Mystery behind the high priestess tarot card meaning

Key Points

Here are 3 key points about the High Priestess tarot card meaning:

Instincts and Intuition

The High Priestess represents using your inner voice and instincts to guide you. She encourages listening to your intuition rather than only logic and facts.

Wisdom and Mystery

The High Priestess symbolizes hidden knowledge and wisdom that comes from within. She represents the mysterious unknown and the belief that not everything can be explained rationally.

Subconscious and Inner Self

The High Priestess reflects insights into your subconscious desires, dreams and spirit. She signifies looking within to discover your authentic inner self rather than conforming to others’ expectations.

Meet the High Priestess

Card number two in the tarot deck is the High Priestess. She symbolizes wisdom, instinct and the mystery of the subconscious mind. The High Priestess connects us to the materials we do not understand yet. You just have to look inside for the answers and trust yourself.

An Overview of the High Priestess Card

The High Priestess often shows up in readings when bright insight or another type of intuition is needed. Tune in to your gut and heed the signs as per The High Priestess tarot card. The moon resting beneath her feet points to the realms of the subconscious and dreams. The scroll held in the hands denotes secret esoteric wisdom. The High Priestess tells you to trust your gut feelings.

Symbolism and Imagery

The High Priestess sits between pillars labelled B and J, demonstrating duality and the balancing of two opposite things. The High Priestess wears a crown with a crescent moon at her feet, signifying divine feminine energy. The scroll shows information and ancient wisdoms. Her white dressing represents purity. The pomegranate on her dress is purified to the Greek Goddess, Persephone. The flowing water behind shows the wisdom of feelings and the unconscious.

Her Place in the Tarot

The second card in the Major Arcana is the High Priestess. She follows the Magician, which represents the shift from doing to being. The High Priestess encourages us to withdraw within ourselves and examine our inner world after revealing our potentials. Wisdom must come before creation, which the Empress shows. The High Priestess reminds us that as we travel along our journey, we must remember to balance logic with intuition.

Symbolic Elements

The High Priestess tarot card has a lot of symbols that have profound meanings. The moon symbolizes things like intuition, subconsciousness, and the mysterious unknown which appears to be prominent. The two pillars show duality and balance between opposing forces. Between the pillars sits the High Priestess, a rolling scroll placed in her hand, which has hidden knowledge.

The Moon and Intuition.

The crescent moon at the top of the card represents the High Priestess’s intuition and subconscious connection. Just like the moon, our intuition goes through phases. The moon lightens the dark of the unknown. According to High Priestess, the moon represents inner knowledge that arises from listening to your deeper self.

Pillars of Duality

The two pillars seen on either side of the High Priestess depict the opposites or dualities in the life. Example – dark versus light, male versus female, and severity versus mercy. The High Priestess joins the dualities together and maintains harmony. The pillars show that she keeps opposites or differences in harmony.

Scroll of Hidden Knowledge

The scroll in her hand is a secret knowledge that isn’t obvious to other people. This signifies the knowledge accessible to her from her link to the subconscious and intuition. Anyone who wishes to truly grasp the scroll’s teachings must look within themselves for the answer.

Interpretations in Readings

The High Priestess tarot card means that someone is starting to access their intuition, creativity and psychic powers. It may imply that you should have faith in your intuition while searching for answers inside yourself. The High Priestess urges you to build your personal belief system and honour the divine feminine.

Upright Meaning

Seeing the High Priestess upright in a reading is about tapping into inner knowledge, listening to your intuition, and understanding our subconscious mind. This indicates a period for learning, introspection, and growth. When the High Priestess shows up in upright position, it implies keeping things to yourself.

Reversed Meaning

The High Priestess when reversed suggests that your intuition is blocked or you are unable to connect with your inner self. If this happens, there could be hidden biases, fears, or beliefs that may be getting in the way. To be in a reverse position may mean there are too many secrets that you’re keeping on your own. It means to loosen up and dig into your inner self.

Common Themes and Associations

The High Priestess has ties to the moon and includes the subconscious mind, dreams, and secrets. This tarot card represents patience, stillness, duality, receptivity, and inner wisdom. As the keeper of hidden knowledge, the High Priestess reminds us to trust our gut feelings and develop our intuitive insights through practices of meditation, journaling, and time in nature.

Feminine Character Archetypes Compared

The High Priestess is wise and mature as opposed to the Maiden. Unlike the Mother archetype, she is not very nurturing. But she gives you inner strength by helping you trust yourself. The High Priestess pertains to the spiritual and esoteric side of life while the Crone is more practical. She makes women feel good and lift their spirits high.

Applications in Tarot Spreads

The High Priestess shows up when you need to rely on your intuition and connect with your inner wisdom. Her energy pushes us to explore our instincts and expert perspective. A few tarot spreads feature the High Priestess card.

The Intuition Spread

It helps you learn to trust your instincts and intuition. This spread indicates you to quiet the mind and listen to your inner voice as High Priestess does.

The Self-Discovery Spread

The High Priestess that appears here is a prompt to look to your hidden talents, unconscious workings and untapped potential.

The Inner Voice Spread

The High Priestess wants you to listen to your inner voice and honour it. Learn to notice relationships, gut feelings, dreams and whispers.

Past, Present, Future Spreads Include Roles

In a past position, the High Priestess indicates spiritual learning and trusting intuition. To listen to your inner voice for direction. For the future, this is an indicator of your spiritual growth and being true to yourself.

Guidance in Decision-Making

The High Priestess asks you to meditate on your options in a reading about a decision. To find the proper path, we may need to withdraw, meditate and trust your intuition. The answers are sometimes found in silence.

Personal Development Insights Spread

In spreads about personal growth, the High Priestess asks us to look within ourselves to reach our potential. Think about what you truly are. Nurture your spirituality. Make your light shine through your actions.

High Priestess in Various Settings

When you see the high priestess in a love-related reading, it usually means that the person will have an intuitive nature. This card asks us to go within for answers about our love life and not seek outside forces. The High Priestess reminds us that our partners have gray areas and they aren’t always black and white. It’s best to not confuse your intuition with logic when dilemma strikes.

Love and Relationships

If you draw the High Priestess in a love reading, it’s time to step back and reflect on what you really want and need in a partner. Pay attention to any warning signs. Trust your inner wisdom. The card also indicates having secrets or hidden feelings in your romantic relationship. Ensure you talk openly to your partner.

Career and Finances

The High Priestess indicates that your spiritual goals may manifest in the physical realm during economic forecasting and testing. Pursue your passion instead of just money. This card motivates us to look inside ourselves when it comes to our work and values. Look closely at your options before making any financial decisions as the High Priestess indicates hidden resources waiting to be discovered.

To Grow Spiritually and Gain Knowledge

The High Priestess symbolizes the connection to oneself and accessing one’s own wisdom. She urges you to meditate, reflect, and contemplate often. You can unlock knowledge within you by tuning out the world outside.

Be alert to your gut feeling, visions, and things that seemed coincidental but aren’t. Let the High Priestess lead you to a deeper awareness.

Comparing with Other Character Types

The High Priestess is not as naïve as the Maiden. The High Priestess helps you nourish yourself by trusting yourself. The Crone relies on experience to offer wisdom, while the High Priestess uses intuition. She is the most secretive and mystical aspect of feminine energy.

Applications in Tarot Spreads

The High Priestess tarot card appears when a person is asked to focus on tapping into intuition and inner wisdom. Her energy helps you learn to search for answers and spirituality within. Some spreads where you may see the High Priestess.

The Intuition Spread.

This spread has two essential components that guide our actions. The High Priestess in this spread urges you to still the mind and hear your inner voice.

The Self-Discovery Spread.

When the High Priestess appears here, you are being called to reflect on your hidden strengths, subconscious desires and untapped potential.

The Inner Voice Spread.

The High Priestess reminds you to listen to your inner self. Notice if your life gets strange or surreal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


What is the meaning of the pomegranates on the High Priestess card?

The pomegranates symbolize fertility, feminine energy, and abundance. They are sacred to Persephone in Greek mythology.

How does the High Priestess connect to the moon?

The moon at the High Priestess’s feet represents her connection to the subconscious, intuition, and the mysterious unknown.

What is the scroll the High Priestess holds?

The scroll represents hidden esoteric knowledge and wisdom that she has access to.

What do the contrasting colors mean on the High Priestess?

Her white robe contrasts with her blue cloak, representing duality – conscious and subconscious, light and dark.

Why is the High Priestess an important card?

She represents feminine energy, intuition, mystery, and looking within for answers and guidance.

What are the High Priestess's pillars about?

The two pillars marked B and J represent the dualities and contradictions in life, like dark/light and masculine/feminine.

What is the crown on the High Priestess's head?

Her crown has a crescent moon, representing intuition and connection to the divine feminine.

Why is the High Priestess seated?

Her seated pose represents wisdom, patience, calmness and being grounded.

What is the meaning of the veil worn by the High Priestess?

The veil symbolizes mystery, the hidden unconscious mind, and things not yet revealed.

How can the High Priestess help in a reading?

She reminds us to look within for answers, trust our intuition, and seek inner wisdom.