The High Priestess is also known as Persephone, Isis, the Corn Maiden, and Artemis. She sits at the gate before the great Mystery, as indicated by the Tree of Life in the background. She sits between the darkness and the light, represented by the pillars of Solomon’s temple, which suggests it is she who is the mediator of the passage into the depth of reality. The tapestry between the pillars keeps the casual onlookers out and allows only those initiated to enter. The pomegranates on the tapestry are sacred to Persephone. They are a symbol of duty (because Persephone ate a pomegranate seed in the underworld, which forced her to return every year). The blue robe the Priestess is wearing is a symbol of knowledge. She is wearing the crown of Isis, symbolizing the Triple Goddess. The solar cross on her breast symbolizes the balance between male and female.
She holds the half-revealed and half-concealed Torah in her lap, representing the exoteric and the esoteric teachings and higher knowledge. The moon under her left foot shows her dominion over pure intuition. The palm indicates fertility of the mind and the cube on which she sits in the earth. The planet associated with the High Priestess is the Moon.
A woman in a blue robe stares straight ahead. She is seated between two pillars, her chair almost completely covered by her flowing robe. Her headdress curves out from her head and carries a large sphere in its center. At her feet is a golden crescent moon, balanced as if she is stepping on it to keep it in place. She holds the sacred Torah scroll, has a white cross on her chest, and sits in front of a decorative tapestry illustrated with patterns of fruit bursting out of its skin in between palm trees. The tapestry is suspended between the pillars. One pillar is black and sports the letter B; the other pillar is white and is emblazoned with the letter J. Behind all this is a blue background reminiscent of a night lit by the fullest, brightest moon.
Letters B and J stand for Boaz and Jachin. These are the pillars from King Solomon’s Temple. Boaz is roughly translated as “completion,” and Jachin is “begin.” The high Priestess sits between the end and the beginning, intuitively understanding that change is a constant with or without one’s involvement or influence. King Solomon’s Temple only had high priests, not priestesses, so this card is a radical step away from established traditions and conventions. The Moon at her feet represents a foundation of the unconscious as the primary influence, and the pomegranates and palms on the tapestry represent the fertility of the imagination unrestrained by logic and consequence. The sphere in the headdress is the pearl of wisdom, and the cross above the Torah illustrates that wisdom is achieved by finding the best of any tradition to guide you. Nothing in this card is obvious; there was no high priestess in King Solomon’s Temple, and yet there sits The High Priestess on a foundation of intuition and blending traditions along the way.
Meaning in Past, Present, and Future Positions
A Tarot reading is about the entire picture: Your past, present, and future. A card’s meaning can be quite different in one part of a reading than another. When The High Priestess is in your past, this can indicate a passive childhood or a recent time in your life when patience and understanding were required. Suppose you spent a lot of time in the library or surfing the internet studying up on one subject. In that case, The High Priestess here shows that your ability to survive on hunches and intuition is quite good and that the knowledge you have acquired in life is a simple foundation and not something that props up your ego.
In the present position, The High Priestess signifies that you are best advised to avoid conflict and not necessarily believe what is presented to you as “the truth.” The High Priestess is a card of following your hunches. We are told by many elements of society to only go on what we know rather than how we feel. The High Priestess card runs counter to this. Is there a situation in your life where someone insists that things are one way when you feel strongly that they are not? Many women dating or living with alcoholic partners are asked to embrace the false reality that a constant state of being “buzzed” brings on. Do you have a hunch that your life or relationship could be better than it is at present?
When The High Priestess occupies the future position in your reading, a coming confrontation is best spotted ahead of time for you to sidestep or avoid altogether. Follow your hunches if a friend or co-worker attempts to get you involved in conspiring against someone, even an enemy. The High Priestess is a card that knows without knowing; if the behavior is not something you are known for, you should know better than to start embracing it now.
Card Combinations
When your Tarot cards are laid out for your reader to see, the cards that are nearby each other harmonize and subtly alter each other’s meanings. The cards around The High Priestess in a reading describe the area of your life most impacted by this powerfully meditative card. When there are many cards from the suit of Pentacles in your reading, this indicates that your hunches about a good way to make money are right on. This is a green light to be bold in a new field despite not being an expert. Some people might tell a woman that she needs to study at business school before attempting to start her own business. The High Priestess and some Pentacles appearing in a reading would indicate otherwise. Go for it!
If the suit of Cups is present near The High Priestess, cool emotions are called for. There could be an overflow of demands on your feelings, but without having the facts in front of you, just feeling like you might be in the presence of a manipulative individual is reason enough to pull back on deep commitments. Sometimes people create a false sense of urgency. These situations never sway the High Priestess.
The suit of Wands focuses your reading on many creative options for The High Priestess. It is said that the Mona Lisa by Leonardo DaVinci took over 4 years to paint and that she bears a superficial resemblance to the posed and poised High Priestess. If you are in the middle of creating your masterpieces, this card combination signals that you do not need the knowledge of academics to be great if you are keeping focused on a creative vision.
When the suit of Swords is near The High Priestess card, observe angry words all around and understand that the silence offered by this card will be your greatest weapon. To not respond to a verbal attack is the ultimate response because the attacker does not get the confrontation he or she so demanded. The High Priestess is ultimately a card of finding and manifesting inner peace as a response to the outside world.
Numbered Two in the Tarot Deck, discover the connection the High Priestess shares with the other cards numbered two in the Tarot deck by learning even more. This card is special, but when it appears with multiple twos then your reading can mean even more.
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I find the historical and symbolic references, such as the pillars of Solomon’s temple and the crown of Isis, very insightful. They highlight the deep connections between different cultural mythologies and their impact on Tarot symbolism.
The symbolism associated with The High Priestess is profound and multi-layered. It’s fascinating to see how different elements from various traditions come together to create a card rich in meaning.
I agree, Jeannette. The interplay of light and dark, tradition and intuition is truly captivating. It speaks volumes about the complexity of human understanding and wisdom.
The card combinations section really stands out. It’s intriguing how the presence of other suits like Pentacles or Cups can shift the interpretation of The High Priestess. This blend of elements adds a dynamic layer to Tarot readings.
The discussion of the High Priestess in the context of past, present, and future is quite enlightening. It underscores the importance of intuition and patience across different stages of life. An interesting approach to the Tarot interpretation.
The role of The High Priestess as a mediator and guardian of sacred knowledge is thoughtfully presented. The emphasis on intuition and esoteric wisdom is particularly relevant in a world that often prioritizes empirical knowledge.