The Tarot Card of the Day — The High Priestess — resides in the realm between the conscious and subconscious world. Ruler of thaumaturgy. She offers wisdom and guidance to those who dare to walk into the shadows and discover what is lurking in their own inner murkiness. She symbolizes all things mystical, magical and esoteric.
The High Priestess is a major arcana card. If you’re not familiar, there are 78 cards in a tarot deck which split into two categories — the major arcana and the minor arcana. The minor arcana has 56 cards that are divided into four suits — Cups, Wands, Swords, Pentacles. The major arcana contains 22 cards which interpret the soul’s journey through life, and the archetypal aspects and patterns of influence that are an inherent part of the human experience. Anytime a major arcana card shows up (even in a single draw) it holds more importance and deserves a closer look.
The High Priestess represents reflection, she is the inner wisdom which builds your house. Within your unconscious mind there is deeper knowledge. She asks you to visit your internal world and remove the barrier between your inner and outer being.
This card represents the birth of duality, of energy, of the feminine, of choice, of potential.
Let’s break down the deeper symbolism of the Tarot Card of the Day — The High Priestess — using the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition.
- Number Two (II): The number on each Tarot card is significant in the interpretation of their meanings. Keywords: duality, opposites, coming together, balancing of two, partnerships, relationships, cooperation, agreement, balance, reflection.
- B & J: The letters ‘B’ and ‘J’ stand for the Hebrew words Boaz and Jachin, the two pillars at the front of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. The black pillar represents the negative and feminine principles, and the white pillar represents the positive and masculine principles. They represent dualities such as dark & light, yin & yang, masculine & feminine.
- Crown: The crown on The High Priestess is the symbol of the feminine ‘Isis’ and represents ‘illumination’ and the Moon.
- Cross: The cross represents the positive forces in balance.
- Crescent Moon: The crescent moon looks like cow horns, which connects this symbol to the cow goddess Hathor — symbolizing a celestial aspect. It also signifies the maiden stage of the triple goddess archetype: integration of polarities.
- Pomegranates: Symbolize abundance, fertility, beauty, prosperity, fruitfulness.
- Blue Robe: Suggests spiritual beauty, purity, transcendence. Her robe turns to water symbolizing emotions, intuition and the subconscious realm.
- Scroll: When a scroll is rolled up, it’s unreadable — and therefore, it is hidden. It contains the arcane, mysterious, secrets of the universe.
- Tora: Some suggest that TORA is connected with the Hebrew Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). Others suggest the letters connect to the essences of the Major Arcana cards.
- Water: Symbolizes the unconscious mind, dreams, emotions, hidden realms, subconscious.
- Veil: To conceal. A sacred threshold, a boundary between the physical and the spiritual realms.
When you put it all together, this card suggests that it is time to retreat and reflect, and go within to find answers. Trust your inner instincts to guide you. The High Priestess reminds us to listen to our intuition and the voice within. Trust and listen to yourself and seek confirmation in your own knowing.