The card urges us to appreciate our skills and gather the energy and initiative to hone them even further. I always feel there are elements of, 'Make hay while the sun shines' and 'strike while the iron is hot' inside this card. The message is about making the most of life and grabbing opportunities when they present themselves to us. Learn to appreciate your own ability to make things grow. You have the ability to create something new and to invest the time and energy necessary to make that creation lasting and pleasing for years to come. Your ambitions require your dedication and those things you've been wanting to do but leaving at the back of your mind for a rainy day need to be addressed now!
The warning element in The Empress could rest in the importance of keeping others in mind when we go after our goals. Remaining humble and never losing sight of who our friends are and our reasons for wanting to succeed are essential things to remember when we're under this card's powerful, determined influence. All personal energy, no matter how positive and beneficial, can turn sour if we only forge ahead with our own desires and forget to put those we love into the picture. Sharing our spoils and keeping our feet on the ground in the good times is just as important as staying resilient and tenacious in the bad times.