V - The Hierophant

Contact Bruce

About PWP

Links

Photo Credits:-

The Hierophant
tarot card
(Wikipedia;
public domain)

V - The Hierophant

Keywords

Spiritual Authority/Values. Tradition. Initiation. Advice. Shaman. Guru. Prophet. Mentor. Interpreter. Teacher. Mediator. Psychotherapist. Counsellor. Religion. Philosophy. Conformity. False Prophet. Cultic.

Themes

The Hierophant represents the wisdom of a collective value system (religion) needed to sustain and guide one, until one has learned to listen to one's own inner voice. Thus he he points to the need for spiritual teachings (faith, belief and dogma). Or indicates that the seeker must look deeper.

Comparisons

The Hierophant connects the Inner and Outer Worlds more overtly than The Magician.

The Hierophant verbalises and systematises spiritual knowledge, whilst The High Priestess works more with feeling and intuition.
Maybe The Hierophant's teacher is The High Priestess!

The Hierophant is spiritual power rather than the earthly power of The Emperor.
The Hierophant rules the inner world of society rather than the sphere of physical and social well-being of The Emperor.

Both The Hierophant and The Hermit are aspects of the archetypal Old Wise Man. The Hierophant is his public aspect, his institutional form, whilst The Hermit is his introvert, mendicant form. Each is imbued with a special mana, because each seems to speak with the voice of God.

Notes & Quotes

"The Priest is the Gateway to Silence." (Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki)

Also see:-

Major Arcana

Tarot

Maps of Consciousness articles

Top of Page

Contact Bruce