05-The Hierophant – Upright Rider Waite Deck

When upright, the High Priest is a wise, spiritually oriented guide to whom the querent has recourse. This person may be a kindly teacher, a mentor, or a spiritual adviser, not infrequently connected with a religious or academic setting. One role of the Hierophant is to perform sacred rites that pass traditional wisdom on to the next generation. The High Priest often officiates at ceremonies such as weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs, funerals, and the like. Because this priestly figure has authority to unite (‘hook’) couples in matrimony, this card can be a harbinger of marriage. In any case, when the Hierophant appears in a reading, you are likely to be dealing with the traditional values of your family, culture, or religion.

Keywords Upright: Traditional values, wise teaching, the ultimate religious authority, spiritual guidance, helpful advice, divine revelation, good counsel, the Ten Commandments, learning, teaching, formal education, instruction, mentoring, listening to a higher authority, kindness, sacred rites, church ceremonies, the sacrament of matrimony, established organizations, conventional social norms, conforming to orthodoxy, conservative views, mediation with the divine, seeking information, caring for the soul.

Key V: The Hierophant (Pope, High Priest)
Myths/Archetypes: The prophet Moses. Pontifex Maximus. Hierophant. High Priest. The deity’s spokesperson. The Holy of Holies (which housed the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments). Emily Post. The Wizard of Oz.
Dates of Taurus: 21 April–21 May (tropical); 14 May–14 June (sidereal)
Astrology: Taurus, the Bull (an Earth sign ruled by Venus)
Numerology: 5 (Hierophant) = 1 + 4 (Temperance)

Rider Waite: Marriage, alliance, captivity, servitude; by another account, mercy and goodness; inspiration; the man to whom the querent has recourse; (R) society, good understanding, concord, over-kindness, weakness.