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Description
I felt the breath of spring; and with the fragrance of violets, lilies of the valley and the wild cherry the soft singing of elves was borne toward me.

Brooks murmured, green tree-tips rustled, innumerable choirs of birds were singing, bees were droning and everywhere was the joyful living breath of nature.

The sun shone softly and mildly, a small white cloud hung over the woods.

In the midst of a green glade where bloomed the first yellow primroses, on a throne encircled with ivy and blossoming lilac, I saw the Empress.

A green wreath adorned her golden hair. Twelve stars shone above her head. Two snow-white wings were visible behind her back, and in one hand she held a scepter.

With a tender smile the Empress looked about her, and beneath her glance flowers opened and buds unfolded their sticky green leaves.

The whole of her dress was covered with flowers, as though every flower that opened was reflected or imprinted on it and became a part of her garment.

The sign of Venus, the Goddess of Love, was carved upon her marble thrones.

"Oh, Queen of Life," I said, "why is everything so radiant and joyful and happy around you? Do you not know that there is the gray, weary autumn, the cold, white winter? Do you not know that there is death, black graves, cold damp sepulchers, cemeteries?

"How can you smile joyfully looking at the unfolding flowers when all dies and all will die, when all is condemned to death--even that which is not yet born?"

The Empress looked at me smiling, and beneath her smile I suddenly felt that in my soul the flower of some bright understanding was opening, as though something was being revealed to me, and the terror of death began to depart from me.

--PD Ouspensky, "The Symbolism of the Tarot"

Description
I felt the breath of spring; and with the fragrance of violets, lilies of the valley and the wild cherry the soft singing of elves was borne toward me.

Brooks murmured, green tree-tips rustled, innumerable choirs of birds were singing, bees were droning and everywhere was the joyful living breath of nature.

The sun shone softly and mildly, a small white cloud hung over the woods.

In the midst of a green glade where bloomed the first yellow primroses, on a throne encircled with ivy and blossoming lilac, I saw the Empress.

A green wreath adorned her golden hair. Twelve stars shone above her head. Two snow-white wings were visible behind her back, and in one hand she held a scepter.

With a tender smile the Empress looked about her, and beneath her glance flowers opened and buds unfolded their sticky green leaves.

The whole of her dress was covered with flowers, as though every flower that opened was reflected or imprinted on it and became a part of her garment.

The sign of Venus, the Goddess of Love, was carved upon her marble thrones.

"Oh, Queen of Life," I said, "why is everything so radiant and joyful and happy around you? Do you not know that there is the gray, weary autumn, the cold, white winter? Do you not know that there is death, black graves, cold damp sepulchers, cemeteries?

"How can you smile joyfully looking at the unfolding flowers when all dies and all will die, when all is condemned to death--even that which is not yet born?"

The Empress looked at me smiling, and beneath her smile I suddenly felt that in my soul the flower of some bright understanding was opening, as though something was being revealed to me, and the terror of death began to depart from me.

--PD Ouspensky, "The Symbolism of the Tarot"