The High Priestess
Purveyor of Secrets and Dreams
The High Priestess is Major Arcana number 2, the one who transforms the raw power of The Magician into a subtle and refined energy that is ready to be applied precisely where it is needed. She is the source of intuition and ancestral knowledge for the Tarot deck, and is associated with mystics, meditation, calm waters, and mirrors. The Tarot interpretation of the High Priestess often involves a dream or intuition that will not go away, or that turns out to be true despite seeming unlikely.
The High Priestess Card Meaning
The High Priestess card is about calmness, listening to your inner voice, and being guided by the wisdom that is buried deep within all of us but is sometimes hard to access. It can represent a secret or piece of knowledge that you have yet to fully accept, as well as an unknown enemy who is currently working against you. The High Priestess embodies the spiritual and intuitive side that all of us have; some are more naturally connected to this part of themselves than others, but the High Priestess encourages everyone to learn to tap into the reservoir of wisdom. If she shows up in a decision reading, it usually means you already have all the information you have, but may still need to process it: Try a Decision Breakdown Reading Here.
Symbolism in the High Priestess
The High Priestess symbolizes dreams and the subtle influences that shape our ways in ways that are only obvious to those who are paying close attention. It can also represent the way that our memories or imaginations influence our thoughts and actions, especially when this happens unconsciously or via a convoluted series of connections and associations. This card is the opposite of Major Arcana number 1, The Magician, and together the two can be seen as a representation of yin and yang. The High Priestess can also be contrasted with Major Arcana number 5, The Hierophant, as both relate to spiritual guidance and wisdom – indeed in some Tarot decks, The Hierophant is called the Pope, while the High Priestess is called the Papesse (or Popess, the female Pope). The difference is that the High Priestess is about private devotion and generalized spirituality, whereas the Hierophant relates more to organized religion. The High Priestess is commonly associated with the Moon in the context of Astrology, as both relate to dreams, intuition, and memory. She also shares a sense of fertility and duality with her number, 2.
The Pillars: Solomonic Wisdom
The High Priestess sits between two pillars, marked B and J. These stand for the Hebrew words Boaz and Jachin, and represent opposite polarities, often loosely interpreted as mercy and severity. The High Priestess is symbolically positioned between them as she seeks an appropriate balance between mercy and severity in her own mind and life..
The Pomegranate Seeds: Fertility and Power
Behind the High Priestess is a tapestry containing pomegranates, split open so that their seeds are on full display. This represents fertility and the power for something that starts out very small or subtle to grow into something capable or nourishing others, providing pleasure, and eventually re-producing itself (as any pomegranate grown from one of those seeds will itself contain more seeds). This taps into the deep feminine power of the High Priestess, and also relates to the number two, the High Priestess’s number which has to do with gestation, reproduction, and development.
The Lake: Still Waters Reveal All
Even farther behind the High Priestess, between the tapestry and pillars, can be seen a body of water that contains no waves or disturbances. This represents her mental state, calm and receptive to anything no matter how small. Imagine a small pebble dropped into a body of water; on rough choppy waters it could go completely unnoticed, while on a still lake the waves caused by the pebble could reverberate across the entire surface. The High Priestess is like the calm water, so still and calm that even the smallest feeling or detail can be noticed and examined closely.
The High Priestess Card Reversed Meaning
The High Priestess reversed can indicate seclusion, confusion, inaction, or a misguided intuition. This can mean that you are misinterpreting a feeling that you currently have, or are feeling blocked off from your intuition and unable to tell what you really think about something. If this is the case, look to the other cards in the spread to figure out how to reconnect to your inner feelings. It can also mean letting passion overtake reason.
Previous card: The Magician
Next card: The Empress
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What does the High Priestess represent in a Love or Relationship reading?
The High Priestess indicates a need to get to the bottom of your feelings about the situation. There may be many different feelings at once, or your feelings shift over time rapidly and unpredictably; the High Priestess is instructing you to find your center, to search for the meaning behind all the noise, and figure out which feelings will last once all the dust settles. Her advice for doing this is to spend quiet time reflecting and working through those feelings, either alone or with quality one-on-one time with your partner. When distractions and chaos are subtracted, the stillness that is left can reveal the truth of the situation by reflecting it back to you.
What does the High Priestess symbolize in Career and Finances?
The High Priestess means that you may be expending your energy or time in the wrong direction, or at least not the most optimal direction. She is asking you to take a step back and think about what you really want and how your current actions align with those goals; even if this self-reflection yields no great insights, periodically doing this can refreshen resolve, and make future decisions easier to make as they come up. When she shows up in a career or finance reading, the High Priestess is telling you the time has come for such an assessment.
What guidance does the High Priestess have for everyday life?
The High Priestess reminds you to stay in touch with yourself, even in the midst of connecting to other people or having a hectic schedule. Small personal rituals, or just a few seconds to catch your breath and check in with your own internal state, can help you stay grounded and true to your self. It is easy to get wrapped up in other people or whatever is going on in our lives at this moment, and while that can be a good thing for a time, the High Priestess wants you to make sure to never go too long without touching home base.
Does the High Priestess represent you right now?
Click to reveal the card below – if it’s the High Priestess, then this card’s energy is strongly influencing your right now! If not, it may be a message the High Priestess wants you to hear…
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