05-The Hierophant – Reversed Rider Waite Deck

When reversed, the High Priest warns that you may be taking a rigidly dogmatic stance dictated by traditional values. There is a tendency to follow the letter rather than the spirit of the law. Such extreme rigidity with its unthinking appeal to traditional authority is often adopted to subjugate others and deny them basic human rights. The inverted Hierophant is reminiscent of the words of Karl Marx that religion is the opium of the people. Marx went on to explain that his view of religion as an opiate ‘disillusions man, so that he will think, act, and fashion his reality like a man who has discarded his illusions and regained his senses, so that he will move around himself as his own true Sun.’ 37 Are you taking advice from the man behind the curtain of the Wizard of Oz?

Keywords Reversed: Intolerance, rigidity, inflexibility, arrogance, dogmatism, conformity, oppressive religious doctrines, rigid orthodoxy, religious fundamentalism, perverse spirituality, misguided advice, following the letter rather than the spirit of the law, foolish generosity.

Key V: The Hierophant (Pope, High Priest)
Myths/Archetypes: The prophet Moses. Pontifex Maximus. Hierophant. High Priest. The deity’s spokesperson. The Holy of Holies (which housed the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments). Emily Post. The Wizard of Oz.
Dates of Taurus: 21 April–21 May (tropical); 14 May–14 June (sidereal)
Astrology: Taurus, the Bull (an Earth sign ruled by Venus)
Numerology: 5 (Hierophant) = 1 + 4 (Temperance)

5. The Hierophant: Bridge Connecting Humanity With The Divine

When The Hierophant is reversed you can pretty much take it that life is going well but that’s when life takes us by surprise.  If The Hierophant is unclear it may help to choose a card from the Major Arcana to provide more insight into what it is The Hierophant is trying to tell you.  If you had a particular issue in  mind, or want to seek clarification on something else, you can also choose again to get more guidance.

This chosen card is part of your reversed card reading for The Hierophant using cards from the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. You will find many more tarot pages that will be of great help if you need tarot card meanings. Use the search at the bottom of the page. We have some amazing tarot books for you to browse. Please see below.

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Here are some snippets from a few of my favorite books

Complete Book of Tarot: Fact 1: The tarot was invented as a card game during the Renaissance by Italian artists who incorporated images and ideas from ancient Greek and Roman mythology, which probably included themes derived from the cult of Thoth Hermes Trismegistus. The gypsies, who originated in India, were not ancient Egyptian priests and did not arrive in Europe until well after the Italians produced the first tarot decks.

Tarot Books

Complete Book of Tarot: Sign 2: Taurus and the Hierophant (Pope, High Priest)—How are you seeking guidance from tradition or a higher authority to inform your sense of values and your search for meaning in life?

Tarot for Beginners: Hierophant means ‘high priest’ in Greek, and this card is somewhat of a masculine compliment to The High Priestess.

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Tarot for Beginners: Hierophant means ‘high priest’ in Greek, and this card is somewhat of a masculine compliment to The High Priestess.