This piece was originally intended to be a redesign of the Empress tarot card that combines both new age spiritualism and traditional religion, but as I got deeper into the project, she also became a way for me to process my own reproductive health trauma. Beginning with the influence of traditional Christianity, the starred halos around the figure’s head are a reference to the biblical character in Revelations 12:1, who bore a crown of twelve stars. Her story is primarily about pregnancy and delivering a baby into a world with dangers immediately awaiting them. Oftentimes, this woman is interpreted as the Virgin Mary, which in turn led to many famous artworks throughout history depicting the “Madonna and child” subjects with halos around them. Similarly, the Empress tarot card is typically associated with maternal influence and the creation of new life or ideas. She is often the card that people pull when their relationships and well-being need nurturing. The combination of these two entities became the perfect arena to explore the interplay between female reproductive health, choice, and fate. Nowadays, 10-15% of women have been diagnosed with endometriosis (WHO, 2023), and 6-13% of women have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (WHO, 2023); both conditions often come with some form of infertility fears. These fears often lead to feeling like a viable pregnancy is no longer just about “doing everything right” but also includes a heavy dose of fate being on your side. Some women feel their choice has been taken away completely when they learn they cannot conceive even if they desperately want to. Centrally depicting a uterus in the hands of “Wretched Blessed” captures a means to restore reproductive certainty and choice on canvas for many, where I may be unable to do so myself.
