The High Priestess: Mystic of the Major Arcana

When was the last time you had a “gut feeling” about something? For example, maybe you had an instinct about a situation even though you couldn’t explain it. The second card of the Major Arcana, the High Priestess, governs the gut feeling and all that we know without knowing why.

Even though unexplained perceptions are frequently invalidated, they’re acknowledged in most societies. Because the High Priestess represents unconscious understanding, she’s depicted in the tarot as a combination of several mystical women throughout history. These women are cast as the guardians of secret knowledge that’s both revered and feared by the dominant culture.

The mythical Greek queen of the underworld Persephone, the Egyptian goddess Isis, and a Pope from the Middle Ages who was secretly a woman—all of these figures who represent the hidden side of feminine energy exist in the High Priestess. When she appears for you, she reminds you to honor the truth that’s beyond the intellect and trust your intuition.

Keywords

The upright High Priestess contains the following associations: 

  • Intuition
  • Psychic powers
  • Inner wisdom
  • Perception
  • Potential

Not every reader believes that a tarot card appearing upside down changes its meaning. However, a reversal can indicate a blockage, opposition, or other shift to the upright meaning.

 The High Priestess in reverse implies the following:

  • Disconnect from intuition
  • Fear of life, change, or other people
  • Withdrawal or inaction
  • Secrecy
  • Duplicity

Because this tarot card is essentially passive, I’ve also seen it appear in reverse to show that a person is emerging from a period of deep contemplation. In this interpretation, the card actually suggests purposeful action. Although this seems counterintuitive with some of the other reversal keywords, I think of it this way: you dignify the receptive energy of water by taking action when it’s appropriate.

In summary, the High Priestess has a complex set of meanings. The sections below include more context about the card for your tarot readings, as well as suggestions for how to interpret it in combination with other cards.

General Associations

The High Priestess general

The table below includes key correspondences for the High Priestess. Knowing about related numbers, elements, and astrological associations can add depth to your readings.

NumberTwo (2), indicating duality
ElementWater (emotions and relationships)
PlanetMoon
Zodiac SignWater sign Cancer

Description of the Card

High priestess
Pamela Coleman Smith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration, the High Priestess resembles a priestess of the Egyptian goddess Isis. This is likely because an influential European court in the 18th century believed that the tarot originated in Egypt and changed the design of this card accordingly. 

However, this archetype has also gathered various cultural associations throughout history. Study the card in your deck to observe what stands out to you. Then, refer to the generally accepted interpretations of the symbols below: 

  • Curtain behind figure: The veil between the two pillars metaphorically separates consciousness from what’s unknowable to humans. 
  • Pomegranates: These fruits on the curtain behind the priestess indicate wisdom and life. They’re important symbols in many religious traditions.
  • Two temple pillars: This person sits in a temple that resembles the temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. Like many cards in the Major Arcana, this card contains two pillars to remind us of the perceived duality in life.
  • Letters “B” and “J”: Boaz and Jakin were pillars at Solomon’s temple. Boaz stands for passive reception, and Jakin means conscious action. Rachel Pollack notes that the “B” is white and “J” black to remind us that opposites are actually an illusion.
  • Crown: The three phases of the moon on the crown represent the phases of a woman’s life (maiden, mother, and crone).
  • Scroll: Her scroll shows the word “TORA,” which refers to ancient wisdom and also serves as an anagram for “TARO.”
  • Waxing moon: The moon at her feet is slender but grows in size to show increasing wisdom.

Learn about the High Priestess in a video

Meaning of the High Priestess

In many ways, the High Priestess is designed to be unknowable. Because of this, the card is famously difficult to interpret. Your relationship with the unconscious mind is unique. Therefore, the meaning of the High Priestess in your life will differ from the card’s meaning for the person you’re reading.

Sometimes, your connection to the myths related to High Priestess imagery can help you and your querents understand her better. I’ve mentioned Isis several times, for instance. An ancient Egyptian goddess associated with nature, Isis uses her magic to resurrect her husband Osiris. The Greek goddess Persephone similarly has associations with the cycle of life: she governs the dead but also returns to the world above to bring new growth in the spring. 

Compare the High Priestess to the third card of the Major Arcana, the Empress. These cards are the first representations of divine feminine energy in the Major Arcana cycle. However, many people note that these two figures, much like goddess pairings in several cultures, divide femininity between disparaged and celebrated expressions of womanhood in society. 

In Judaic myth, for example, Lilith and Eve could be counterpoints to the High Priestess and Empress. Lilith, like the High Priestess, is associated with sexual desire and death. Although Eve is tempted from Eden as well, she’s the accepted matriarch of Judeo-Christian lineage.

You might relate to Isis, Persephone, or Lilith. You might also find kinship with the original namesake for this card, the “Papess” or “female Pope.” Some believe that she referred to a woman named Pope Joan who gained religious power only while disguised as a man. Whatever your network of connections to the card, the High Priestess blesses your belief in hidden truths and the mysterious ways that life unfolds.

Upright Interpretation

Tarot interpretation

In the most literal sense, the High Priestess could represent an attractive, sensual person. She’s probably something of an enigma, possibly misunderstood but highly magnetic. If the card represents you or a querent, you might be called to learn how to use your intuitive or mystical gifts. You might also want to determine how to protect yourself from anything that saps your energy, including other people’s perceptions of you. 

If the card represents someone else, that person could be an important psychic teacher. They could also be an incredibly intuitive person who is able to receive information and provide advice, much like a Greek oracle. Alternatively, you might be romanticizing someone, and your relationship would benefit if you saw this person clearly. 

More often than not, however, the High Priestess represents something more abstract about you or your situation. This card brings passive and receptive energy, so a period of withdrawal from other influences might be beneficial. Although it might look from the outside like you’re retreating, you’re really just tapping into your intuition. 

Even if you can’t articulate why, you should honor the messages you receive during this time. Your dreams might be especially memorable. You could also have a feeling around someone or something that you just can’t ignore. And if you can’t, don’t! Let those impressions mingle within you until you find a clear path forward. But there’s no rush, and you might not understand right away what was guiding you.

Honor your inner wisdom regardless. What appears to be illusory is often not separate from reality. 

Reversal Interpretation

Because the High Priestess reminds us that opposition is an illusion, this card doesn’t need to have a distinctly different meaning in reverse. But if you do read reversals, you might want to consider how the reversed orientation can affect meaning.

The association with withdrawal from the world is still present, but this time it has a more negative influence. In other words, you might be afraid or confused and therefore unable to make a decision. There’s also an implication that you might be keeping something secret or living two lives that can’t be integrated.

You can see how withdrawal, unease, and confidentiality might sometimes serve you and other people but hurt the greater good at other times. If the High Priestess appears in reverse, you might ask yourself what you aren’t bringing to light and why. Are you failing to consider others? Are you also doing harm to yourself?

Finally, our “gut feelings” sometimes become untrustworthy due to upsetting or traumatic past experiences. If you suffered a dog bite when you were a child, for instance, you might feel a bodily alarm bell as an adult when you see any dog. In some cases, the reversed High Priestess appears when a trauma response is influencing the situation. Of course, when this happens, withdrawal is often still the best immediate response; you should soothe your nervous system before you take further action.

Meaning in Specific Readings

High Priestess
Oswald Wirth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The scenarios below are a few commonly requested types of readings.

Yes-No Meaning

The High Priestess yes or no

In a one-card reading for a question with a “yes” or “no” answer, the High Priestess is a “maybe.” Another way to translate this card might be “yes but not yet.” Some readers do think of her as a “yes” if the querent’s desires and plans are for the greater good. 

Meaning for Love 

When the High Priestess appears in a love reading, your intuition about the relationship is key.  It’s normal to want to impress a crush or please someone we love, but try to be honest with yourself and with your lover. For instance, avoid presenting an overly rosy version of yourself or putting someone else on a pedestal.

If you feel any subtle emotional shifts or bodily reactions, don’t question them too much. Trust your intuition about a person or a situation.

The High Priestess Love

Meaning for Work

Taking on more work or leadership roles isn’t recommended at this time. Instead, you might want to dedicate yourself to learning more about something that matters to you. You also might not have access to all the information you need to make the decision that’s best for you—it’s even possible that people have hidden agendas. 

If you are making a decision right now, trusting your intuition is again advised. Recently, I left a job that was appealing on the surface. However, despite how often I tried to reason with myself about it, it didn’t feel right to stay. During this time, the High Priestess appeared repeatedly in my tarot readings. 

After I quit, I almost immediately met someone who connected me with a more fulfilling work opportunity. Meanwhile, the company restructured, and several of my former coworkers lost their jobs.

In short, believe your inner guide.

Key Pairings with the High Priestess

Certain cards can provide more context when they appear with the High Priestess in a reading.

Major Arcana

The table below shows possible meanings of the High Priestess when paired with Major Arcana cards.

Major Arcana CardMeaning with the High Priestess
V. HierophantYou’re being initiated into the ways of an occult or psychic community.
VI. LoversListen to your intuition when you make a moral choice.
XII. Hanged OneWait—probably for longer than you want to.
XV. DevilMultiple interpretations are possible, but I strongly see this as a karmic relationship or twin flame. You’re meant to learn from one another in this lifetime, though the lessons might be hard.
XVIII. MoonYou’re submitting totally to the unconscious mind. This could suggest a psychedelic experience or complete ego death.
XX. JudgmentYou have a deeper understanding of why your intuition led you on this path. You might now be able to guide others.

Minor Arcana

The table below shows possible meanings of the High Priestess when paired with Minor Arcana cards.

Minor Arcana CardMeaning with the High Priestess
Nine of WandsPsychic protection is required.
Knight of WandsYou have a secret admirer.
Two of CupsAn important relationship involves a psychic connection.
Six of CupsYou’re healing trauma on a deep embodied level.
Ten of CupsYou have a community built around the spiritual connection.
Four of SwordsMeditation is recommended. Try incorporating a variety of modalities, such as singing bowls or a sensory deprivation chamber.
Six of SwordsA spiritual journey is imminent.
Page of SwordsYou’re called to develop your psychic powers. 
King of SwordsThis pairing often appears when you’re metaphorically acting as Pope Joan, a woman navigating a man’s world.
Any QueenQueens appearing with the High Priestess often signal sexual expression. The particular suit can indicate more about the circumstances. For instance, the Queen of Pentacles could reveal an affair. For the Queen of Cups, the experience could be enlightening.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The questions below are commonly asked about the second card of the Major Arcana.

What does the High Priestess mean in the Major Arcana?

The High Priestess represents intuition, inner wisdom, and psychic perception. This card might also indicate a period of withdrawal from society.

Which goddess does the High Priestess represent?

This card has several divine associations, but the High Priestess is most often associated with Isis and Persephone. In fact, the crown and outfit of the High Priestess are designed to resemble the clothes of the ancient Egyptian priestesses of Isis.

What does the High Priestess mean in astrology?

This tarot card is connected to the cycles of the moon. The zodiac sign Cancer is also ruled by the moon, so Cancer corresponds to the energy of the High Priestess.

What does the High Priestess tarot card mean for a relationship?

The High Priestess is a sign to trust your intuition and be honest in love. If something feels off, the relationship might not be aligned with your needs or best interests. You also might need to take off your “rose-colored glasses” and see the relationship clearly for what it is. 

Which element is associated with the High Priestess?

The High Priestess is associated with the receptive nature of the water element.

Learn the Tarot with Online Flash Cards

Are you looking to dive into the world of tarot and master the meaning of each card? You should check out our post, “Learn The Tarot Cards – Online Flash Cards” by our own Tarot expert Ersa Fay. With interactive flash cards covering all 78 cards in the tarot, both the Minor and Major Arcana, you will learn key facts and the symbolism and meanings associated with each card. 

By using these flash cards, you’ll become more comfortable with performing your own readings and enhance your journey into the world of tarot. 

In the post, Ersa focuses on the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, known for its rich imagery and profound symbolism. The captivating illustrations in this deck draw from various sources such as mythology, astrology, alchemy, and the Kabbalah, creating a visual language that resonates deeply with the human psyche. So, if you’re ready to start learning, don’t miss out on this fantastic resource. We hope you find it useful and remember to have fun with it!

Photo of author

Ersa Fay

Ersa Fay (they/them) is a traveling writer, mystical dancer, and tarot reader. You can often find Ersa in central Texas, but they have connections to places all over the world. With nearly 20 years of tarot experience, Ersa draws cards not to find definite answers but to uncover the questions that focus attention. Their tarot practice supports clarity and protection for your personal journey—for this reason, Ersa is inspired by the powerful beginner’s energy of the Fool in the tarot’s Major Arcana.