The High Priestess

The High Priestess
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Card Name:
The High Priestess
Arcana:
Major Arcana
Key Meaning:
mystery, intuition, knowledge, spirituality
Reversed:
secrecy, uncertainty, manipulation, distrust
Contents:
The High Priestess in the tarot deck is numbered 2 and is associated with the mysteries of the future, wisdom, duality, and the very concept of an idea.

The High Priestess Archetype

The High Priestess card represents inner wisdom and intuition. She symbolizes feminine energy without sexual undertones, knowledge, inner harmony, spiritual understanding, and a connection to spirituality and mysticism. Key images associated with this card include a nun, the primal mother of humanity, and a virgin.
The High Priestess embodies female energy in the platonic sense
The High Priestess embodies female energy in the platonic sense

Symbolism of the High Priestess Card

The High Priestess card in the Waite deck is one of the most symbolic tarot cards. The card depicts a woman sitting on a throne between two pillars, with a curtain visible behind her. She holds a scroll with the Latin letters "TORA," meaning "law."

The High Priestess wears a long white dress and a blue cloak, symbolizing her purity and high spiritual state. On her head is a crown adorned with the triple moon, indicating a connection with cyclical changes (as the lunar calendar is the oldest known to humanity) and the goddess Hecate. On her chest is a cross, symbolizing faith and spirituality.

The curtain behind the High Priestess speaks of hidden knowledge revealed only to the chosen ones. If you look closely at the pattern on the curtains, you can see a design of palms and pomegranates. Pomegranates represent the feminine principle, an ancient symbol of fertility, while palms symbolize the masculine principle.
The High Priestess often talks about secret knowledge
The High Priestess often talks about secret knowledge
The columns beside the High Priestess symbolize duality, good and evil, day and night. This refers to the pillars from Solomon's temple, known as Boaz ("In God is strength") and Jachin ("God will establish").

The High Priestess card calls for turning to your inner wisdom, intuition, and spirituality. Everything on the card, from the color of her clothes to the symbols she holds, reminds us that inner wisdom and intuition will help make the right decision and find harmony.

The Key Meaning of The High Priestess Card

Tarot readers see The High Priestess card as a symbol of inner wisdom and intuition that leads to understanding the truth. The High Priestess reminds us to often turn inward and listen to our inner voice.

She also symbolizes hidden wisdom that can be found within ourselves and urges us to pay attention to our intuition.
The High Priestess symbolizes the wisdom hidden within us
The High Priestess symbolizes the wisdom hidden within us
The High Priestess might also indicate the need for spiritual practice for a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Additionally, the card can speak of struggling with temptations and doubts, as well as facing difficult choices.

General Meaning of the Priestess Card in the Upright Position

First and foremost, the Priestess is associated with a particular woman. Additionally, this card almost always symbolizes the presence of a secret. You cannot understand this card by taking it literally and ignoring the Priestess's hints.

The card may indicate unpleasant memories, conflicts, or unresolved situations from the past.

The card may also appear if the querent is seeking something hidden. Its appearance suggests a high likelihood of successful discovery.
The Priestess speaks of the successful completion of the search for the secret
The Priestess speaks of the successful completion of the search for the secret
Among other possible meanings of the Priestess:
  • Inner wisdom and intuition that help make the right decisions in life. A strong surge of intuition is possible, and it is best to listen to it at this moment.
  • Hidden knowledge and information that can only be accessed by turning to one's inner self.
  • The necessity of spiritual practices to achieve harmony and spiritual development.
  • A desire for spiritual understanding and the unveiling of inner potential.
  • The need to show patience to achieve goals.
When the Priestess card appears upright, it indicates that we are currently in a state of balance and harmony with ourselves and the world around us. It also suggests that we can gain important knowledge and information by turning to our intuition and inner wisdom.

The General Meaning of the Reversed High Priestess Card

In the reversed position, the High Priestess often indicates that the querent is not listening to their inner voice. The subconscious has already provided all the answers, but they are not heard, leading to regrettable mistakes.
The Inverted High Priestess warns – it is necessary to listen to intuition more often
The Inverted High Priestess warns – it is necessary to listen to intuition more often
Additionally, the reversed High Priestess card usually indicates the following:
  • Detachment, escapism, and the inability to hear one's inner self.
  • Hidden obstacles and problems that may hinder gaining knowledge and delving into the deeper aspects of life.
  • Confrontation with doubts, hidden fears, distrust, and misunderstandings, which may lead to losing faith in oneself and one's abilities.
  • The possibility of outside opinions and advice interfering in the process of making an important decision.
  • The transition from friendship to more romantic feelings.
The reversed High Priestess can also indicate that it is necessary to be more cautious and attentive in making decisions, especially those related to inner development. It may also suggest paying more attention to one's inner experiences.

The Meaning of the High Priestess Card in Love in Upright Position

In love readings, the High Priestess can have different meanings depending on its position in the spread. Usually, it speaks of platonic love, deep feelings, and spiritual unity with a partner.

If the querent is currently single, the card suggests patience while waiting for their other half and indicates that this way of life is more than satisfactory for the querent at the moment.

However, the High Priestess is not always a good sign. It can warn of jealousy or that partners are drifting apart. A secret affair or hidden feelings may be possible.

If the High Priestess appears in a reading for a woman, it indicates that she is not seeking a serious relationship, fears getting stuck in a routine, and is not ready to give up her independence.
The woman personified by the High Priestess is not ready for a relationship
The woman personified by the High Priestess is not ready for a relationship
Other possible meanings of the card include:
  • The need for restraint in relationships; perhaps it is worth being more modest when communicating with a partner.
  • Having hidden knowledge and information about the partner and the relationship, which can be revealed by turning to one's intuition.
  • The importance of clarifying your thoughts and feelings towards the partner – the real situation may not be as it seems.
  • A call to respect and support mutual independence for personal growth in the relationship.
  • Meeting a strong, mysterious, and distant woman (usually in readings for a man) who is not looking for love but will attract someone with her aloofness.
As noted by the tarot reader on zoomboola.com, the High Priestess card in a love spread is not considered a very good sign – it indicates unresolved problems in the relationship. At the same time, it can speak of a strong mental connection between partners, unrequited love, complicated long-distance relationships, and does not give a clear answer about the prospects of the love union.

Meaning of the High Priestess Card in Love in Reverse Position

When the High Priestess card appears in reverse in a love reading, it can indicate the following:
  • Relationships without commitment.
  • Lack of information about the partner and the relationship, which can lead to poor decisions.
  • Loss of innocence or an immoral act.
  • Unhealthy relationships or "forbidden" love for someone.
  • Discord in the relationship, cancellation of an important event related to the partner.
  • Revelation of a secret, hidden information directly related to the partner.
The reversed High Priestess in this context may also warn about the need to be more cautious and attentive to your desires.

The High Priestess as the Card of the Day

When the High Priestess appears in a "Card of the Day" reading, it can mean the following:
  • Upright: You need to rely on your inner wisdom and intuition to understand current circumstances and make the right decisions. It can also indicate personal life issues, lack of important information, the likelihood of becoming a victim of gossip, or encountering a strong rival.
  • Reversed: You need to be cautious and attentive in your actions to avoid mistakes and troubles. The High Priestess in a reversed position suggests you might face distrust and doubts about your abilities, but the decision you make will ultimately be correct.

What the Priestess Warns About

The Priestess card may indicate that it's necessary to avoid direct actions—they could make things worse at the moment. It might be better to take a wait-and-see attitude right now.
It's better to take a wait-and-see attitude, advises the Priestess
It's better to take a wait-and-see attitude, advises the Priestess
The advice given by the Priestess card: listen to your inner voice—it will bring important insight. The Priestess card calls for respect and support for mutual independence and personal growth, both within ourselves and in our relationships with others. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill, keep your emotions in check, and avoid "energy vampires" and other toxic people. The situation will soon become clear, and what was hidden will be revealed.