Main Female
Meaning
The Main Female is the feminine significator of the Kipper deck: she represents the querent if female, or the central woman in the question asked. Like her masculine counterpart, this card does not predict on its own but serves as the anchor point of the entire spread. Her true meaning emerges exclusively from the cards surrounding her and the distance separating them.
What distinguishes the Main Female from the Good Lady (6) is that the former is neutral while the latter is always positive. The Main Female may be surrounded by favorable or adverse cards, and her situation changes radically depending on context. The Good Lady always brings supportive and kind energy; the Main Female simply exists in her circumstance, whatever it may be.
Kipper's directional reading method takes on special relevance with this card. The direction the Main Female faces indicates where her conscious desires are headed: cards in that direction show what she actively seeks. Cards behind her back represent what she leaves behind, what she does not want to see, or influences acting without her knowledge. This directional information is one of the most powerful tools in the Kipper system.
When the Main Female appears alongside the Main Male (1) in a Grand Tableau, the reading automatically centers on the couple dynamic. If Success in Love (15) appears between both cards, the relationship thrives. If Sad News (14) appears, there is painful information affecting the bond. The Hope card (36) between them suggests that despite difficulties, the future of the relationship is promising.
Card History
Card number 2 of the Kipper has been the feminine significator since the deck's origins in 19th-century Bavaria. In early editions, the Main Female appeared as a middle-class Bavarian woman in modest dress, apron, and hair pulled back, representing the typical client who sought guidance at the tables of card readers in Munich and Nuremberg fairs and taverns.
In 19th-century Germany, women had a strictly defined social role: wife, mother, household administrator. Female consultations almost always revolved around marriage, children, family health, and the husband's fidelity. The Main Female was the mirror in which the querent saw herself reflected, and the surrounding cards narrated the story of her domestic life with a precision that was often unsettling.
The modern evolution of this card has been profound. Today the Main Female represents anyone embodying the feminine energy of the consultation, regardless of biological gender. Questions have moved beyond revolving exclusively around the home to encompass professional careers, financial independence, travel, and personal growth. Contemporary decks reflect this transformation with diverse imagery, but the card's essence — being the feminine reference point of the reading — has remained intact for over 150 years.
In Love
In romantic readings, the Main Female represents the woman in the relationship or the querent seeking answers about her love life. The key lies in observing which cards surround her and how far she is from the Main Male (1). If both significators are close and oriented toward each other, the emotional connection is strong and reciprocal. If several cards stand between them, obstacles, people, or circumstances are intervening.
For single women, the Main Female surrounded by cards like the Meeting (4), Success in Love (15), or the Gift (17) signals a favorable period for meeting someone significant. If instead she is surrounded by Grief (32) or Cloudy Thoughts (33), the romantic blockage comes from within: past wounds, fears, or repetitive patterns preventing openness to new possibilities.
The presence of the Good Gentleman (5) near the Main Female in a love reading is a very positive sign: a man with good intentions is nearby or approaching. But if the False Person (8) appears beside her, the warning is clear: someone is not being honest in their romantic intentions.
In established couples, observe whether Marriage (3) appears in the reading and at what distance from the Main Female. Close indicates formal commitment is present or approaching; far away suggests the topic of formalization is pending but not immediate.
At Work
In the professional arena, the Main Female represents the querent in her work role. Adjacent cards describe the dynamics affecting her: Work (34) nearby confirms her employment is relevant and active; High Honors (25) suggest upcoming professional recognition; the Long Road (35) indicates her career goals will require perseverance and time.
For women entrepreneurs or freelancers, the direction this card faces is especially informative. If she looks toward Gain Money (11) or Great Fortune (26), the financial outlook is favorable. If she faces Illness (31) or Grief (32), the emotional or physical toll of work is taking its price and needs urgent attention before it worsens.
Critical combinations in the work sphere include the Main Female flanked by the Military Official (22) and Court (23), signaling a situation where authority and formal processes condition her career — this could be a work review, a regulatory process, or an important contractual negotiation where she must protect her interests with proper documentation and counsel.
Advice
The Main Female reminds you that you are the protagonist of your own story, not a supporting character in someone else's. The cards surrounding you are not your destiny but the map of your current circumstances, and maps can be refolded to chart new routes. Your position in the reading is your position in life: observe it honestly before trying to change it.
Kipper's directional method carries a deep message for you: what you face head-on is what you are willing to transform. What remains behind your back — relationships you have not closed, pending conversations, postponed decisions — is still there even if you do not look at it. Turning your head toward the uncomfortable is an act of courage, not weakness.
Do not allow anyone to define you except your own decisions. This card does not say who you are; it says where you are. And from any position it is possible to move, change direction, and choose a different path. The question is not what surrounds you, but what you are going to do about it.