The Hierophant V

Keywords & phrases

• Conformity
• Establishment and hierarchy
• Accepted or traditional wisdom
• Moral superiority
• Spiritual leader/teacher/mentor
• Therapist
• Interpreter
• Spiritual practice and discipline
• Code of ethics

First impressions

At first glance this austere card is about establishment, church, God and religion. This is God’s ‘man on the ground’.

What is happening in the card?

The Hierophant, clearly depicted as a high priest or even Pope here, raises his right hand in benediction. He holds a three-tiered cross in the other. Two tonsured acolytes stand or kneel before/below him, listening with rapt attention.

At his feet are two crossed keys, behind him are two stone pillars. He wears robes of red and an elaborate headdress.

How can we relate to this card?

I think for some of us to relate to this card we need to look beyond the religious garb and the tonsured monks.

This card speaks to us of faith – putting our trust in a higher power. The Hierophant represents a teacher, mentor, interpreter and advocate for a way of being in the world today. A link or bridge between us and a higher consciousness.

Someone to help us make sense of things. Someone to ground us, especially in our spiritual practice – The Hierophant is ruled by earthy Taurus, afterall – and show us how to translate our spiritual beliefs into our lives as we live them, in the present.

He also represents the discipline, restraint and control that we must employ when we endeavour to live our lives according to a certain code of ethics. For the free spirit this may feel too prescriptive and constraining.

Message & affirmations

Today, I act in good faith, with respect for our teachers and their collective wisdom. A free spirit, I show up with an open and curious mind and check in with my inner guide to align my thoughts, words and actions with the guidance I receive. 

My personal experiences of this card

Honestly, I struggle with The Hierophant, as I do with The Emperor. I’m as weary and wary of organised religion as I am of the patriarchy. I realise that this is a card that I need to work with to establish a meaningful connection and make him relevant for myself in my own readings and readings for others.

The definition (see above) from the Merriam Webster Dictionary uses words like advocate, interpreter and spokesperson and these are certainly more relatable terms for me to get my head round.

He is a spiritual guide offering connection to something bigger than ourselves. And a ‘hook’ to hang our beliefs on (The Hebrew letter Vau means hook or nail).

I also found this post on the gift and wounds that we can relate to The Hierophant from @healer.josephine really helpful in better understanding this card as a guide. And in recognising that my resistance to the Hierophant may come from a place in me, a wound, that needs to heal.

Events, situations & readings

In a personal/spiritual development spread:
The Hierophant encourages you to put your faith in your guides. Seek spiritual guidance, a mentor or teacher.

In a career spread:
In relations to work and studies the appearance of the Hierophant suggests that we might seek the advice of a mentor or teacher… or perhaps that we are that person for another who is seeking guidance.

Reversed:
There are times when we all need to question the accepted wisdom, to not blindly follow our leaders. Are they stubbornly holding on to ways and beliefs that no longer serve us?

This is when you might check in with your personal values to see if they are aligned with what you are being ‘taught’. Is it time for change? Time for independent thought. Time to question beliefs and where those beliefs come from.

People & interaction with other cards

In association with the 5s in Tarot, The Hierophant may offer spiritual guidance and discipline to help us through loss and disappointment.

While The High Priestess encourages you to look within for guidance, The Hierophant allows us also to trust in the guidance from outside, our teachers and the codes of behaviour they show us.

Questions, prompts & insights

Are you struggling with an ethical dilemma? Who or what do you believe in and how can that belief guide you in your thoughts, words and actions?

Where are you on your spiritual path today? Do you have a teacher to help show you the way? What are you learning?

Can you be of help to another on their path? What can you teach?

Are clinging on to tradition or are you feeling uncomfortable with about certain aspects of the establishment? Do you accept the status quo or do you question it? What must change? How can you be part of that change?

Featured decks:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot.

The other featured image of The Hierophant is part of an ongoing creative Tarot project by Still Small Voice Tarot combining digital collage and AI generative art.