Are you feeling good about creating and growing a life or business that's right for you?

The Empress is often pictured as pregnant, reclining gracefully on a couch in a grove in full leaf, plentiful food and drink on hand.

Every thing about the card shouts abundance. Plentiful food and rich clothes. Abundant fertility and sensual pleasure. Enjoyment of nature's bounty and beauty.

This is potential fulfilled. Creative ideas made manifest. I want more of this in my life and business and I suspect you do too.

The Empress card as a tool for thinking rather than for fortune telling throws up lots of ideas for us to consider. Here are some themes for you to reflect on.

Creativity - what are you creating? Where does creativity feature in your life/business? What projects do you have in progress right now?

Growth - can you expand your business/hobbies/social circle? How far have you come over the last season/year/decade?

Abundance - Do you believe that there is enough money/work/food for everyone to have a share? Where in your life can you be generous and give freely? Are you giving time/money/skills in return for something else?

Nurturing - are you taking care of others or being taken care of? Do you have the balance right? Could it be overprotective/controlling/micromanaging?

Present - Are you grounded and present in your body or trapped in your head? Can you notice your surroundings and the input from all your senses? Practice gratitude for your body, not just acceptance but revelling in the sensual pleasure or power of it. Does your environment support your life/work/ambitions?

Patience - growing and creating takes time. Have you given projects long enough or are you rushing to get to the finish line? Is now the right time or should you focus your efforts elsewhere?