The Hierophant
The High Priest of the Tarot Deck
The Hierophant is Major Arcana number 5, the spiritual leader of the Tarot and mentor to the The Fool along their journey through the Arcana. It is the source of norms and convention for the Tarot deck, so that it is comprehensible and can be correctly interpreted by those who learn its ways. The Tarot interpretation of the Hierophant often involves organized religion, a question of ethics, the inner workings of a large group, or involvement with a teacher or master.
The Hierophant Card Meaning
The Hierophant card is about how groups of people come together to form a whole that is distinct from each of its members. It is important for such a group to have standards and traditions to maintain its identity, and the Hierophant represents the pressure exerted by the group on each of its members to abide by those rules; but it also can represent the rewards reaped by those who do so faithfully. These rewards can be tangible, such as a position of status, but often taken the form of valuable knowledge or wisdom. In a guidance reading, the Hierophant often represents someone who can teach you a lesson, or someone who already taught you a lesson you have yet to internalize: try your Guidance Reading Here.
Symbolism in the Hierophant
The Hierophant symbolizes churches, traditions, large crowds, and keys. Major Arcana number 2, The High Priestess, also represents spiritual wisdom, but the Hierophant is about that which can be learned from the outside world, while the High Priestess related to inner knowledge and private practice. The Hierophant is commonly associated with the zodiac sign Taurus in the context of Astrology, as both relate to well-earned rewards, and share a faithfulness to the way that things have always been. The Hierophant and its number, 5, both have a sense of instability, and evoke the idea of something extra being added to a situation that was already complete.
The Staff: Right to Rule
The Hierophant is a ruler that is chosen, in some form or another, by the group that they lead. This is in contrast to Major Arcana number 4, the Emperor, whose rulership extends over everyone, and is absolute. Unlike the Emperor, the Hierophant can be overthrown, questioned, or even be wrong; but like the Emperor, the Hierophant enforces the rules ruthlessly. In the Hierophant’s case, it is usually the group itself that is used as the enforcement mechanism.
The Pillars: Structure of Authority
The Hierophant stands before two stone pillars, solid and wide and intricately decorated. This is intended to strike awe and perhaps even fear in his followers, imbuing the Hierophant with a sense of authority and legitimacy. Compare this to the High Priestess, Major Arcana number 2, who also has to do with religious wisdom and rests between two pillars; her pillars are marked with different symbols, represent an inner struggle with duality, while the pillars of the Hierophant are identical, representing his desire for conformity and anonymity.
The Supplicants: Follow and Lead
A leader is not a leader without any followers, and the Hierophant’s are represented by the two figures who bow before him. However, the Hierophant can represent the followers just as much as the leader; the card has more to do with the dynamic between follower and leader, or the emergent properties of a large group combined with a leader, as opposed to representing just one or the other.
The Hierophant Card Reversed Meaning
The Hierophant reversed can mean the flaunting of tradition, rudeness, rebellion, the giving up of an ideal, or mob rule. A teacher or mentor may let you down, or tell you something surprising, or someone may leave a group in a shocking or dramatic way.
Previous card: The Emperor
Next card: The Lovers
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What does the Hierophant represent in a Love or Relationship reading?
The Hierophant reminds you that your relationship is taking place within a larger web of relationships, those that you each hold to other people. Think about how these different relationships interact, and if they work for or against each other. Seeking counsel from others is a great way to help you determine the way forward, no matter which of these relationships is the one that needs examining.
What does the Hierophant symbolize in Career and Finances?
Sometimes you need to give other people what they want, or do what is expected of you, even if it makes no sense or is a waste of time. The Hierophant is a reminder that these acts carry hidden value; you are communicating to others that you care about their thoughts and needs. In the end that may not make up for all the time wasted or used, but it is important to keep in mind when deciding how much you owe to others in your professional life.
What guidance does the Hierophant have for everyday life?
The Hierophant wants you to be in contact with the divine, in whatever form that takes for you. For some this can mean organized religion, while for others it can mean reading tarot cards, or taking a long walk somewhere beautiful. While the Hierophant encourages you to learn from others about how to connect to the divine, that does not mean your practice has to be shared with other people, although for many this does help. Find something big or small to do daily or weekly, that reminds you that there is something bigger out there than yourself.
Does the Hierophant represent you right now?
Click to reveal the card below – if it’s the Hierophant, then this card’s energy is strongly influencing your right now! If not, it may be a message the Hierophant wants you to hear…
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