TAROTThe High Priestess
Upright
Intuition, the subconscious mind and connection to the higher realms of consciousness
Your inner intuition can be trusted. Dig deep in yourself; the truth is already there.
Your inner self sees through other people’s secrets and hidden agendas.
Intuition
The High Priestess’s three heads look down three roads simultaneously; the past, present and future. This represents a Tarot reader’s intuition in being able to see life in all three directions.
The High Priestess is the Holder of the Torch; the key to higher consciousness and immortality.
Reversed
Confusion, indecision, or being out of touch with your own emotions.
Self-delusion, self-deceit, or hypocrisy. Sometimes we don’t see things as they are, but as we are.
Lack of trust in one's instincts
An overemphasis on rational thinking without listening to your inner voice; does this ‘feel right’?
Astrologia
Emotion, nurturing, intuition and dreams. Relationships based on strong emotional support and understanding. Focus on the home and close relationships. Open to delusion, causing emotional outbursts.
The High Priestess
The High Priestess represents the inner voice or subconscious. The subconscious is not something esoteric. It is the voice that speaks to you whenever the facts seem to point to a certain conclusion but something does not ‘feel right’.
The High Priestess is often seen as the opposite card to the more rational and outward looking Magician, but everyone - whether male or female - is a combination of both. Strive instead for balance between the two.
The power of the High Priestess lies in her ability to think without over-rationalizing and overthinking. This is often called ‘gut feeling’. She is less concerned with whether or not someone seems to have all the facts, but very good at deciding on whether the person is being honest with others and themselves. This ability is just as valuable as facts!
The archetype for the High Priestess is taken from a very ancient archetype and one of the earliest Gods.
The Snake Goddess
Early pre-farming cultures revered the animals around them. The animals they hunted or were hunted by were particular cases that resulted in early archetypes: the Wolf, the Auroch, the large Feline. But there was also another class of creature. Ones who shed their skin and/or hibernated by retreating into the ground – the home of the dead – for some of the year. These animals include the scorpion and the snake. Such creatures became associated with death, rebirth and the afterlife.
The earliest example is seen in the first temple at Gobekli Tepe via the Snake Woman. She appears to be more powerful than the other major God there, the ‘Auroch God’, as he is seen bowing to her.
The Snake Goddess was involved with the path to the afterlife and fertility, both of which are concerned with the cycle of life-death.
There are similar later Goddesses (and folk characters such as Shahmaran) based around the root form of the Snake Goddess. The closest for this deck is taken to be Hecate. Hecate was an adopted deity originating from Asia Minor or Anatolia, which is the location of Gobekli Tepe; modern Turkey.
Hecate is a liminal deity or a Goddess of the ‘spaces in between’ including thresholds, doorways, and normally unpassable boundaries;
- She is associated with witchcraft as spells involve moving something from one time and space to another by crossing a liminal space. Those involved in ritual magic often still pray to her for permission before they perform their spell.
- In ancient times a prayer was said to Hecate before any other deity. Hecate’s permission was needed for the prayer to be heard because the path between mortals and the divine also crosses a liminal space. Being Goddess of liminal spaces is indeed a powerful position!
- She is associated with the liminal space between the living and the dead. The keys that allows crossing this boundary are the key to immortality as they allow crossing the divide. One such set of keys are Hecate’s Torches.
- She is associated with crossroads and travelers. In her three headed-guise, she stands at a three fork crossroad, with her heads looking down all three roads: the past, present and future. A Tarot reading can in many ways be seen as standing on Hecate’s crossroad and being able to look in all three directions at once.
- She is associated with pillars. Placing pillars on either side of a door is one of the most ancient spells. The pillars are a ward and signify an entrance is under the protection of Hecate. No entity from other-worlds may cross without permission (although some entities are very adept a getting your permission through indirection and trickery, and this is a theme in many folk takes and more modern creatures such as vampires). Note that the pillars seen on this card are not those of the Temple of Solomon.
- She is associated with the liminal space between mind and body. This area is often called the subconscious brain and is where intuition and spirituality lies. This explains why Hecate (and not the more usual choice of Persephone) was chosen as the High Priestess. Persephone rules the dead but not the link between the living and the dead nor the link between the mind and spirit. Persephone appears elsewhere in the deck (Queen of Pentacles).
The Torch symbol that represents this deck is Hecate’s torch. She holds torches of this form in ancient vases depicting the story of Demeter and Persephone. Similar torches were also known to be used in the Eleusinian mysteries.
Description and Symbology
We see Hecate floating above a dark surface. Looking carefully towards the bottom of the image we see a very small splash; the dark surface is water and represents the deep mind and the subconscious. There is a hint of something moving underneath the waters. Above the water we see two snakes. Careful inspection reveals they are made from the water and have no eyes. Looking up to Hecate’s face we see she has tribal eye makeup resembling snake slit-eyes. The snakes have no eyes because Hecate has them. Like the snakes, she can see the dead and the world below.
There is a leaping frog below Hecate’s feet. This represents another close deity from the Egyptian pantheon, Heqet. The frog appeared around the Nile when the land was at its widest and most fertile, and Heqet is a fertility Goddess. Some see Heqet as an earlier form of Hecate, meaning the Snake Goddess came from Anatolia to ancient Greece via Egypt. This would not be unexpected given fertility was often closely associated with life-death and higher consciousness.
Hecate wears dark furs that top a black robe. We also see a white mist coming from the Moon. The black and white flow around each other but never mix. The border between them is a visual representation of Hecate’s kingdom; the liminal spaces that separate opposite domains. Within the black and white we see the faces of two wolves. We see a white wolf (representing higher spirituality) and a black one (representing the deeper subconscious). Both are aspects of the intuitive mind. Note also that the appearance of Hecate was often associated with howling wild dogs or wolves. If you heard them at night, Hecate was close by.
Hecate forms a T-pose. This pose has multiple meanings. The T-shape is the from our earliest ancestors used to represent the human form and it is the form the Snake Goddess is seen as at Gobekli Tepe. Her pose also represents a two way signpost, showing her role as Goddess of the crossroads and travelers.
At the tips of her hands float two torches. These are Hecate’s Torches. They allow her to pass between liminal spaces and are symbols of the higher knowledge and deep magic needed to freely cross such barriers. They also symbolize the highest boon of being able to cross the liminal spaces, immortality.
Hecate has three heads that look in three directions. As noted previously these heads can look to the past, present and future simultaneously. This gives Hecate the ability to know one's future and past. This power can also be tapped through Tarot and intuition, and in certain cultures via dream trance rites. It can also appear in another common by-product of intuition; dreams. When dreaming, intuition is no longer blocked by the now sleeping higher intellect – the subconscious never sleeps!
We see a second form of the Hecate’s three heads on a brooch, showing three phases of the moon.
We also see some strange round pots falling towards the water. These are how the ancients actually used pomegranate seeds. Such pottery is in the shape of a whole pomegranate fruit and has patterns formed of many dots signifying the multitude of dried seeds inside it. They were often found in graves. Their use and symbology was as follows;
- The huge number of seeds represent the Many of the living. The huge number of seeds also represent the other Many; the dead.
- A fallen pomegranate moves from belonging to the living to belonging to the dead. If you take a pomegranate from the dead, it forms a permanent link that draws you to them. Never take a pomegranate from the dead or one dropped to the bare earth!
- This attraction has an advantage. If the living exchange pomegranates with their loved ones at the start of a potentially fatal endeavor, or leave a pottery pomegranate in the grave of the deceased, then the pomegranate seeds will pull the giver and receiver back to each other in the after-world. It is known that wives and parents would give their sons pomegranates when they went to war, and also to family in general when they embarked on long journeys.
Finally, we see two pillars behind Hecate. These are not the pillars of the Temple of Solomon but refer to a much older tradition. Two pillars on either side of any passage that is consecrated to Hecate mean the passage is protected from evil being able to cross unless you let it in yourself. This is often taken to mean that your higher mind is also protected from evil entering it unless you specifically let evil in.
This was a common concept in the ancient world. We are born without sin, but we may gain sin in this world. This is significantly different from modern religions.
The High Priestess Symbol
The High Priestess is represented by the three-moon symbol. This is often associated with the Triple Goddess but it should be noted that this concept is much more recent than Hecate. In this deck, the three moons represent three aspects of Hecate and not a combination with other deities.
Deep, dark water
At the bottom of the card we see dark, still water. The water surface represents the border with the subconscious, with the deeper water below being the inner mind.
Hecate’s snakes
The snakes are made of the water, symbolizing their affinity with the subconscious and as dream symbols. They have no eyes. The High Priestess’s tribal eye make-up is part of a spell that gives her their eyes and vision, enabling her to see the worlds of the living and the dead, and perhaps inhabit the Liminal world of dream.
Heqet’s frog
The jumping frog represents another facet of the High Priestess and comes from the Egyptian Goddess Heqet, who may have been a precursor of Hecate. Fertility and death are often part of the same life-death cycle.
Moon, water and intuition
The mist enclosing Hecate comes from the moon, suggesting that this is where part of her power resides. Hecate’s dark cloak seems to be part of the water, suggesting part of her power also comes from there, or that they are two facets of the same thing.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates were associated with the concept of 'many' because of their high number of seeds. This includes the many of the living but also the many of the dead. The High Priestess is the link that binds both as she controls the liminal space between them.
Three heads
Hecate as the High Priestess has three heads, symbolizing her standing at a three fork crossroads, with her heads looking down the three roads simultaneously. The roads are the past, present and future. This is a visual representation of how Tarot works; by tapping into intuition, all three roads appear to you, allowing you to see the past, present and future.
Waxing, full and waning moon
This is a symbolic alternative representation of the three heads; the waning, full and waning moon represents the past, present and future.
Tips for Readings
The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.
Upright
Reversed
You have a heightened sense of empathy and understanding to the needs of others.
Now is a time to better understand others, their motivations and needs. Trust your intuition and where it leads, as it is probably right.
Be wary of secrets or hidden agendas being used against you, as you are susceptible to them.
Be careful of arguments and problems that draw you in, as you will become over emotional or too invested in them.
Your gut feelings in decision-making and what is right for you are correct, so go with them.
Expect good relationships with co-workers through understanding their aims and goals.
Now is a time to reflect on what you want out of career, as you are perfectly attuned to your own real aims in life.
Carefully consider important decisions as you are prone to making wrong assumptions by becoming too emotionally invested in a project or course of action. Time to step back and be a little more rational, keeping emotions in check!
You may be feeling out of place; something is going on and you can’t get to the bottom of it, or you suspect deception within the workplace but are unable to put a finger on it. Patience and waiting are key here.
A healthy, self-aware mind makes for a healthy body; look after your body and your mind will follow.
Gut feelings on potential illnesses should be checked, as your intuition is high.
Your mind is affecting your health. Be wary of worries affecting the body; headaches, stomach upsets, lack of sleep, nightmares, and similar issues.
If it all seems to be getting too much, you have no choice but to get away for a while; a holiday or space to reflect may be the best option.
Inner knowledge and intuition is heightened. You may be better off trusting your feelings rather than group congregations or organised religion.
Now is the time to consider your future direction or change of lifestyle as you are perfectly attuned to what you really want in life.
The High Priestess card is Hecate, who is associated with the afterlife and magic. Perhaps now is a time to reflect on those departed. What would they advise? You may not have the liminal-barrier crossing power to ask, but intuition and dreams may tell you.
You are prone to self-deception. Check your beliefs and whether or not they are based on what you would like over what is. Emotions may be clouding this!
Be wary of veiled truths and heresy. Others may believe otherwise to you but now is not the time to argue against their beliefs.
Trust your gut feelings on anything that feels right and concentrate on the fine print on anything that doesn’t; your intuition in all things is raised.
In the same way, trust your impressions of people you deal with, and act accordingly.
Be wary of failure to see hidden risks, as you are currently very open to deception.
In particular, do not trust anything that comes out of the blue or looks too good to be true; falling for scams and exaggerated claims is a possibility right now!
Yes, through intuition, inner knowledge.
No through self-delusion, lack of trust in own instincts
Reading the card
The High Priestess card is one of the most symbolic. In Rider-Waite-Smith, it is heavily tied to Kabbalah and the Temple of Solomon (as the first Masonic Lodge). This deck takes the view that Tarot today is rarely used in reference to Kabbalah and Masonic beliefs (although some aspects can be useful for historic interest).
More ancient symbology is used for this card (and for this deck in general). This is important when looking at the visual cues in this card. There is no opaque symbolism. Instead, it is based on easily accessible animal archetypes and commonly known mythology and the stories behind them.
For example the High Priestess has a friendship with both the Empress (Demeter) and the Queen of Pentacles (Persephone). The combinations of High Priestess plus Empress, and High Priestess plus Queen of Pentacles supercharge relationships, nurturing, and moving things along by trusting in your intuition, as well as bringing out your inner Goddess. These combinations are also true of a standard Tarot deck, but Torch-Tarot makes it explicit if you know your mythology.
There is also an affinity with other liminal archetypes such as the Hanged man (Dionysus). The two cards form a very powerful grouping for introspection, revealing previously hidden knowledge, intuition to make decisions plus strength to accept the outcome. Most importantly, this pair of cards relates to a coming together of intuition and self-contemplation, a pairing that puts your inner mind into overdrive and represents a time to answer some of the deepest questions you have.
Finally, although the High Priestess is often seen as a female archetype (and the complement to the male Magician), intuition is of course sexless just as intellect is sexless.
Upright High Priestess card
The upright card represents strong intuition and inner foresight. Trust your instincts; they are probably right. Decision making based on intuition and gut feeling is more successful than that based on reasoning alone.
Trust your instincts; they are probably right.
It may also indicate balance or harmony. You will work well with others on the same path and anything involving spiritual development and deepening connections with others. Creative activities (especially those involving collaboration or thinking outside the box) will go well though intuition.
The High Priestess suggests the will to succeed via inner strength and inclusion rather than competition. Arguments may be better won by understanding rather than competing.
Secrets are a special area of the High Priestess. If you are holding secrets, use your intuition to decide whether they should be kept to yourself or told. If secrets or hidden agendas are keeping you from moving forward, the upright High Priestess may help unblock them. Trust your feelings and rely on your abilities for understanding and tact.
More than most cards, the upright High Priestess asks that you do not go searching for answers; they are already known to you. Time may be an issue though. The High Priestess’s waters run deep and things may move slowly. Patience and waiting may be a virtue especially if the time does not feel quite right.
Just as the Magician tells us we have everything we need in terms of resources, the High Priestess suggests we have everything we need in terms of inner strength and making the right decisions based on less than a full set of information. The High Priestess loves mystery and is not afraid of moving forward despite not knowing everything.
The reversal
The Reversed High Priestess represents lack of intuition, deceptions, and secrets and hidden agendas that are held against you to block progress.
You may be at least partly responsible for this via avoidance, personal stagnation, lack of responsibility and retreat out of the real world, or outright lying. Your lack of intuition may also cause you to reach wrong conclusions. Balance is required. Consider the rational as well as your gut feeling.
The reversal often suggests a disconnection with your inner confidence. This may be caused by a lack of trust in yourself, overthinking or outright self-deception. The waters of intuition are deep but sometimes a little dry land is useful.
An overemphasis on soft skills and keeping everyone happy may be making a situation worse. Someone is taking advantage of this, or the problem is getting worse rather than better. Collecting the real facts followed by strong decision-making may be required instead of treading lightly.
In extreme cases a difficult situation may have replaced your inner intuition with a much lower animalistic fight-or-flight response. Your intuition no longer gives you the right answer but instead gives the quickest route to the most immediate self-survival position or quick fix. The High Priestess may tell you that you can solve this alone but that is deceptive; spirituality and intuition will not help. You need the help of others.
Finally, the reversed High Priestess may suggest hidden issues (that you may or may not know) are about to come to the surface. A secret part of your life may be about to be exposed.
Card Design Process
The initial design for Hecate involved trying to visualize the border between opposites to create a graphic that represents a liminal space. After some trial and error, white paint and black ink dropped into a tank of water and photographed from the side was used. These are the basis of Hecate’s dark cloak and white mist coming from the moon. They swirl against each other but there are no greys – they never mix.
The photos were then overlaid with stock and AI assets in Photoshop. If you look closely you can still see parts of the original ink/paint photographs in the card.
Final Words
The High Priestess holds significant symbolism for the mysteries of the unconscious mind. She gives us intuition and trusting instinct over logic. In this deck she is represented by the Goddess Hecate. Those involved with liminal magic will already be very familiar with her.
