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The High Priestess Tarot Card
The High Priestess tarot card is the second key of the Major Arcana and represents intuition, divine feminine, mystery, divination, introspection, and wisdom.
If you had the High Priestess come to you in your reading, now is the time to be still and listen to your intuition. This card is about hidden knowledge that is accessible to you now through your deep, inner knowing. Things may not be what they seem. Veils between the physical and spiritual realms are thin at this time, and your spirit guides may be working closely with you.
Some questions the High Priestess invites you to ponder…
- What is my body trying to tell me? How does it feel?
- What does it feel like to follow my gut?
- In what ways does my intuition speak to me?
- What helps me feel connected to myself? What helps me feel connected to the divine?
- How can I improve my ability to believe in myself?
In this post, we’ll be going over the High Priestess’ Upright and Reversed meanings, as well as The High Priestess as a person (or significator) and The High Priestess as feelings.
The High Priestess Keywords
| Upright: | intuition, divine feminine, mystery, divination, introspection, wisdom |
|---|---|
| Reversed: | division, doubt, spiritual disconnection, confusion, arrogance, prejudice |
| Elemental: | Water |
| Zodiac: | Cancer |
| Planet: | Moon |
| Number: | 2 (duality, grace, power) |
| Yes or No: | Maybe |
Don’t have time to read? Check out this helpful video for key meanings of the High Priestess Tarot card!
The High Priestess Upright
The High Priestess reveals deeply profound inner wisdom and a gut-level awareness of what is best for you. With a strong sense of self-worth and self-confidence, the High Priestess is self-sufficient; she is at ease with solitude and finds solace in privacy.
This card is also connected to the Moon, water cycles, and tides, and as such, it is also associated with psychic abilities and potent, perceptive dreams. It is heightened raw and intuitive senses; the deep feminine.
The pomegranates on the drape stand for having a lot of potential and being full of ideas. She holds the Torah, which stands for your code, religion, and the idea that your path is determined by you, not by anybody else. The High Priestess represents feeling something in your heart, even if you cannot express it.
The calm lake behind her is a metaphor for finding inner peace. The two main pillars represent the pillars Boaz & Jakin from the temple of Israel: the black pillar represents Boaz, who symbolizes mystery, inactivity, and silence, while the white pillar represents Jakin’s attributes of action, knowledge, and illumination.
The High Priestess (Reversed)
The High Priestess reversed can reveal that you are ignoring your intuition. You may be avoiding listening to your gut, putting too much weight on the opinions of others, repressing your needs, or dealing with an untrustworthy person in your life.
It can also be a sign of not speaking up as a kind of retribution for another, being passive at the wrong time, or being passive-aggressive. In this reversal, we have the fear of life, other people, and the desire for simplicity while reality calls for complexity.
Sometimes, the High Priestess in reverse shows there is a simple solution to a big problem. It may also indicate being indifferent or having trouble putting your principles into practice.
The High Priestess reversed reminds you to take loving care of yourself. Nurture your mind and body, and give yourself time to retreat and rest if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately. Connect with the divine. Respect and honor your needs. Don’t be afraid to speak up and set some boundaries between yourself and others if you need to!
Now is the time to listen to your own counsel; the High Priestess reversed asks you to trust yourself. You know what is truly best for you and your well-being. Others can offer their opinions, but that is just what they are – opinions! You carry the facts of who you really are, what you need, and what you should do if you’ve got a decision to make.
Also, beware of dishonest people with hidden motives; this reversal favors being prudent about what you tell others and who you are trusting with important information. In love readings, there may be misunderstandings between you and your lover. If you’ve been feeling “kept in the dark” about a situation or if there is any uncertainty, now is the time to stand up and have an open, honest conversation to clear the air!
With the reversed High Priestess, you or your partner may be dealing with feelings of instability, confusion, or misunderstanding. There could be underlying trust issues, general disconnection due to a lack of compatibility, spiritual harmony, or emotional unity.
The High Priestess as a Person
The High Priestess represents someone powerful and incredibly intuitive. This person may be a perceptive powerful psychic, medium, teacher, healer, or guide. They may be very self-reliant, centered, and unconcerned with what society thinks of them, especially if it conflicts with what they already believe to be true and what is best for them.
High Priestess people are deeply intuitive, feminine, and strong. They are gentle yet fierce. They keep firm boundaries. Privacy and alone time is much-needed and enjoyed; others may see the High Priestess as aloof or even too independent, but this is just how Priestess people like it. They thrive in their solitude!
The seeking and learning of dense subjects such as astrology, esotericism, metaphysics, and the like can consume their time. These people are very knowledgeable. Others can find them intimidating due to their powerful aura and effortless, subtle magnetism.
A person represented by the High Priestess can be hard to read and hard to get to know! There are often endless layers to these people; their depth goes so deep that it could drown the average mind.
The High Priestess (Reversed) as a Person
The High Priestess reversed may indicate someone who is disconnected, ignoring their intuition, and putting too much weight on the opinions of others. These people are often fearful, insecure, and afraid to fully open up out of judgment. They can be painfully shy.
In reverse, the High Priestess can reveal someone who bottles their emotions and eventually breaks down into volatile emotional outbursts. They could be terrified of being alone and deeply disconnected from their truth. This is someone who needs to get back to their center, develop trust in the self, and let go of others’ expectations.
The High Priestess in reverse may also show someone with powerful psychic, healing, or intuitive abilities, however, they are blocked for some reason or the person may be unaware that they have such power.
Alternatively, this reversal can represent someone who is jealous, selfish, duplicitous, and two-faced; they use their intuitive powers in sneaky ways to hurt others.
The High Priestess as Feelings
The High Priestess illustrates deep emotions, as the Priestess is ruled by the Moon. However, this Major Arcana card often keeps feelings under wraps and may only fully express them in private. It can show hidden or unspoken feelings about someone or something.
Sometimes, emotions can feel inaccessible with this card. They may still be in a period of trying to figure out exactly what they feel.
As for how someone feels about you, they likely feel connected with you in an inexplicable way. Feelings here are often deeply rooted within the soul. Aside from romantic feelings, this card often pops up in emotionally intimate relationships or platonic friendships. There is a great depth of feeling here that is likely not talked about out loud.
The High Priestess (Reversed) as Feelings
The High Priestess reversed speaks of deep, repressed, or blocked emotions. Doubt, anxiety, or feelings of detachment, division, and isolation may be present. Emotions can feel out of control or they may escalate quickly and change just as fast.
When feelings are represented by the High Priestess reversed, someone may feel like they are alone and have no one they can really turn to, including themselves. There can be a lack of trust in others and the self. They can feel scared to truly show themselves and open up to others and may struggle with spiritual or emotional blockages due to trauma.
As for how someone feels for you, the High Priestess in reverse suggests they may not be sure how they feel currently. Their emotions towards you could be all over the place. This card can also reveal less emotional connection and more lust and desire; it’s likely this person isn’t showing it, however. They may be keeping their feelings about you to themselves.
In essence, the High Priestess is the embodiment of intuition, mystery, and inner wisdom. She symbolizes the subconscious mind and the hidden gems of knowledge.
Seated between two pillars, she is the balance of opposites and the bridge between the conscious and unconscious realms. The crescent moon at her feet signifies her connection to the cycles of the moon and the ebb and flow of emotions.
The High Priestess teaches us to trust our instincts, delve deeper into our inner selves, and listen closely to the pulse of the Universe. She reminds us to be still and pay attention to our inner voice and the subtle signs and symbols of the higher realms speaking to us.
That’s all for the High Priestess tarot card meanings! To learn more about the Tarot, check out our Tarot Guide for Beginners, or explore the meanings of the rest of the cards!
