been in asserting clear boundaries with someone I genuinely care for, but who does not see the world in the way that I do. We all see the world differently, of course, but this is a person who struggles to accept my vision. To the point of degradation, if I’m honest – and I will be, since I’m embodying the Queen of Swords here.
There is a tie from this person to toxicity in one way, another or multiple. There are at least two extraneous connections I’m aware of that are holding this person down, and they are either unaware themselves, unable or unwilling to release and clear that. I could help, of course. But I’m not willing to help when I’m being disrespected.
I know this person finds peace with me, and I empathize with that – I have a very grounding energy – but I cannot be someone else’s peace. I can emanate that and hold space for others to work toward their own sense of peace, but my requirement is that they actually do the work. Not everyone is willing to do that. Some people are content to just sit in your energy, because it feels good. It provides respite from their demons. And that’s where the Queen of Swords comes in: for when they refuse to leave on their own.
As a protector, provider and nurturer, The Empress needs the Queen of Swords energy.
Yes, these are archetypes, and as with any archetype, when you feel down into them, you begin to notice they are true.