The High Priestess

[SunshineMoon]

Alright friends, give me all you have on The High Priestess! Upright, reversed, whatever comes to mind! What does this card mean for you?

 

I am loving the conversations stemming from these and all of the insight. Thank you all!

[November]

For me The High of Priestess often means you need to listen to your inner voice and guts about a specific matter, because actually you already know the answer within yourself. Thus it can also represents your emotional nature in general. 

 

It also happened to me it was referring to people being no more on speaking terms, so it was standing for coldness, distance and silence. Other times instead it was about hiding things and secrets. 

[Esclarmonde]

Guardian of secrets, but also indicates intuition, instinct and the need to trust it; a deep knowledge and feminine wisdom.

[SunshineMoon]

On 1/22/2023 at 8:42 AM, November said:

For me The High of Priestess often means you need to listen to your inner voice and guts about a specific matter, because actually you already know the answer within yourself. Thus it can also represents your emotional nature in general. 

 

It also happened to me it was referring to people being no more on speaking terms, so it was standing for coldness, distance and silence. Other times instead it was about hiding things and secrets. 

@November The second part of your post is very interesting, it is not something I would have thought (no longer on speaking terms, coldness, distance, silence), but it actually rings true to me. This was an ah-ha moment. Thank you for sharing! 

[SunshineMoon]

@Esclarmonde Do you have any idea what makes her the Guardian of Secrets? Is there a deeper story behind this?

[Esclarmonde]

I'm not sure about a story, but if you look at most Priestess cards (e.g. Marseilles) the image is that of a woman sitting against a curtain or veil, which suggests something hidden and secretive. Also, she has a book on her lap which implies wisdom and knowledge. 

[Chariot]

The High Priestess is a problematic card for me.  Not one of my favourite cards to get, simply because I find it difficult to apply its meaning to many of my readings.  I keep waiting for that 'click' that happens with so many cards, where as soon as the card appears in a reading, I 'know.'  Interesting in that 'inner knowing' is one of the standard meanings for this card.

If the reading is ABOUT intuition or a decision, it's relatively easy to apply it ...upright, intuition good, reversed, intuition faulty or missing.  But outwith that kind of reading?  I struggle.

I like @November's notion about the card indicating coldness, distance and silence, in terms of behaviour in relationships.  Can The High Priestess embody the 'silent treatment?'  I'll keep that one in mind.

Another sometimes useful meaning I attribute to The High Priestess upright is that your belief system and how life is actually being lived are in harmony.  The reversed card indicates an imbalance in that sphere.  I've had the card work for me using this meaning, but it doesn't always apply either.

I'll continue to read this thread with interest.    

[amanda414]

The High Priestess to me is the keeper of knowledge, secrets, (as others have said) inner truths, occult wisdom, and divine learning. If reversed, ignorance, or superficial knowledge. 

[dirgeike]

When I've gotten the High Priestess, I've noticed that it really signifies an intuitive sense I've had with startling precision. It's almost cold, even when feelings are involved-- as if the more present "me" is removed and an inner knowing comes through with its voice. When I've received the high priestess in reverse (particularly for others) I've noticed that it's as if they've heard a voice in them like this but become jaded about it for various reasons-- like clogging the voice. For me the High Priestess opens and closes the curtains around her to speak something important, then recede back to mystery-- it's important for me to listen, but look to the other cards in the spread with how to act in accordance to the truth being whispered. Hope this helps 🙂 

[Grandma]

I read mostly for myself as a way of checking into myself, which is a very High Priestess-y thing to do, come to think of it. The Fool's Journey starts with a sense of pure sensation, like the experience of a newborn child. He cries, someone appears (hopefully) and attends to his needs (hopefully). He has discovered that his actions have an effect. This is an outer experience. He has met the Magician. I would gladly give credit for this theory if I could remember where I read it. Can anyone help? Next he recognizes that he feels differently before and after this intervention. This is an inner experience. He has met the High Priestess. Extrapolate to reading in general as you will.

Edited February 10, 2023 by Grandma

[akiva]

12 minutes ago, Grandma said:

Next he recognizes that he feels differently before and after this intervention. This is an inner experience. He has met the High Priestess. Extrapolate to reading in general as you will.

How does the fool feel differently when meeting the high priestess? Or is this just a general "feels different" kind of thing? I've never really read up on the fools journey, maybe I need to!

 

As for what the card means for me, the priestess/papess usually shows itself as knowledge, study and the mind. Sometimes if I'm asking a "when will this happen" kind of question it shows something slow, not quite yet, the number 2 in pythagorean number symbology represents length but not breadth, there's still room to develop. The ideas are there, but the action doesnt arrive until the empress.

Sometimes I find there's a sense of reluctance, someone who holds their cards close to their chest, planning and thinking and not revealing. A bit like the queen of swords in some ways. Very cerebral.

If I read majors only then it can also be used as a female significator. 😊

[Grandma]

33 minutes ago, akiva said:

How does the fool feel differently when meeting the high priestess? Or is this just a general "feels different" kind of thing? I've never really read up on the fools journey, maybe I need to!

First he realizes that he can summon the Magician. This is outer experience. Next he recognizes that he feels differently before the Magician answers his cries than he feels after his cries bring the Magician. It is this recognition that leads him to understand that he has inner experience. The inner experience is the High Priestess. 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Grandma

[akiva]

I think I get it @Grandma 🤔 Kind of like when a child learns that when they cry their parent will come (summoning the magician), then they realise their emotions change in response to that happening? (Priestess inner experience)

 

I've probably completely missed the ball, it's late here 😂

[Grandma]

Not kind of like that, @akiva - exactly like that! A perfect catch!

[akiva]

Ah I'm glad I caught the ball on that one then @Grandma! The fools journey is definitely something I need to read up on. I've never looked at the high priestess/papess that way before.