From the Navigators of the Mystic Sea Tarot, the Empress; from the Celtic Lenormand, "Holly Tree:"
The subtitle given the Empress is "Conception." When I looked up this word, I came across this quote by Henry Adams: "Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit." Now for someone like me, who thrives on logic and structure, this quote sounds ridiculous. But then I considered when I have had my most creative ideas or come up with my best solutions. It has always been as I was puttering around, having fun or about to fall asleep - basically, when I wasn't intentionally thinking about something. The figures dancing in the moonlight are a reminder that sometimes the best answer is to quit trying so hard to find one.
The Celtic Lenormand has two trees: an oak in summer and a holly in winter. While both have to do with health, growth and groundedness, the seasonal extreme gives an extra bit of meaning for me. The winters of life can feel harsh and daunting, as if things won't ever change. Yet the holly with its evergreen leaves and bright berries show that life can still flourish in the hardest of times. The Empress creates no matter what the season; though seeds might be resting underground, they will eventually sprout. I need to be flexible enough to realize Nature's timetable is fluid, not fixed. Until then, I can dance.
