The Hierophant

The Meaning of the Hierophant
Major Arcana Tarot Card in Readings

The Tarot Hierophant card meaning in a nutshell:
The dependency on approval
from an elevated dignity.

Archetype:
Priest — spiritual authority.

The Book

Tarot Unfolded

This book presents all the 78 Tarot card images and their allegorical symbols. Several divination spreads are also explained. The book will help you find your own intuitive way of making inspired Tarot card readings. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).

More about the book here.

There's no doubt that the elevated figure on the Tarot Hierophant card is the pope. The word hierophant is Greek, meaning someone who shows the holy. The card is sometimes called The High Priest, which is just about the same: the one claiming to be closest to what's holy, thereby kind of holy himself, too. But that's far from certain.

The pope and other kinds of hierophants are heads of something symbolic, which is not the same as calling them symbolic heads. Usually, they have tremendous power and final say when it comes to what the divine may want. So, the divine seems mostly to want precisely what the hierophants want.

Pope Benedict XVI.

Temples are lavishly decorated, since they are to be the domains of gods. For the same reason, hierophants are lavishly dressed. Their appearances represent the splendor of what's holy, since they are supposed to be the closest links to it. That's why they can carry all that gold and jewels, without embarrassment. Some seem to indulge in it more than others, though. Above is a photo of the present pope, Benedict XVI, in a public appearance, below a portrait of Pope Paul III made by Titian in 1488.

Pope Paul III, by Titian 1488.
Pope Paul III. Painting by Titian, 1488.

In the Tarot deck, the Hierophant card is one that signals tremendous significance, but not necessarily as much substance. Whatever the hierophant might claim, we're all just as bewildered before god. The divine has no definite location, so there's no way anybody could be nearer to it than others. The Tarot Hierophant is the head of rituals, but the essence of any spiritual path is what each of us makes of it inside ourselves. That's a temple no hierophant can make his abode.

The Hierophant Card as a Person

If the Tarot Hierophant card refers to a person, which is most often the case, it's someone very pompous indeed, whom it's of vital importance to treat with respect — whatever you might feel about it. You need that person's approval. At least, you can't afford offending him or her. Watch out, because the Tarot Hierophant is a person that is much more important to the final outcome than you might expect — definitely more than what seems reasonable.

The Hierophant Card as an Event

If the Tarot Hierophant card refers to an event, it's a moment of great symbolic significance, which can lead to triumph or to debasement. The importance of it must be respected, or things are unlikely to go your way. Still, your own influence is minimal. Things beyond your reach and ability are involved. There's not much more to do than hope for the best — and make sure not to offend anyone.

The Hierophant Card as You

If the Tarot Hierophant card has a position in the divination spread which refers to you, then you are in a position that others can't ignore. It is not exactly one of power to decide or spring into action. It's just that you can't be opposed and your preferences can't be ignored. You don't have to be modest about this strong influence, but you should. Tomorrow, in another situation, things may be very different. And people remember. To be respected is far from the same as being liked, or even admired.

Pope Gregorius I. Painting by Francisco de Zurbaran, 1627.

A. E. Waite about the Tarot Hierophant Card

Click the header to read what A. E. Waite had to say about the Major Arcana Hierophant Tarot card symbolism and meaning in divination.

The Major Arcana Tarot Cards

About Cookies

My Other Websites:

I Ching Online

The 64 hexagrams of the Chinese classic I Ching and what they mean in divination. Free online reading.

Complete Horoscope

How predictions are done in classical astrology with the full horoscope chart. Many examples.

Creation Myths

Creation stories from around the world, and the ancient beliefs about the world and the gods as revealed by the myths.

Other Books of Mine

Click the image to see the book (and Kindle ebook) at Amazon (paid link).

Your Health in Your Horoscope

What the horoscope says about your health, according to the old tradition of medical astrology.

Life Energy Encyclopedia

Qi, prana, spirit, pneuma, and many other life forces around the world explained and compared.

Archetypes of Mythology

Jungian theories on myth and religion examined, from Carl G. Jung to Jordan B. Peterson.

Stefan Stenudd

About me

I'm a Swedish author. In addition to fiction, I've written books about the Tarot, Taoism, astrology and other metaphysical traditions. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching ancient mythology. Click the image to get to my personal website.

TAROT READING	TAROT CARDS	WHAT

CELTIC CROSS	ARCHETYPES	HOW