Tarots Card Spreads -

The High Priestess

This card represents knowledge that needs to be applied carefully.

The female figure gazes at us uncompromisingly, a scroll of knowledge in her hand.

At her chest is the equal-armed cross of balance, echoing the Magician’s harmony of the four elements.

While the Magician stands in a posture of activity, the High Priestess is seated in a throne as a symbol of her authority.

In this tarot card spreads, we see at the feet of the High Priestess is a crescent moon, indicating that The Moon rules this card.

Consequently, this card is an indicator of emotional issues, of cycles of life and timeliness, of feminine intuition and power, as a counterbalance to the Magician’s masculine outlook.

The lower ends of her robes seem to flow like water yet she is untroubled and still.

The High Priestess keeps many secrets and guards knowledge against those who would misuse it.

She is in some ways the tester and receiving this card in a tarot card spread can be an indication that there is something or someone that needs to be overcome.

The way to do that is to apply the knowledge gained.

To her left and right are two pillars. These relate to the pillars on the Tree of Life and Qabalistic study, showing us that she represents the middle path of balance – neither too active nor too passive.

The letters on the pillars relate to Boaz and Joachim – force and form.

There is much wisdom in this symbolism and it bears deeper study.

She is crowned with a full moon, indicating her power over the subconscious mind and the realm of dreams.

This tarot card spread can indicate psychic ability and that hidden forces are at work in a situation.

The High Priestess is also the healer and the comforter, but she is not the mother and this distinction is important.

She represents the virgin and her blue robes naturally give us pause to reflect on the significance of Mary and the feminine archetype in spiritual teachings of all cultures.

The pomegranates are a symbol of both the feminine and of the mysteries.

She is nurse and muse and priestess herself, vessel of wisdom and guardian of the mystic arts. Naturally, she indicates a strong female presence, potentially a teacher although not necessarily in the conventional sense.

She does not judge, but neither does she compromise. This card represents potential that needs to be actualized in order to bear fruit.

For hers is the veil that can only be pierced by the worthy, by those who have attained that right.

The High Priestess cannot be impressed by fine words or lofty promises; she sees into the human soul as a Goddess and enables us to see ourselves as we truly are.

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