(Tarot Prompts for Writers)
Here’s a compilation of my notes on reading The High Priestess as a card of the day or in a spread.
If you’re just learning tarot, use the deck that most appeals to you, and spend some time looking at your card. What does it say to you? (See my description of The High Priestess as I see it.)
Tarot is personal and open-ended. There are traditional meanings — and yes, you should know them if you want to read tarot cards — but it really only “works” if you follow what the cards mean to you personally. Your priestess and my priestess may not mean quite the same thing.
Number
The High Priestess has the number 2, signifying balance and partnership, but also conflict and opposition. The duality of life and death, night and day, up and down. Every condition has an opposite; they don’t necessarily take turns. There is some tension in the number, but it’s controlled. It contains a potential not yet expressed.
Name
The name “High Priestess” may sound like an organized religious position, but she is not authoritarian; she is natural and mystical and divinely inspired. She is the “secret church,” and the card is about mystery, and using your intuition to become the architect of your destiny. The High Priestess calls to mind the psyche, spirituality, and a desire for greater knowledge. She is a goddess of wisdom. The card demands interest in the deeper complexities of life; it’s not for the superficial. It is for one who knows they have things to learn.
Placement
The High Priestess is at the beginning of the major arcana, right after the Magician. She is the first place the journeyer goes, if they want to go anywhere important. She guards the mysteries; it’s not just that she knows them; she guards them. In some ways, this is the highest and the holiest card in the deck. You must learn the secret language of her book, even just a little, to progress.
Traditional interpretations
The High Priestess bridges the conscious and unconscious. She tells of secrets, mystery, the unrevealed future, and strong psychic energy. She represents wisdom, nature, and magic.
She is the source of creative talent. She holds forces in balance until the time is right to bring them forth. She holds wisdom from past ages, and she’ll reveal some to you if you ask the right way. This is a positive card.
It’s a difficult card to interpret, as it’s shrouded in mystery. You might or might not access hidden knowledge, but be aware that things are deeper than you think. Your intuition is good; use it. Your own insight may solve your problems. Attend to your instinct in making a decision. But ponder deeply and choose wisely. Things are more complicated than they appear.
Reverse interpretations
Reversed, the card warns against emotional instability, passion that will lay waste to important things, delusion and wishful thinking, or deceit and dangerous secrets. Problems will result from lack of foresight or unheeded advice.
It can indicate the bad influence of a woman to whom you are emotionally enslaved — don’t trust her to serve you well.
The card reversed often indicates shallowness, conceit, self-righteousness, gossip, and superficiality. A solution you proposed is no real solution but just for show. The real solution lies in reconnecting to your internal energy and intuition and plunging deeper into life and meaning. Don’t turn away from her gates.
Thematic readings
- In love, the card suggests strong attraction, likely from opposites. But watch out for secrets or secrecy.
- In work, the card advises you to be wary of secrets. Keep your intuition keen.
- In general life, the card suggests that the matter at hand is deeper than you’ve realized. Keep your secrets for now; there are hidden forces at play. You might seek enlightenment, serenity, and learning, with some removal from daily life.
Specific positions
- Current situation: Follow your instincts; trust your intuition. Look at the situation again for something you missed. There is unfulfilled or unexplored potential. You have powerful unconscious knowledge which you must tap into.
- Past influence: The card may indicate the influence of a wise woman. You’ve allowed secrets or mysteries to stay hidden; you have not sought deeply enough. You might be holding back or hiding, keeping secrets.
- Outcome: Hidden things will be revealed, bringing strength and hope. You will learn a secret, to your benefit. There is an answer, if you’re willing to listen. Just ask. A revelation may be coming. Be confident; you’ve got this if you just seek deeper.
- Blocked: Hidden spiritual factors may be affecting you; consult within or with a wise teacher. You are not expressing yourself, possibly because you fear your feelings. Ignoring your feelings and instincts is detrimental.
Questions for the Querent
- What are your feelings about intuition? How much do you trust yourself? How much do you trust the advice of others?
- Do you have any reaction at first sight of this card? What do you focus on?
- What would you ask her? Would you approach?
- What might she tell you about your journey, your qualities and shortcomings, your goals?
- Would you want to be her?
- Do you seek a deeper meaning from life? Do your desires represent what will really make you happy?
- Are you keeping secrets that you ought to open up about? Do you worry that those around you have secrets?
- Are you attracted to mystery? How has this served you so far?
- Does she represent anyone real to you?
- Are you in balance, and in touch with reality?
- Do you have a wise friend to consult with? Are you a wise friend to others?
Keywords to aid Memory
- Intuition and wisdom
- Secrets and mystery
- Revelation and knowledge
Images on this page are by the following artists: Banner, left to right: Marseilles deck engraved by Nicolas Conver; Dragon Tarot illustrated by Roger and Linda Garland; Tarot Balbi by Domenico Balbi; Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti (also shown alone in the box); Radiant Rider-Waitedeck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith; Druid Craft deck illustrated by Will Worthington.
Catherine Austen 