Images and Symbols

An obscure scene, day and night in one, where a woman in blue sits between two pillars, one dark, one light. She holds a scroll and some flowers (and/or a pomegranate in some decks). Behind her is a daytime scene (which in some decks is obscured by a curtain with pomegranate pattern).

Numerology

The High Priestess has number two. Duality is repeated in the various symbols present in this card – day and night, light and dark, knowledge and obscure mystery. Unlike the masculine one, which stands tall and proud, the feminine two is curved and gentle, but not weak. One must not underestimate the power and strength of two, of duality, of gentle and perfect balance.

Interpreting The High Priestess

She is the counterpart to The Magician - where he reveals the tools to the fool and inspires action, she guards the hidden knowledge necessary to wield those tools, and teaches the Fool to stop, reflect and learn. It could be argued that The High Priestess actually represents the tarot reader!

This card tells the querent to search themselves, listen to their intuiton, and quietly develop awareness of the information that comes to them via their senses or in visions or dreams. It reminds them that even though they have ideas and the tools to bring those ideas to life, those tools have pros and cons, hidden dangers, unexpected and unintended consequences, both good and bad. But this is not a place to hide away like that shown in The Hermit card, this is a place to briefly pause until the required knowledge is learned before moving on.

Yes, further mysteries are hidden behind her, but she isn’t trying to be in your way. She wants to teach you that you are in your own way, not control you. But to understand you must feel and intuit, as well as think and analyse. Only then can you develop the wisdom and depth of understanding necessary to bring your ideas to fruition.

Whether read upright or reversed, (I tend to integrate both significations, regardless of how the card appears, and invite the querent to search themself for which aspects apply to them) this card has both positive and negative connotations for the querent. Now you know, go and get on with it. But watch your step.