5. The Hierophant

The Hierophant (V), in some decks named The Pope, or the High Priest, is the fifth trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks.

Iconography

In most iconographic depictions, the Hierophant is seen seated on a throne between two pillars symbolizing Law and Liberty or obedience and disobedience, according to different interpretations. He wears a triple crown, and the keys to Heaven are at his feet. Sometimes he is shown with worshippers, as his alternate title is the Pope or, sometimes, Jupiter. In modern packs, the Hierophant is often represented with two fingers pointing skyward and two pointing down, thus forming a bridge between Heaven and Earth. In Tarot of Marseilles, he wears a red cape and a blue robe, in contrast to The Papess, who wears a blue cape and blue robe. According to de Gebelin, hierophant was the title of the chief priest in the Eleusinian mysteries (an ancient Greek ritual).

Interpretation

The Hierophant is similar to the Magician in that he represents a link between ourselves and the divine. He stands for the world of belief and a deep trust that stems from this conviction of faith. In older times, he was considered one of the three protective cards of the Tarot, which basically gave the course of a matter a favourable tendency. Unlike the Magician who simply points the way, the Hierophant is a trusted guide, one who will take us by the hand and lead us to our spiritual goal. Moreover, this card shows the path of ethics and virtue and stands for the personal resolve resulting from our fundamental moral values.

Symbolism

The Hierophant is usually Key 5 of the Major Arcana. Five represents the essence of things as they are, as in the word “quintessence” from the Latin words for five and for nature. It is also the number of the senses: sight, hearing, taste, feeling, and smell. The Hierophant sits on a throne straddling the world of the senses and the world of meaning. It is related through cross sums (the sum of the digits) with Key 14: Temperance. The Hierophant presents the lessons of heaven to earth. Temperance guides the soul from this world to the underworld.

Associations

The Hierophant corresponds to the astrological sign of Taurus; however some associate him with Sagittarius, Leo or the sign Cancer. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck explicitly connects the Hierophant with the Ten of Swords. The dead man lying face down on the beach, penetrated by ten swords, has his hand in the same position of blessing as the Hierophant, perhaps hinting that the artist believed that the path of the Hierophant leads ultimately to death; a sanctified death, but death nonetheless.

Reading

The Hierophant is one of three cards that focuses on the group. (The 3 of Cups and the 3 of Pentacles are the others.) In readings, he often represents learning with experts or knowledgeable teachers. Sound and trustworthy advice will be sought and given. This can also mean receiving and accepting, blessings, guidance and healing. Good intentions and discipline are also required. The Hierophant is a symbol of the need to conform to rules or fixed situations.
This card reversed is about breaking the rules somewhat, and breaking the norms. You may want to challenge ideas and concepts you once thought as written in stone. Perhaps you will go against the grain and do the opposite of your peers or what the group or society promote.

Opposing cards

Fool – being “crazy” and unorthodox
Lovers – personal beliefs
Two of Wands – diverging from the crowd, being a pioneer
Seven of Swords – being a lone wolf
Two of Pentacles – being flexible, changing with the times

Reinforcing cards

Emperor – following rules
Three of Cups – focusing on the group
Three of Pentacles – working in a team or group
Eight of Pentacles – learning, studying
Ten of Pentacles – conforming, following rules, conser

Alternative decks

In the Vikings Tarot the Hierophant is Odin with his two ravens, Hugin and Munin, and his two wolves, Geri and Freki.
In the X/1999 Tarot version made by CLAMP, The Hierophant is Aoki Seiichirou.
In the Lord of the Rings Tarot Deck, Saruman the White is the Hierophant.
In the Burning Tarot, the Heirophant is Larry Harvey's face and hat, superimposed upon an image of Pope John Paul II
In Howard Rodway's Tarot Of The Old Path the Heirophant is called the high priest and sits on a golden throne accompanied by the heads of a ram and an elephant, along with a raven in the foreground.
In the Mythic Tarot deck, the Hierophant is depicted as Chiron, the learned centaur.

Quote

I saw the great Master in the Temple. He was siting on a golden throne set upon a purple platform, and he wore the robe of a high priest with a golden tiara. He held a golden eight-pointed cross, and lying at his feet were two crossed keys. Two initiates bowed before him and to them he spoke:–
“Seek the Path, do not seek attainment, Seek for the Path within yourself.
“Do not expect to hear the truth from others, nor to see it, or read it in books. Look for the truth in yourself, not without yourself.
“Aspire only after the impossible and inaccessible. Expect only that which shall not be.
“Do not hope for Me,–do not look for Me,–do not believe–that I am outside yourself.
“Within your soul build a lefty tower by which you may ascend to Heaven. Do not believe in external miracles, expect miracles only within you. Beware of believing in a mystery of the earth, in a mystery guarded by men; for treasuries which must be guarded
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are empty. Do not search for a mystery that can be hidden by men. Seek the Mystery within yourself.
“Above all, avoid those towers built in order to preserve the mysteries and to make an ascent to Heaven by stone stairways. And remember that as soon as men build such a tower they begin to dispute about the summit.
“The Path is in yourself, and Truth is in yourself and Mystery is in yourself.” – The Symbolism of the Tarot by P D. Ouspensky (1913)

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