Tarot Study: The Hierophant

[mudweed]

The next is the Hierophant. Please look at this picture free of any associations you previously had. Do you notice anything new about the card? Try free-writing about this card to open up your mind to new things.

[mudweed]

Some of the meanings for this card are:

*education
*belief systems
*conformity
*group identification
*the powers that be
*conventional wisdom
*traditions
*"don't rock the boat"
*blessing
*conscience
*religion

What do you think about these meaning? Any to add? Any that don't seem right?

If you use reversals, how would these meanings change (and if you feel up to it, why?)

[mudweed]

Affirmation:
"I commit my obedience only where and when my higher self directs."
Archetypes:
The Empire (Star Wars)
Kansas (Oz)
The Pope
Public Education

And now, a little something new... some correspondences I found. Let me know what you think. (I of course have these for the other cards, but will not be adding them to those threads unless interest is expressed.)
Astrological: Taurus
Musical Note: C#
Color: Red-orange
Gem: Topaz, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli
Animal: Bull
Plant: Mallow, Sugar Cane
Magical Weapon: (???) Labor of preparation
Perfume: Storax

[Rowan MoonDragon]

I agree with all of that Mudweed. In addition to what you have, I also see self confidence and self esteem. Use your intuition to do whats right. I see this through the pillars meaning balance and the blue scarf at his throat chakra.

[Faery-Wings]

I am one of those people who has a hard time relating to this card. It automatically gives me the sense of being back in CCD where the priest was "holier than thou," demanded respect, and did not like being questioned. I know that someday I need to move past that, but I haven't been able to as of yet.

The pillars suggest balance- they reflect those in the High Priestess card- but this are more "traditional" inlbalance, more rigid than in hers. His red robes and crown signify high stature in his field, the crown emphasizes wisdom and knowledge. The keys also represent knowledge. The two men are listening to him, but not interuppting. They accept what he says as truth. (Can you see where my thoughts are coming from? :) )

[Faery-Wings]

The Celtic Dragon card is the High Priest. He is wearing blue robes- a softer more approachable person. he has a wand and scepter- it shows that he has wisdom and knowledge. the scepter has a dragon wrapped around it- to me that is hows that he is accepted by them. That raises him up in my eyes quite a bit. heh. Behind him there is a tapestry with a black and a white dragon facing each other- for balance. They, and the designs around them are intwined, and I see that as showing the dragons, the preist and ourselves as interconnected. He is an older man with lines on his face- signifying life experiences and wisdon.

I like this card much better than UW's.Can you tell? :)

[Shatril]

I have to say that I'm really intriged by this card. After reading "The Hiram Key" about the history of Freemasonry, I hadn't been back to this card. There are a number of things that come out based on that.

1) The two pillars are at the side of this figure. They relate well to the Joachim and Boaz Pillars used during the rituals by the Masons. Similar to the High Priestess card whick is even labeled with J & B, wow!

2) I have also noticed that the aspect is quite definitely female in aspect. This I find very interesting as well.

I cant for the life of me remember what the two crossed keys mean but that sounds like openning something or unlocking something.

Other than these insights I can't really remember what else there is to this card, without getting my book out.

Free relations:

wisdom
unlock
ancient
worship
femmine
compassion
organized religion
regal

Shatril

[aftershocked]

Hi, mudweed.. don't want you thinking I dropped out of the class, so I figured I'd post *something*.. I don't quite understand this card, although my Ancestral Path deck seems to connect it with me for some reason.. So, since I apparenly am drawn to that card, I'll use it.

This scan (taken from BlueCat's Den (http://www.bluecatsden.com/bluecat1.html) ) doesn't really do this card justice.. It's interesting that the Heirophant in this deck is female, where most other decks have male Heirophants/High Priests (Maybe this has some significance I don't know of?). I hadn't seen this card before buying the deck (I'd only seen 2 or 3), but right away this card felt connected to me. I'll have to admit that I don't get the traditional meanings from this one at all. Personally, I see a woman of power- for some reason she reminds me of Cleopatra- seated before two of her followers. She feels very much like the high priestess, although unlike my High Priestess, who is seated indoors (Or.. somewhere else- it's not made clear) the artist made sure you could tell that the Heirophant was outside, with the trees and sky in the background. I've always seen this card as an extention, or complement of the HPs. Although both seem to be a connection between higher and lower energies, the HPs seems to be the side farther away (closer to the Divine) and the Heirophant seems to be closer to us (reaching up towards the divine). This seems ot signify that the Heirophant is.. wow, like I was when I bought my AP deck. I bought it to connect myself with the Divine. Never looked at it that way before. :ugh:

Meanings I give the card:
bridge to the Divine
earthly connections
Conventional wisdom
Earthly knowledge ("street wise")

Hmm.. I'll have to do more work with this one. Now I'm intrigued :)

[Gigi]

The Hierophant sits before two men. For me red signifies action, seeing that the Hierophant wears a red robe he/she stands for someone you seek to get something done, or to ask advice from, before one does something. He/She is holding a staff on his/her left hand, and has his/her right hand in a sort of greeting. I don’t know what either means, but if I did it will help me more to know what the men may be seeking. His/Her robe is decorated with white, and it has 3 crosses. A cross to me signifies truths, I don’t know why that is, but it does.

The two gentlemen may be seeking for knowledge and truth; or they may stand before the Hierophant to ask for guidance. There are two keys between the men that make me think they are seeking something, or hold the key to enter into a different realm. The Hierophant has the authority, or attention, of the two men. He can guide them.

The Hierophant is a more earthly being, then the other cards. In the other cards (I-IV of the UW tarot) you saw the images by themselves, but this card actually includes two men in it showing that the Hierophant has a direct link to men. He/She is approachable for seekers of truths.

[Gigi]

Hi, Mudweed!

Before I go over my thoughts of the meanings list, I would like to learn some things.

What kind of sceptre is the Hierophant holding on his/her left hand?

What significance is the way he/she holds her right hand?

The background has a neutral color as opposed to the other images in this card, is there a particular reason?

The men in the card, are their dress and haircut significant to any group? for example priests, or culture?

Once I check this, I would like to give a try in regard to the meanings you listed.

Gigi

[mudweed]

You and the questions, Gigi. Always send me scrambling for the books. I love it. :D

OK. The Scepter and hand gesture: This card used to be called the pope, but the name was changed, I assume because "pope" is a much more narrow term than Hierophant. The scepter is (I'm not sure on this one) the symbol of his papal authority, while he holds his hand in a pose of blessing. Ah... the triple cross is the crosier, and represents the Trinity. Oooh, info tidbit:
In the Roman Catholic Church, the crosier can be traced back to the walking staffs used by the twelve apostles. Ancient Roman astronomers also used staffs similar to those carried by bishops of the early Church. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune-Telling

I would guess the men to be priests. They have the traditional tonsure haircut. Remember the monks who had that?

I think the last thing was about the background, and I'm not sure if its neutrality had any significance other than to maintain the focus on the main figure, with his gold crown, and white-trimmed red robes.

Enough info? Too much? If anyone else has things to correct or add, feel free. :)

[mystical sylph]

Hmmm, well, the hierophant himself makes me think of a sort of traducer of the goddess' word: he announce to the people what she wants to tell them
He also makes me think of a druid or a sage: he tells peoples good phylosophy and his knowledge of life.

I always saw the hierophant like a man, a woman, well, a person that announces you a news, good or bad, and who translates you whatever that is needed to be heard for the good will of our path

[Shatril]

I got curious about the Crosier and found the following in the Catholic Encyclopedia (a great source book on line) It is interesting to note that the Pope hasn't carried one of those since 1250CE or some such.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04515c.htm

Shatril :sunny:

[Gigi]

You and the questions, Gigi. Always send me scrambling for the books. I love it. :D

Ask and you shall learn! :chattin:

I'll look up some more stuff and get back to the assignment.

Thanks!

Gigi

[AquariusWolf]

I relate this card to a person seeking spiritual guidance. In the RW deck, the Hierophant is shown with two young children; and rather than facing the Hierophant, they are praying together, towards each other. Also in this card, you can see carvings of a male and female face, as well as sheep and workers. What do these carvings signify? Anyone?

[Gigi]

I relate this card to a person seeking spiritual guidance. In the RW deck, the Hierophant is shown with two young children; and rather than facing the Hierophant, they are praying together, towards each other. Also in this card, you can see carvings of a male and female face, as well as sheep and workers. What do these carvings signify? Anyone?


What card are you using? I can't see the carvings from your thumbnail. :huh:

[AquariusWolf]

What card are you using? I can't see the carvings from your thumbnail. :huh:


Robin Wood - I realize the carvings are hard to see :( Do you have the deck?

[Gigi]

Robin Wood - I realize the carvings are hard to see :( Do you have the deck?

nope :-(

I only have Universal Waite, The Medieval Scapini Tarot, and I just bought the Celtic Dragon. I'm not allowed to buy anymore for at least a month lol

I also have "Healing w/ the Angels" Oracle cards.

I'm going to look your card up on the Internet and see if I get a good look at that carving. I'll let you know if I find it.

Gigi

[Gigi]

Couldn't find a good pic on Robin Hood. :-I

[Faery-Wings]

I just bought the Celtic Dragon

Cool! You can help me brainstorm. :)

[AquariusWolf]

Couldn't find a good pic on Robin Hood. :-I
I'll try scanning the card tonight :D

[Gigi]

Cool! You can help me brainstorm. :)

Chryssi1, Anytime, you were the one that got me into "I gotta have the Celtric Dragon..." lol

I cleansed it already, and I will be reviewing each card tonight to start getting a feel for them. But since I'm a newbie, I will be learning from the Universal Waite, and referring to these cards when participating in class.

Maybe I'll pester you with questions, I hope you don't mind! :crazylaug

[Gigi]

I'll try scanning the card tonight :D

Thanks! I'm still looking for the card. I can't stand myself when I just can't give up on something. lol

[Gigi]

I'll try scanning the card tonight :D

:fpoke: Any luck with scanning the card?

:-)

Gigi

[Aidron]

In my deck The Hierophant has been renamed as the High Priest, which is a small preference of mine in tarot decks. This card evokes a sense of spiritual attainment, individuality, and personal enlightenment.

The High Priest, much like the High Priestess, is in the later stages of his life, what I refer to as the Sage stage of the male cycle. He is outfitted in a white shirt with gold and green edging of what appear to be leaves, that in turn signify (spiritual) growth. His pants, much like his shirt is simplistic, and his blue cloak with purple lining flows freely. His outfit overall represents a certain amount of rebellion and humbleness in that he does not need to adorn himself with lavish robes to affirm his own spirituality and wisdom. The colors reflect purity (white), wisdom and contentment (blue), and spirituality (purple).

His hair is short and white, while his face appears to be in a state of contemplation, as if he is trying to figure the 'reader' out. He wears a simplistic circlet, which only reinforces my feelings of him finding it unnecessary to demonstrate himself through his attire.

In his right hand he holds a small wand, symbolic of his willpower and a sceptar tipped with a silver dragon in his right hand, with silver metalwork wrapping around the sceptar all the way down, symbollic of his spirituality and how all things are connected in my eyes.

Behind him is an extravagant tapestry full of celtic designs and various dragon images. The edging is a deep blue, signifying spirituality, and in the middle red, signifying willpower. Two dragons are the focus of the tapestry in the center of the red portion, one black, one white, that in turn signify to me how all things are interwoven, one relying on the other, and of balance.

Key words & phrases I associate with the High Priest:

Spirituality
Cause & effect (karma to some people)
Connection amongst all things
Individuality
Self-confidence
Education
Conscience
Conformity
Losing yourself
Restricted by dogma
Afraid to embrace your identity
Compensating for what you don't have
Willpower

[Shatril]

I was so excited by all the stuff that came out of my research of this card that I guess I got carried away. However, I guess I think it might be interesting for those that are into symbolism, but it also helps you read the cards as well. Forgive the great length of this. This is specific to the RW tarot.

The Hierophant

Symbolism

Flowered Robes.

The acolytes in front of the Hierophant are wearing two different types of robes. The both have flowers on them and I thought it would be interesting to see what the symbolism of the flowers is.

White Lily—Majesty and Purity, Virginity


Red Rose--Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done, Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done, Unity/Flower Emblem of England, LOVE, I Love You, Passion

(lily=thought...rose=desire) or put more simply...the balance of the head and the heart. I have also heard that the red rose is the blood/body/physical self, and that the white lily is the pure/soul/astral self. Another meaning is that the lily is creative thought and inspiration and that the rose is manifestation; the ideas behind creative visualization.

The most obvious pairing of these flowers is on the Magician card, and Waite describes them in the PKT;

"...Beneath are roses and lilies, the flos campi and lilium convallium, changed into garden flowers, to shew the culture of aspiration..."

"Flos campi and lilium convallium" would seem to come from a verse in Song of Songs in the Vulgate Bible. The KJV translation of this verse is;

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."

A secular reading of this part of the Bible might conclude that it is nothing more than a poem of love, as indeed it is, but Christians attach some important symbolism to the story.

Sometimes Christians refer to Christ as the Rose of Sharon, and Lily of the Valleys, and also believe that the love affair in Song of Songs equates with Jesus' love for, and marriage to, the Church.

http://www.prs.org/gallery-rosicr.htm

This symbol represents Christ on the Cross.

There is also another layer of symbolism between the rose and the lily, in that a rose has five petals and a lily has six. These numbers represent the pentagram and hexagram, the microcosm and macrocosm, or for those more Qabalistically inclined, the Microprosopus and Macroprosopus.

In short "As above, so below"


Esotericism-The hand gesture

With his right hand he gives the well-known ecclesiastical sign which is called that of esotericism, distinguishing between the manifest and concealed part of doctrine. What is esotericism? The word 'esoteric' simply means that which is inner, contrasted with that which is outer or 'exoteric'. Esotericism is therefore the body of knowledge or wisdom about all aspects of life, which are within, behind, or beyond the outer appearance, form, or expression of life's many aspects.

Crosier (Or Pastoral Staff).

I got curious about the Crosier and found the following in the Catholic Encyclopedia (a great source book on line) It is interesting to note that the Pope hasn't carried one of those since 1250CE or some such.

According to present-day usage the Roman pontiff does not use the crosier.

Symbolism
The crosier is symbol of authority and jurisdiction. This idea is clearly expressed in the words of the Roman Pontifical with which the staff is presented to the bishop elect: "Accipe baculum pastoralis officii; et sis in corrigendis vitiis pie s viens, judicium sine irâ tenens, in fovendis virtutibus auditorum animos mulcens, in tranquillitate severitatis censuram non deserens" (Pont. Rom. 77). It is then, as Durandus (Rationale Divin. Off., III, xv) says, borne by prelates to signify their authority to correct vices, stimulate piety, administer punishment, and thus rule and govern with a gentleness that is tempered with severity. The same author goes on to say that, as the rod of Moses was the seal and emblem of his Divine commission as well as the instrument of the miracles he wrought, so is the episcopal staff the symbol of that doctrinal and disciplinary power of bishops in virtue of which they may sustain the weak and faltering, confirm the wavering in faith, and lead back the erring ones into the true fold. The evolution of the staff is of interest. Ecclesiologists distinguish three early forms. The first was a rod of wood bent or crooked at the top and pointed at the lower end. This is the oldest form and was known as the pedum. The second had, instead of the crook, a knob which was often surmounted by a cross, and was called the ferula or cambuta. It was sometimes borne by popes. In the third form the top consisted of a crux decussata, or Greek T, the arms of the cross being often so twisted as to represent two serpents opposed. This, known as the crocia, was borne by abbots and bishops of the Eastern Rite. The original material was generally cypress-wood, often cased or inlaid with gold or silver. Later on the staffs were made of solid ivory, gold, silver, and enamelled metal.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04515c.htm

The Power of the Keys

Matthew 16:17-19--Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven

In all countries the key is the symbol of authority. Thus, Christ's words are a promise that He will confer on Peter supreme power to govern the Church. Peter is to be His vicegerent, to rule in His place. Further the character and extent of the power thus bestowed are indicated. It is a power to "bind" and to "loose" -- words which, as is shown below, denote the grant of legislative and judicial authority. And this power is granted in its fullest measure. Whatever Peter binds or looses on earth, his act will receive the Divine ratification. The meaning of this passage does not seem to have been challenged by any writer until the rise of the sixteenth-century heresies.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08631b.htm

The Tiara

The tiara is a non-liturgical ornament, which, therefore, is only worn for non-liturgical ceremonies, ceremonial procession to church and back, ceremonial papal processions, such as took place upon stated occasions until Rome was occupied by the Piedmontese, and at solemn acts of jurisdiction, as, for example, solemn dogmatic decisions.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14714c.htm

The tiara also seems to have the Hebrew letter for shin on top of it . The name JESUS is spelled by the Hebrew letters JHSVH – Yod , He , Shin , Vau , Heh .
The name is identical to that of Jehovah except for the added letter Shin in the middle.
What does Shin do to the name that graphically shows it to be the mediator between man and God? This alone confirms that the top of the tiara does in fact contain the letter Shin.

I haven't decided what this card means in a reading. I'm still trying to get all the symbolism straight, and then will work on the meaning for me.

Shatril:sunny: