Thrones in tarot

A throne is a seat of authority, and its carving tells you what kind. The Emperor's throne is stone with rams' heads; the Empress lounges on cushions in a garden; the High Priestess, the Hierophant and Justice are enthroned between pillars. The kings and queens of the minor suits each sit on thrones decorated with their element's emblems: lions and salamanders for Wands, sea and fish for Cups, butterflies for Swords, bulls and fruit for Pentacles. In readings a throne means stability and established power. Notice whether a figure sits upright, at ease or on the edge.

Cards that show thrones

The Empress
The Empress: The cushioned seat
She lounges on plump red-orange cushions over a stone seat in the open air. Unlike the stone thrones of the Emperor and the Hierophant, hers is soft and outdoors: comfort and pleasure are part of her power.
The Emperor
The Emperor: The stone throne
He sits on a huge, plain grey throne cut from stone, its back square and heavy. Stone means permanence and law: what is built to last and is hard to move. Waite notes that he is sometimes shown seated on a cubic stone instead.
Justice
Justice: The throne
A plain stone seat raised on a step, its arms barely visible under the robe. It is a judge's bench more than a royal throne, solid and without ornament.
Queen of Wands
Queen of Wands: The lion throne
The arms of her throne are carved as lions' heads, and two red lions rear up on the panel behind her. Lions belong to fire and to Leo, and stand for courage and strength held calmly.
King of Wands
King of Wands: The throne back
The tall back of the throne is decorated with black lions and with salamanders curled into rings. Waite says the King connects with the symbol of the lion emblazoned there: courage, rule and the fire of Leo.
Queen of Cups
Queen of Cups: The throne at the water's edge
Her heavy carved throne stands right at the shoreline, with the sea flowing up to her feet. She lives where solid ground meets emotional depth, belonging to both.
King of Cups
King of Cups: The throne on the sea
His stone throne rests on a square block surrounded by waves. Waite notes that 'his throne is set upon the sea'. It is emotional stability: sitting calmly in the middle of turbulent feelings without being swept away.
Queen of Swords
Queen of Swords: The carved throne
Her high grey throne carries a winged child's head on its side and further carving below. The winged head is often read as a cherub or a sylph, a spirit of air, softening the hard grey stone.
King of Swords
King of Swords: The throne with butterflies and crescents
The tall back of his throne is carved with a butterfly between two crescent moons at the top, and more butterfly shapes below. Butterflies belong to air and to the soul, crescents to the moon and to change.
Queen of Pentacles
Queen of Pentacles: The stone throne
Her tall grey throne is heavily carved with shapes that are hard to make out at this size; some readers see fruit, cherubs or goats' heads in them. It is set outdoors, so her authority sits in the middle of nature rather than in a hall.
King of Pentacles
King of Pentacles: The bulls' heads
Carved bulls' heads crown both top corners of the throne and appear again on its arm. Waite noted them as 'a recurrent symbol on the throne'. The bull is the sign of Taurus, an earth sign, and stands for strength, patience and fertility.