Discussion on Tarot: The Hierophant

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Let's move on to the next card for discussion, the Hierophant. I'll post my interpretation a little later, I want to see what everyone comes up with first! ;) :p

[Scarlett O]

I guess I'll go first...

I studied this card last night, thinking/hoping that this would be the next card.

In the Cosmic Deck, The Heirophant is in profile, he is facing the left. He has his hands held in a position that reminds me of a priest giving a blessing. In his right hand is a card that has a pentacle on it. There is an "illuminated" diamond in the background that surrounds him, and coming from his eyes is another light.

Looking up at him are 2 women (gypsy (?) types) and two men, one reminds me of a monk and the other a priest of some sort.

What this card says to me is that The Heirophant is the one that we all turn to for knowledge or advice. His understanding is of a spiritual nature and not necessarily of the "mundane" for lack of a better term. Any "higher" knowledge comes from him. Seekers should turn to him.

I'm still new to this...this is just what I think.

I love these discussions mainly because The Higher Arcana drives me nuts (as I've said before) and these have helped me to look at the cards in a different way. If I'm off...Please let me know.

[Flaire-FireStar]

If I'm off...Please let me know.

I don't think you are. :) I was looking at the Classic Tarot last night, and when I brought up the Heirophant, my first thoughts of him were "This is someone you can turn to for advice...someone you can trust". I think that, where the High Priestess is quiet, the Hierophant doesn't have a problem with sharing the knowledge that he has. :)


Edited to add:

Also, in the Rider-Waite, he seems to be a good source of information, seeing that there are 2 men kneeling in front of him, with the Hierophant sitting up higher than they are.. That the Heirophant is a praised and well educated/sought after man of great knowledge.

I'll probably keep adding when I get to my other decks. :lol:

[Azure]

Well, this is a card that often frustrates me - it tends to symbolize the need to break out of old patterns for me, or to imply that you've hit a wall, and need to adopt new methods to accomplish something.

However, one of my better books suggested it meant a need to examine things with an eye to kindness and forgiveness.

For me, the card from that perspective can be summed up in Portia's speech to Shylock in "the Merchant of Venice" - "The quality of Mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven unto the place beneath. It is twice blessed, for it blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes the throne'd monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, it is an attribute to awe and majesty where sits the dread and fear of kings. But Mercy is above that sceptre'd sway - it is an attribute to God himself, and earthly powers show themselves likest God's when mercy seasons justice. . ."

I'm doing this from memory, but that should be right. At any rate, it's a reminder that there are things more important that getting what we want, than getting revenge, a reminder of the gentle hand of the Divine guiding us to make wise and well thought out decisions, rather than rash ones.

[Mithrea]

In the Renaissance deck, the Hierophant, Il Papa, carries a tiny dragon (symbolizes vanquished evil according to the artist) and a Bishop's Crook. He wears the Papal Tiara and is flanked by Poseidon and a horse.

In Tarot Art Nouveau, the Hierophant is surrounded by Lillies and Beetles.

The Hierophant symbolizes formalized learning. It also represents support structures to me such as peer groups, families, and friends; also to a lesser extent classmates and co-workers. But it speaks of them as a group, and functioning unit not as a individuals. The Hierophant speaks of hierarchies.

When I see this card in a reading, my mind jumps immediately to education and school (because that is what he means to me) but I encourage people to be fair and follow the rules of whatever situation they are in if this card comes up.

In The Witches Tarot, the Hierophant is replaced by The Seeker. The Seeker stands on the edge of a cliff draped in robes, carrying a walking staff in one hand, and latern held high in the other.

I think this card was one that was changed because the artist felt that the only authority a person needs is oneself. Rather than seek truth in the outside word (in school, court, government, church) as the Hierophant might hint at, The Seeker asks you to seek your answers inside yourself.

[cherrywind]

I figured I should finally get into these tarot discussions, so here I go.

In the Universal Rider-Waite deck which I've owned for years but just recently felt out of touch with (I had to take the hint it was time to move on to another deck despite the fact I kept persisting, ha!) the Hierophant always symbolized spiritual/internal personal awareness and enlightenment. If this card turned up in a spread it always told me that the person was seeking some sort of spiritual/personal truths. On the flipside, it always represented somebody who was too stubborn to break away from what they had always been taught, despite the fact that it might be what's best from them. The two men kneeling before the Hierophant symbolize reverence and respect, indicating that he is a holder of knowledge and should be listened to and his words taken to heart.

Whenever he came up in a spread I would always tell the person I was doing the reading for that perhaps it was time to relearn something they had been taught, re-examine what they believe, as there maybe some outside force guiding them to something that is more appropriate for them.

Edited because I forgot to say:

The keys have always been important for the imagery in this card to me as well. It shows the unlocking of some ideas or taking down the barriers and just listening to what you might need to learn.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Originally posted by Mithrea

In The Witches Tarot, the Hierophant is replaced by The Seeker. The Seeker stands on the edge of a cliff draped in robes, carrying a walking staff in one hand, and latern held high in the other.


I believe that would make the Seeker the Hermit. ;) I'll check my deck to make sure when I get home. The hermit is usually the one carrying a staff on a mountain top/cliff with a lantern wearing bedraggled robes. :sunny:

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

The hierophant for me represents guidance, forgiveness, blessings. He's a teacher, an elder, a person far wiser than I. He has the key to the solution I seek.

[Mithrea]

Originally posted by Dagda Moon~Lily


I believe that would make the Seeker the Hermit. ;) I'll check my deck to make sure when I get home. The hermit is usually the one carrying a staff on a mountain top/cliff with a lantern wearing bedraggled robes. :sunny:


Okay duh, now that you say that I remember you are right . . . perhaps it was the High Priest? Or maybe I'm missing a card . . . lol :lol: Of course, for me there is a strong connection between The Hierophant and the Hermit. I think of them as two sides of one coin, seeking and doing the same thing in opposite ways. Even so, as they relate to myself, they are almost the same card so that could be the cause of my mixup :D Dang Reed and her substitutions :T

[Xander67]

I like to associate The Hyrophant with Obiwan Kinobi
he is a teacher, a guide, he is firm, yet gentle, he helps us learn the way of the Jedi, showing us to discover the "force" within us that helps us deal with situations in life, and he also helps us to discover what lesson a particular situation was meant to teach. :)

[Mithrea]

Right okay :) the High Priest is the fifth card in the Witches Tarot. The booklet interpretation says, "Querent brings energy to project, although others may be needed to provide organization."

He has a big white bushy beard and long mathching hair. His robes are white and he holds a short sword (athame?) over a chalice held by someone else.

This is another card that has never come up in my readings :huh:

[Xander67]

you think that one is loopy, you should see my essay on the Fools card, I wrote it after watching "the road to eldorado" last Summer :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Care to add it onto the Fool discussion, Xander? I'm curious now. :D

[Xander67]

:eek: a thread in my honnor :T

sure! I have it saved on a text file at home, I am here for another hour, I will share it when i get home, can you bump the thread for me?

[Flaire-FireStar]

:) Sure thing...

BTW, I like your analogies between the Heirophant & Star Wars.

[Xander67]

Well Im a Jedi, ;)

[Faery-Wings]

Hmm, I just got the Hierophant in a daily reading, and I almost never get him.

To me, he is one who is knowledgeable, wise, and as stated, one who is willing to share in that knowledge. But this seems to be where I differ; he seems rigid and not very forgiving to me. And I know most books and many of you here say that he is. So, *shrugs and smiles* that is simply my take on it. But he seems to be connected to the High Priestess, as he sits between the pillars, which are uncovered, indicating his revealing of knowledge. Also, to me, he is connected to the Magician, with his upraised arm. So I see that he has power and knowledge within him. I feel that the straight, rigid posture of him, combined with the "lowness" ,physically, of the two studying with him, shows a distinct superiority. As I am writing this, it brings back feelings of being in the Church- maybe that is why I feel he is not so forgiving and kind. But I do feel that he commands respect and deservedly so.

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by chryssi1

To me, he is one who is knowledgeable, wise, and as stated, one who is willing to share in that knowledge. But this seems to be where I differ; he seems rigid and not very forgiving to me. And I know most books and many of you here say that he is. So, *shrugs and smiles* that is simply my take on it. But he seems to be connected to the High Priestess, as he sits between the pillars, which are uncovered, indicating his revealing of knowledge. Also, to me, he is connected to the Magician, with his upraised arm. So I see that he has power and knowledge within him. I feel that the straight, rigid posture of him, combined with the "lowness" ,physically, of the two studying with him, shows a distinct superiority. As I am writing this, it brings back feelings of being in the Church- maybe that is why I feel he is not so forgiving and kind. But I do feel that he commands respect and deservedly so.

I totally understand your take on the Hierophant Chris, he also reminds me of the church, and in some decks is called 'The Pope' and pictures as the pope sat before an altar with robes on.. see this one here where he looks to be preaching/telling/advising two children on life.. he doesnt looks very warm or forgiving does he.

[Silver Venus]

I think the pope was turned into the hieropahtn by pagans, and his name means 'to reveal' in latin.

I too believe that the hierophant ties in with the High Priestess and the Magicain, as he teaches and speaks of knowing your own truth, power, path, and energy in life. He is the male high priest of the tarot, he is the magicain ~ I think maybe the magicain becomes the hierophant.

He also ties in with the Emperor for me, thats where his authority comes through, and a sense of right and wrong, justice and honour.

[Storm]

I think of the high priestess and magician as being solitaires but the hierophant as a religious leader no matter what the religion where the people go to learn the dogma and teaching. Some of my cards I see a more rigid theme and others more relaxed and natural but still someone to look to for learning.

I am knew to this but that was my take on the differences between magician and priestess and the hierophant.

[Mithrea]

Originally posted by chryssi1
But he seems to be connected to the High Priestess, as he sits between the pillars, which are uncovered, indicating his revealing of knowledge.


This would be backed up by the fact that he's called the High Priest in one of my decks. (Thanks Dagda ;) )

[Xander67]

Random thoughts here,

Hiropphant = Merlin, Obiwan Kinobi, Good witch of the north,
those teachers in school who were unlike the others, they were the ones who we learned the most from...

just rambling

[Silver Venus]

I agree Xander! :) Especially with Merlin I can totally see my Merlin as he.

[Faery-Wings]

Celtic Dragon High Priest~ I like this guy better than UW's Hierophant :p

He is a wise man, has earned his wisdom of his tribe, or followers. He is regal and powerful, yet with him, I get more of a sense of understanding and compassion. I compared him with the High Priestess to see if there was a connection in this deck also. The dragons in the tapestry look to be the same two dragons who represent conscious and subconscious power of the High Priestess. He has control and understanding of that. The tapestry also gives me a feeling that he is officially recognized as the leader and giver of that knowledge.

[Silver Venus]

Wow Chris Im loving your cards :D
& Control and understanding are key to him ~ well put!

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks SV! :)