The Empress
The Empress is symbolic of our emotional side. The mature human being must learn to deal with this facet of human nature. It is necessary to recognize an emotion when felt, name it, and then control it. To control a negative emotion, one must use it as a lever to create change. For instance, jealousy shows what we want for ourselves. Are we prepared to do the hard work necessary to achieve what we envy in another?
Once emotions are recognized in oneself, the emotions governing others can be recognized. This interior work is not only essential, but also rewarding. We see life in a new way, understanding what drives us, and what drives other people.
Emotional maturity gives us the power to understand some of the most important underlying factors of our belief systems and behaviors. What do I feel? What do you feel? What do I want? What do you want? How do we rationalize these feelings and desires? How do ideologies do this?
III
The Butterflies call
Silvery bells tinkling in the wind
Come! Come my Love, in the ardour of spring
In a world suddenly flowering, suddenly blossoming
The scarlet flowers swaying, perfume the air
Pollinated by the Butterflies, they bear golden fruit
Eat of their sweetness, my Love
Find the beautiful bird, the Bird of Paradise
Whose call, clear and true, is heard in the Valley of Wildflowers
Where trills the Lark, herald of Joy
There too sings the Constant Nightingale, sweet and pure
The birds sing a sweet Lullaby
My Love! Dream a sweet dream, a dream of long ago
Far away, and once upon a time
The Empress
The raging deluge becomes a soft veil of white froth
It falls into the pool below, warm pool of passion
Sitting on the throne of Venus, goddess of Love
Out of the golden sunshine rises the Empress
Amongst the golden grain, ripe for the harvest
Bearing aloft the wand of Love that conquers all
Trumps all emotions that would invade us
She is crowned with twelve stars, magical number
Divisions of the heavens, of the seasons
Robed in the white of pure emotion
Under a smothering of red roses, the symbol of Venus
And of true, eternal Love
She is sheltered by myrtle, fragrant in the sunshine
Her voice is soft and sweet, a murmur caressing
My Love, the Secret sheltering in the dark trees is Love
Sheltering from the harsh winds of Reality
The evergreen trees, dark and mysterious
Standing against Envy, Spite, Hatred, murderous Anger
Emotions that would destroy us
Love and her companions, Empathy, Compassion
Protect us from the destruction we could create
Turn from the darkness of blind Rage, the needs of Control
The need to control others, to make them conform
Conform to our Vision of how they ought to be
Conform to the Utopia we long to create on Earth for others
A world created in our image
Created out of our concern for others
A place of belief in Truth, but our Truth that we alone know
Like butterflies flying free in the sunshine, joyous
Going where they will, obeying their inner calling
So, we need to do as we will
Following our emotions, a child learning to feel as all humans feel
Answering the questioning of our hearts
Giving names to our longings
And sailing on the churning seas, experience the lows and highs
And this freedom to be themselves we must grant to others
Like the wild bear catching the returning salmon
Harvesting blueberries in preparation for winter
Others know what they must do to fulfil their lives purposefully
Isn't it better to love and support others
To achieve their own goals
That is the Way of Love, that is the Way to Fulfillment
The Butterfly People sing sweetly
Of Love and Hope and Achievement
Of Passion used to sail towards the Light
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